Decision tool · 12 OFAC categories · CACR §515.560–.578

Can I Legally Travel to Cuba?

Three quick questions to find out whether your trip is authorised, which OFAC category covers it, and what records you need to keep.

Step 1 of 3

Step 1 — What passport are you travelling on?

Pick the option that best describes your status. Pure non-U.S. travellers face no U.S. legal restrictions; everyone else needs an authorised category.

U.S. citizen or U.S. green-card holder Subject to OFAC / CACR — need an authorised category Foreign national, but ordinarily resident in the U.S. Treated as a U.S. person under §515.329 — same rules apply Non-U.S. citizen, not resident in the U.S. Free to travel as a tourist — only Cuban entry rules apply
Important: Educational decision aid, not legal advice. CACR (31 CFR Part 515) and the State Department’s Cuba Restricted & Prohibited Accommodations Lists change periodically — verify before booking, and keep full-time-schedule + transaction records for five years per §515.601.
When to retain counselHide
For any high-stakes trip — particularly journalism (§515.561), business travel, group people-to-people travel (§515.565), or anything involving transactions with Cuban government counterparties — retain qualified U.S. sanctions counsel before booking. The CRL changes intra-administration, the CPAL between our refreshes, and OFAC enforcement priorities can shift without notice.

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