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 3 of 3 · Passport: U.S. citizen / green-card holder · Purpose: Humanitarian project

Yes — humanitarian projects are authorised.

Authorising regulation: 31 CFR §515.575 — Humanitarian projects

Authorises travel for humanitarian projects in Cuba listed in §515.575 — medical and health projects, disaster relief, support for human rights activities, and a defined set of community-development categories.

Compliance checklist for this trip

  1. Confirm the project fits one of the §515.575(b) enumerated categories.
  2. Maintain a full-time schedule documenting humanitarian activities.
  3. Project sponsor (typically a U.S. NGO) handles primary recordkeeping.
  4. Lodging — verify no CPAL listing; coordinate with project sponsor on safe vendors.

Cuban-side entry requirements (every traveller, every passport)

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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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