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: Professional research or professional meeting

Yes — professional research and meetings are authorised.

Authorising regulation: 31 CFR §515.564 — Professional research and professional meetings in Cuba

Authorises full-time professional research and attendance at professional meetings in any field, provided the activity is not for personal recreation. Used by academics, industry professionals attending conferences (FIHAV, biotech symposia, Mariel ZED investor briefings), and consultants conducting field research.

Compliance checklist for this trip

  1. Maintain a documented research plan and / or conference agenda.
  2. Schedule must be full-time; incidental tourism is permitted but cannot dominate.
  3. Hotel choice — verify no CPAL listing and avoid CRL operators where feasible.
  4. Retain agenda, tickets, attendance records, contact list for 5 years (§515.601).
  5. If meeting Cuban government counterparties, screen each against the OFAC SDN list.

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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