What is a Tourist Card? Green or Pink Tourist Card for Cuba
by Pilar Dujan | May 25, 2023
Cuba is a country that lives by its own rules. There are beautiful national parks in Cuba. There are also many things to do in Cuba, a unique history and cities of stunning beauty. Even the currency of Cuba is special! Why would their visa system be any different?
So, if you’re planning to travel to Cuba, you are going to need to know about their Green and Pink Tourist Cards.
Do I need a visa to visit Cuba?
Every person travelling to the island is going to need to apply for a Tourist Card. What is a Tourist Card? It's the Cuban visa for foreign tourists.
If the reason for the visit is tourism, then there’s two types of visa you may need: the Cuba Green Card or the Pink Tourist Card Cuba (Pink visa card).
You can apply for any Cuba Tourist Card online. If you go through the process with the help of a specialized site such as visagov.com, you will find that the form is in your own language and streamlined to make sure it’s easier and faster. On top of that, we will be there to assist you every step of the way.
To learn more about the application process for the Pink visa card and every type of visa available, read our article on how to get a visa for Cuba.
The Green Tourist Card
If you are travelling to Cuba from any country in the world except the United States, you are going to need the Cuba Green Card (Tourist Card) or Standard Visa.
With this visa you can stay in the country for 90 days. Once approved, it’s valid for 180 days. If you arrive in Cuba and want to make your trip a little longer, it’s possible to extend the duration of your visa for another 30 days. If you’re from Canada, you can extend it for 90 days instead of 30.
Who’s the Pink Tourist Card for?
The Pink visa card or Specific Visa is mandatory for those travelling to Cuba from the United States.
If you’re originally from another country but you have a layover in the US then, on top of your Pink visa Card, you’re going to need to get an ESTA to enter the US. If you come from outside the US and you don’t have to make a stop there, then you just need a Green Tourist Card.
The Specific Visa allows travellers to stay in Cuba for 90 days and, just like the Standard Visa, it’s valid for 180 days from the day of its approval. However, it’s possible to extend the duration of a Pink Visa Card for another 30 days and, if you’re from Canada, you can do it for 90 days.
Requirements to apply for a visa for Cuba
To go through the application process successfully, you’re going to need to follow certain Cuba travel requirements:
- A valid passport with at least 6 months of validity counting from the day of the start of your trip.
- Travel insurance for Cuba. This is mandatory for everyone visiting the country.
Travel tips
- Moving around the country can be a little difficult. Read our advice on how to travel in Cuba to avoid complications.
- Since it’s a tropical island, there’s a chance that you may run into hurricanes or intense tropical storms. Avoid them by learning about the weather in Cuba.
- Is Cuba safe? Discover it by reading our guide.
- Make sure to pack a good amount of medicine and all your essentials as you may not be able to buy them in Cuba.
- The WIFI moves at its own pace and it’s not available everywhere. Be patient!
Pilar Dujan
I’m originally from Argentina, now based in Spain. I’m a writer and Visagov’s Press Officer, which allows me to put my expertise in visa and travel-related matters to the test.
My two roles help me bring forth content that is comprehensive and helpful, always keeping in mind my goal of assisting tourists in putting together the holiday they dream of.
If you’d like to meet, you can find me on LinkedIn.
