US OFAC General License — 12 approved travel categories; standard tourism prohibitedfor 🇿🇦 South African citizens travelling to 🇨🇺 Cuba
South African citizens are required to obtain a US OFAC General License — 12 approved travel categories; standard tourism prohibited before travelling to Cuba. You must submit a formal application at the Cuba embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre in your country. Apply well in advance of your planned travel date.
📋Required Documents9
- ✓Valid US passport (the General License is a US Treasury authorisation, not a Cuban document)
- ✓Self-certification of one of the 12 OFAC-approved travel categories (e.g. Support for the Cuban People, family visits, journalism, religious activities)
standard tourism is prohibited
- ✓Cuban eVisa obtained via evisacuba.cu (still required by Cuba in addition to the US authorisation)
- ✓Detailed itinerary demonstrating a full-time schedule of qualifying activities for your category
- ✓Records of all Cuba transactions and itinerary, retained for 5 years (OFAC requirement)
- ✓Avoidance check against the US restricted list of Cuban entities and prohibited hotels
- ✓Travel insurance with medical coverage valid in Cuba (Cuban entry requirement)
- ✓Completed D'Viajeros traveller form within 7 days of arrival
- ✓Return or onward flight ticket
ℹ️What to Expect
To apply for a US OFAC General License — 12 approved travel categories; standard tourism prohibited, book an appointment at the nearest Cuba embassy or visa application centre in your country. Submit the required documents in person or via a designated courier service. Processing takes on arrival — no advance processing required. Fees may apply — verify at the official portal. Plan well ahead of your intended travel date to allow time for processing and any additional document requests from the consulate. Always verify current requirements with the Cuba embassy or official government website before booking travel.
🌐Why South African passport holders need a visa for Cuba
South African citizens require a visa to enter Cuba based on the current immigration requirements set by Cuba's government. South African passport holders must apply through the Cuba embassy, consulate, or a designated visa application centre before travelling. Requirements are subject to change, so always verify at the official government portal.
⚠️Common Reasons US OFAC General License — 12 approved travel categories; standard tourism prohibited Applications Are Refused6
- !Travelling under a "general license" while actually undertaking prohibited tourism — none of the 12 OFAC categories covers a pure leisure trip, so the self-qualification fails.
- !Inability to evidence a full-time schedule of qualifying activities (for "Support for the Cuban People": staying in casas particulares, eating at private paladares, engaging independent Cuban businesses).
- !Transactions with entities on the US State Department’s Cuba Restricted List, or a stay at a Prohibited Accommodation, which void the authorisation.
- !Failure to keep the required records (itinerary and transactions) for five years — a compliance failure that can trigger OFAC penalties.
- !Not also holding the Cuban eVisa — the OFAC general license is a US authorisation and does not replace Cuba’s own entry visa.
- !Misdeclaring the travel category to the airline at booking, or making false statements about the purpose of travel.
Refusal grounds are at the discretion of the deciding officer and can change. This list is informational — always verify current requirements at the official government portal.
Requirements last reviewed: June 2026 · Source: official government portal