 Cuba : Formalities
Clearance can only be obtained at ports which have a marina. The main port of entry for yachts is Hemingway Marina immediately to the west of Havana. All ports with marinas have tourist facilities and are used to clearing in yachts. The commercial port of Havana should not be entered as it has no provision for clearing yachts.
As soon as Cuban territorial waters are entered 12 miles off the Cuban coast a yacht must contact the port authorities or coastguard (Guarda Frontera) on VHF Channel 16 or HF 2128KHz.
The various authorities operate as follows:-
HF(SSB) 2760KHz Red Costera Nacional (coastguard net)
2790KHz Red Turistica (tourist net)
VHF Channel 68 port authorities
Channel 19 tourist services.
The following details should be communicated: name of yacht, flag, port of registry, last port of call, intended port of arrival in Cuba with approximate ETA, type of yacht and number of people on board. The captain will then be given instructions to proceed. Channel 16 is also monitored by the marinas and they will also provide assistance and instructions where to anchor or tie up. In no circumstances should one attempt to arrive unannounced or anchor in a bay.
Once moored in port, wait for the officials to arrive and no one must go ashore until clearance is complete. There will be quite a few officials involved.
Clearance must first be obtained from Quarantine health officials, after which are the visits by immigration, customs, agriculture department officials and Guarda Frontera (Coast Guard). These officials are based in the marina and clearance is usually completed promptly.
After clearance is completed, a coastwise cruising permit can be obtained. Although entry formalities are lengthy with much paperwork, the officials are usually good natured and it all adds up to the excitement of visiting this country which for so long has been off limits.
Twenty-four hours' notice of departure should be given, if possible, even if sailing to another port in Cuba. Before departure one must clear out with the Guarda Frontera who will retain the despacho and issue a new exit despacho (clearance certificate). One must also clear out with customs and immigration.
Sometimes a small gift (such as a coke or pen) is requested, although it has been reported that the officials in Havana may be more demanding.
Last updated February 2010.
Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond your planned stay.
A 30-day tourist visa should be obtained in advance; it is available from travel agencies, Cuban consulates, or foreign airports with flights to Cuba. The Tourist Card is valid for 30 days, beginning the day you arrive. It is renewable for a further 30 days (but no longer) in most major cities. This process is speeded up if some six copies of the crew list are prepared with all crew passport details.
The cost of the card depends on the country in which it is purchased (usually $15 -25 US). The 30 day extension costs $25 US and can be arranged at the Cuban immigration offices, with a stamp that must be purchased at an international bank before going to the immigration office.
For longer stays it is advisable to arrive with a visa obtained in advance. Yachts may remain in Cuba for an unlimited period, provided this is cleared with the authorities and all docking fees are paid in advance.
Some Latin American countries will not admit someone with a passport stamped in Cuba, but if asked, Cuban officials will not stamp passports. It appears that the US government cannot stop its citizens from visiting Cuba, but for the time being it may be advisable for US citizens not to have their passport stamped in Cuba. The Cuban Interests Section and the Swiss embassy in Washington DC deal with visa applications.
Last updated February 2010.
If a yacht is staying a long time in one of the marinas, firearms will be impounded by the Coast Guard (Guarda Frontera). If the yacht is cruising along the coast, firearms must be declared every time the boat checks in at a new port and may be confiscated until departure or alternatively sealed on board, placed under the responsibility of the captain. The seals and arms will be inspected when clearing out.
Other items such as portable GPS, radios, flares and telephones may be sealed onboard by Customs until departure.
All plant, animal and meat products that are not canned must be declared to the health authorities on arrival. Fresh eggs and chicken may not be imported. Reasonable quantities of canned meat, dairy or vegetable produce can be imported for the crew's own consumption.
The yacht can remain as long as the length of the tourist card issued to the crew and indefinitely if based permanently in one of the marinas.
Due to the increasing use of Cuba as a staging post for drugs, a sniffer dog may be used to search the boat on arrival.
Last updated February 2010.
Once initial clearance is completed, a coastwise cruising permit (despacho de navegacion - costera) can be obtained from the Coast Guard. This clearance permit will specify the areas the yacht wishes to visit and the length of time planned for the cruise. It is best to put all possibilities where one might want to stop on this despacho as it is more difficult to add new stops later on. Although the clearance permits a yacht to cruise and anchor along the coast, if any of the ports of entry mentioned above are entered, one has to go through the clearance procedure again.
When cruising along the coast, one must report to the Guarda Frontera office in every port. This is normally located at the harbour or bay entrance. All papers are usually inspected and the cruising permit is kept until departure. It is often necessary to check in with customs and immigration also, especially if moving from province to province. It should be possible for the despacho just to be stamped by each Guarda, but some provinces may insist on a new despacho being issued. Although the paperwork seems daunting, officials are usually good natured and pleasant. The authorities are making a genuine effort to attract more yachts and formalities may be eased in the future.
Documents required on entry are:- Clearance from your last port, ships papers, crew list showing full name, date of birth, passport number, date of issue, position on board.
Entry or exit clearance fee is about $CUC 45 during normal working hours (0800-1700 weekdays). Clearance fees are paid to customs, quarantine and agriculture.
A cruising permit costs about $CUC15.
There is a charge for the Tourist card/visa.
It is forbidden to land at unauthorised places along the coast and also to take any other person on board the yacht apart from those on the crew list.
Cruising boats are not allowed to fish in Cuban waters. Scuba diving can only be done through the Tourist Office with an official instructor. Spearfishing is prohibited and no marine life, flora, fauna or any other object may be taken from the sea.
No archaeological objects should be removed, defaced or exported.
Cuban cizitizens are prohibited from visiting foreign flagged yachts and in some marinas even foreign crews are not allowed to go on board other yachts.
Animals must have health certificates and anti-rabies vaccinations. No animal may be landed without a permit from the health authority (Filosanitario) which requires a minimum two week quarantine period and costs US$25. Yachts with animals onboard are usually required to stay at anchor and not tie to a dock.
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