Starting July 1, 2025, Cuba will require all travelers to obtain an electronic visa (e-visa) before entering the country. This new rule will replace the traditional paper tourist card that visitors have used for years.
The Cuban Ministry of Tourism announced this change in April last year. Following that, the Government of Canada updated its travel advice to inform Canadians and other travelers about the new requirement.
The e-visa system will apply to most visitors, including Canadian tourists, who make up a large part of Cuba’s tourism market. This change aims to modernize Cuba’s entry process, making it faster and more secure while helping officials manage visitor flows and collect better data.
Canadian travelers flying with major airlines like Air Canada, Air Transat, WestJet, or Sunwing may not need to apply for the e-visa themselves. These airlines plan to include the visa cost and processing fees in their ticket prices, handling the application process for their passengers. This makes travel easier and could encourage more Canadians to visit Cuba.
However, travelers using other airlines or those transiting through countries like Mexico or the United States should apply for the e-visa on their own. The e-visa application can be completed online at the official Cuban visa website, evisacuba.com. It is also possible to apply through Cuban consulates in Canada, including the consulate on Décarie Boulevard in Montreal.
