Cuba Passport and Visa Information
Passport
To study abroad, you must have a signed, valid passport from your country of citizenship that will not expire for a minimum of six months after your planned return date. If you do not have a passport, or it's about to expire, make sure you apply or renew as soon as possible! U.S. Citizens can refer to the U.S. Department of State’s website for more information about passports and processing time.
Visa
A student visa is official permission by a foreign government to live and study in that country. You must have a student visa in order to study in Cuba. USAC will assist with this and requires a copy of your passport to facilitate the visa process. Keep this in mind when applying for the program.
Further information will be posted to your USAC Student Gateway account in the Visa Guide, which you will receive after you have been accepted into the program (about four months prior to departure).
Questions? Contact your Program Advisor for more information.
Non-U.S. citizens
Check with your home country consulate, as well as the embassy of the country in which you plan to study, regarding visa requirements. Permanent Residents of the U.S. should check with U.S. Immigration as leaving the country for more than one year may jeopardize permanent resident status. Tax clearance and re-entry forms may also be necessary in these cases.
General License
All U.S. passport holders must obtain a General License stating your purpose of travel to Cuba. USAC conducts their study abroad in Cuba under the guidelines of the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Section 31.C.F.R. § 515. 565 pertaining to educational activities. Further information on how to acquire a General License will be posted to your USAC Student Gateway account in the Visa Guide, which you will receive after you have been accepted into your USAC program (about four months prior to the program start). Your Program Advisor in the Central Office is also available to answer any questions you may have about this process.