The visa for Cuba is rather controversial since there isn’t much information about it on the internet. So here’s my attempt at dispelling all doubts regarding entry requirements into Cuba for Indians.
We travelled to Cuba in January 2012. Since we flew in from Mexico, we were able to purchase what they call a tourist card. This costed us 250 Mexican Pesos (approximately USD 20). The tourist card is available to anyone regardless of nationality. You simply buy it, fill in your details and you’re ready to arrive in Cuba. Present it at immigration in Cuba and they’ll let you in with a stamp on it. You need to keep this card with you until you leave Cuba.
The tourist card acts as your visa for Cuba.
You can also purchase the tourist card on board most flights to Cuba. If you’re flying in from another location, make sure you confirm with the airline that they do indeed have the cards available.
If not, you can also purchase them just before immigration when you arrive at Havana airport.
Just be careful to not make any mistakes while filling in your card. If you make an error, you will need to purchase a new card.
So there you have it. No prior visa is required for Indians (or anyone else) traveling to Cuba. All you need is your passport, USD 20, and the spirit to enjoy a country that is truly unique in this day and age of globalization!
Update – 20th Oct 2016:
There’s been a lot of speculation about whether this possibility still exists or not. Several readers have posted their experiences below. However, one of our readers did recently manage to buy the tourist card in a Mexican airport and then visit Cuba. So, it appears that this is still possible.