What can you bring into Cuba duty-free?

Personal effects — clothing, toiletries, a laptop, a camera and a phone — enter duty-free. Cuba has also run a temporary tariff exemption on many basic goods (food, medicine, toiletries) that has been extended repeatedly, and medicines are generally allowed duty-free when packed separately from the rest of your luggage. These are time-sensitive measures set by resolution — check the sourced table above for the current limits and the date we last reviewed them.

How much cash can you bring into Cuba, and must you declare it?

You may bring in cash, but amounts at or above the declaration threshold must be declared to Cuban customs on arrival, and undeclared currency can be held. The current threshold and rules are cited in the sourced section above; confirm against the live resolution before you travel.

Can you bring Cuban cigars and rum back to the United States?

No. Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco cannot be brought into the U.S. as accompanied baggage, regardless of value — a U.S. sanctions rule that is separate from Cuban customs. Plan any cigar or rum purchases with that in mind.

Can you take a drone into Cuba?

Drones are frequently held by Cuban customs on arrival and returned to you on departure; declare it and do not count on flying it. The rule changes — check the official customs source above before you pack one.

Cuba customs

Customs runs in two directions — what you bring into Cuba, and what you may bring back. Both depend on your items and your return country, and both change. Build a personalized customs roadmap rather than relying on a fixed list.

Build my customs roadmap →

These figures are time-sensitive. Cuba’s personal-import exemptions are temporary measures that have been extended and adjusted many times; each row below cites the specific resolution it comes from. We review this page weekly, but always confirm against the current resolution before you travel or ship. Returning to the U.S., Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco cannot be brought in as accompanied baggage.Last reviewed 2026-07-26. See Cuba Now for changes as they break.

Live — recent official changes

checked in real time

Checking official sources…

Travellers & personal imports (personas naturales)

What an arriving passenger may bring, and the duty above the free allowance. Rates are charged on customs value, not purchase price.

Resolución 352/2020 (MFP), in force 1 Jan 2021

Duty-free allowance: First 50.99 USD of value per tripPersonal-use items within this margin enter free.
Resident — first import of the year: Reduced rate (about 4%–8% of value)The concessional band for a resident's first annual importation.
Subsequent / non-resident / foreign passengers: ≈100% (51–500.99 USD) and ≈200% (501–1,000 USD)Progressive; higher value bands attract higher rates.

↗ MFP — Resolución 352/2020

Baggage & shipments (2026 adjustment)

Limits for unaccompanied baggage and for parcels sent by air, sea or post.

Aduana General de la República, adjustment effective January 2026

Unaccompanied baggage (equipaje no acompañado): Up to 500 USD / 50 kgDuty treatment within the margin follows the exempt product categories below.
Shipments / parcels (envíos): Limit 200 USD / 20 kgValued at 1 kg = 10 USD for assessment.

↗ Aduana — legislación viajeros

Non-commercial exemption — food, hygiene & medicine

An exceptional, temporary measure — extended repeatedly since 2021. It is the single most volatile customs rule; confirm the current resolution before relying on it.

Resolución 9/2026 (MFP), Gaceta Oficial 17 Jan 2026, in force 1 Feb 2026

Accompanied baggage: Unlimited value, duty-freeFor food, hygiene products, medicine and medical supplies — must be packed separately from other baggage to qualify.
Shipments (envíos): Value ceiling raised 200 → 500 USD; first 30 USD exempt, 30% on the excessFor the same product categories.
Expiry: No fixed end date — “while the conditions persist”Successor to Resoluciones 921, 858 and 836. Historically re-issued; treat as provisional.

↗ MFP — resolutions index

Commercial imports (personas jurídicas)

The tariff businesses (including MIPYMES importing through an authorized state trading enterprise) pay on commercial goods.

Resolución Conjunta 1/2021 (MFP + MINCEX), Gaceta Oficial 14 Jan 2022, in force 1 Jan 2022

Nomenclature: Harmonized System (Cuban SACLAP 2022)260+ pages of headings; each HS line has its own rate.
General ad valorem rate: ≈10% for most goodsIndividual headings vary — confirm the specific HS line in the official arancel.

↗ Aduana — arancel comercial

Official customs sources

↗ Aduana — traveller rulesPassenger fee tables & allowances.↗ Aduana — unaccompanied baggageBaggage limits and duties.↗ Aduana — commercial tariffThe Harmonized-System arancel.↗ Aduana — FAQQuotes the current resolutions.↗ MFP — resolutionsWhere new exemption extensions appear first.↗ Gaceta OficialAuthoritative text of any new resolution.

Cuban government sites (aduana.gob.cu, mfp.gob.cu, gacetaoficial.gob.cu) are frequently slow or offline — retry if a link fails.

Return-country sources

Cuban customs legal framework update (Jan 2026) · verified 2026-07-20 · volatile
CBP — Cuban alcohol & tobacco not allowed as accompanied baggage✓ · verified 2026-07-20 · periodic
CBP — many ordinary items are prohibited/restricted · verified 2026-07-20 · stable
CBP — pleasure-boat departure & return reporting · verified 2026-07-20 · stable

Frequently asked questions

What can you bring into Cuba duty-free?: Personal effects — clothing, toiletries, a laptop, a camera and a phone — enter duty-free. Cuba has also run a temporary tariff exemption on many basic goods (food, medicine, toiletries) that has been extended repeatedly, and medicines are generally allowed duty-free when packed separately from the rest of your luggage. These are time-sensitive measures set by resolution — check the sourced table above for the current limits and the date we last reviewed them.
How much cash can you bring into Cuba, and must you declare it?: You may bring in cash, but amounts at or above the declaration threshold must be declared to Cuban customs on arrival, and undeclared currency can be held. The current threshold and rules are cited in the sourced section above; confirm against the live resolution before you travel.
Can you bring Cuban cigars and rum back to the United States?: No. Cuban-origin alcohol and tobacco cannot be brought into the U.S. as accompanied baggage, regardless of value — a U.S. sanctions rule that is separate from Cuban customs. Plan any cigar or rum purchases with that in mind.
Can you take a drone into Cuba?: Drones are frequently held by Cuban customs on arrival and returned to you on departure; declare it and do not count on flying it. The rule changes — check the official customs source above before you pack one.