Flights and air formalities

On arrival

Cuban customs: what you can bring

Cuba rewrote the passenger regime in October 2026: the noncommercial limits stay, and anything beyond them can now be cleared as a commercial import paid in US dollars instead of being seized. The rows below are read from the Gaceta Oficial and the Ministry of Finance and Prices; duty is charged on the customs value, not your receipt.

Personal effects and the duty-free margin

Personal effects enter free. Other noncommercial goods are duty-free up to 50.99 USD of value per trip.Resolución 352/2020 of the Ministry of Finance and Prices (MFP), in force since 1 Jan 2021. Duty is assessed on the import value, not the receipt.Source: MFP — passenger tariff: 50.99 USD duty-free margin, 100%/200% bands (Resolución 352/2020)✓ verified 2026-10-24

Food, hygiene products, medicines, medical supplies, generators

Duty-free with no value limit when brought as noncommercial imports. Up to 2 generators.MFP Resolutions 9 and 10 of 2026; the MFP confirmed on 21 Oct 2026 that they stay in force while the conditions persist and that any repeal gets at least 30 days' notice.Source: MFP Q&A — food, hygiene, medicine, medical-supply and generator exemption stays in force (Res. 9 and 10 of 2026)✓ verified 2026-10-24 · Gaceta Oficial No. 83 (5 Oct 2026) — Decreto-Ley 132, Res. 197/2026 (MFP), Res. 340/2026 (Aduana) full text✓ verified 2026-10-24

Noncommercial goods above the margin

Duty in Cuban pesos: 100% of value from 51 to 500.99 USD and 200% from 501 to 1,000 USD for non-residents and repeat importers; residents pay 4% to 8% on their first import of the year.Noncommercial baggage is capped at 1,000 USD of value (Decreto-Ley 22 of 2020). Miscellany (clothes, shoes, food, toiletries) can be valued by weight at 10 USD per kg.Source: MFP — passenger tariff: 50.99 USD duty-free margin, 100%/200% bands (Resolución 352/2020)✓ verified 2026-10-24 · Gaceta Oficial No. 83 (5 Oct 2026) — Decreto-Ley 132, Res. 197/2026 (MFP), Res. 340/2026 (Aduana) full text✓ verified 2026-10-24

Over 1,000 USD, or commercial quantities (since 12 Oct 2026)

Customs clears what fits the noncommercial rules, then offers a second clearance for the rest, paid in US dollars: 15% up to 2,000 USD, 20% on the next 2,000, 25% up to 6,000, 30% above, plus a service fee of 2 to 50 USD.Decreto-Ley 132/2026, MFP Resolución 197/2026 and Aduana Resolución 340/2026 (Gaceta Oficial No. 83, 5 Oct 2026). Pay by card in USD; cash only at airports. If you decline you may re-export the goods; otherwise they are seized. Repeated commercial-looking imports can suspend your right to import.Source: MFP — goods over the noncommercial limits may be cleared as commercial imports paid in USD (Decreto-Ley 132/2026, Res. 197/2026, Res. 340/2026)✓ verified 2026-10-24 · Gaceta Oficial No. 83 (5 Oct 2026) — Decreto-Ley 132, Res. 197/2026 (MFP), Res. 340/2026 (Aduana) full text✓ verified 2026-10-24

How many of the same item

Usually up to 5 units of one article (3 if each is worth over 50 USD) and 5 kg of a single miscellany item; up to 5 mobile phones and 3 computers of any kind; the excess goes to the USD clearance.Aduana Resolución 340/2026, Annex III and chapter 5 (computing and communications equipment). Routers, radio transmitters and satellite phones need MINCOM authorisation.Source: Gaceta Oficial No. 83 (5 Oct 2026) — Decreto-Ley 132, Res. 197/2026 (MFP), Res. 340/2026 (Aduana) full text✓ verified 2026-10-24 · MFP — goods over the noncommercial limits may be cleared as commercial imports paid in USD (Decreto-Ley 132/2026, Res. 197/2026, Res. 340/2026)✓ verified 2026-10-24

Flying home to the United States

Cuban alcohol and tobacco may not be brought into the U.S. as accompanied baggage, whatever the value.Enjoy them in Cuba. Many ordinary items are also restricted on U.S. entry.Source: CBP — Cuban alcohol & tobacco not allowed as accompanied baggage✓ verified 2026-10-24 · CBP — many ordinary items are prohibited/restricted✓ verified 2026-10-24

Verified 2026-10-24 against Gaceta Oficial No. 83 (5 Oct 2026) and the MFP notices of 7 and 21 Oct 2026. The Aduana website (aduana.gob.cu) was offline for maintenance at that check. Cuba’s exemptions are temporary measures that have changed many times; confirm against the current resolution before you pack. CubaAtlas cites authorities; it does not clear customs.