Passports/Visas
Passports/Visas in the Caribbean
As a visitor to most Caribbean islands you will require a passport which is valid for at least 6 months from your date of entry, along with a valid return airline ticket. This now applies to all American and Canadian citizens, whilst British citizens are required to hold a full 10-year passport.
Visa requirements vary according to your nationality and which island you are planning to visit. If no Visa is required, there will be a limit to the amount of time you are allowed to stay. This can vary but is usually not less than 90 days.
American, Canadian, British and EU citizens do not require a visa for short stays to: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada and Carriacou, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Montserrat, Nevis, Puerto Rico, Saba, St Barths, St Eustatius, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Martin/St Maarten, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Tobago, Trinidad, Turks & Caicos Islands, USVI.
For Cuba: In order to travel to Cuba, US citizens must be licensed by the Department of Treasury. Only select categories of travellers, usually for family reasons and certain restricted businesses, are licensable. US citizens who are licensed require a passport valid for at least three months and a visa for entry. With these exceptions, travel to the country is illegal under American law due to the US embargo. Some Americans do however visit by travelling through a third country, for instance Mexico or Jamaica.
Other nationalities are free to visit Cuba. Travellers must have a valid passport to enter the island as well as proof of a return or outward journey.
Most tourists must buy a tourist visa card (visada tarjeta del turista) before travelling, these can be purchased from a Cuban embassy or a tour operator. It is usually valid for 30 days and can be extended once for another 30 days at any immigration office in Cuba - beyond this you would need a pretty good reason. The tourist visa is stamped upon arrival and is removable from your passport.
All the information above may be subject to change and is intended only as a guide. Please check with the relevant High Commission or with your travel organiser for entry/visa requirements before you book your visit.
