U.S. Dept. of Treasury Cuba Sanctions/Regulations
Departure from the Havana Airport
Your group will need to arrive at the Havana airport 3 hours prior to your departure. At this point, you will check-in and then proceed to the Airport Tax window. All travelers leaving Cuba are required to pay a 25 CUC departure tax. (Please be sure to set this money aside once you have exchanged your money.) Any leftover CUCs may also be converted back to U.S. dollars at the airport.
After paying the departure tax, you will proceed through Immigration where officials will take your visa/tourist card and stamp your ticket. From this point on, you will just proceed through security where you will wait until your flight is ready to board. Please, remember that any cigars, rum, etc. purchased from the duty-free shop cannot be brought back through U.S. Customs.
If you purchased art while in Cuba, you will be asked by customs to show the proper approval in the form of a stamp and /or a form that should have been provided by the artist. All Art sold in Cuba needs to be approved for exportation. Make sure you have with you and accessible the proper paper work.
Arriving back in the United States
Before landing, the flight crew should provide you with a declaration form. This is the same form that you are given when you arrive on any international flight. You will probably recognize it. You will then proceed to clear U.S. Customs and Immigration and the officials will request the form.
Upon arrival, you will immediately go through Immigration where you may be asked to provide your OFAC license and letter of authorization. (We will provide these documents to you prior to your trip.) This will be the only time during your trip that these documents will be necessary. After checking your passport, letter and license, you will be cleared to move on to baggage claim. Upon leaving the baggage claim area, you will provide Customs officials with your declaration form and be cleared to leave the area. Occasionally, officials will do a secondary search of passengers’ luggage, so please be prepared and be sure to declare anything you are bringing home from Cuba.
