🇨🇺 Cuba visa requirements for South African citizens
South African citizens need an e-visa for Cuba, which can be applied for online before traveling.
Entry rules for South Africa passport holders
Before traveling to Cuba, South African citizens must apply for an electronic visa through the official Cuba government portal. Processing usually takes from a few hours to a few business days, so apply well before your flight. Print a copy of the approval to show at check-in and on arrival.
Entry rules can change at short notice. Always confirm current requirements with the official Cuba immigration authority or your nearest embassy before booking.
How this compares
The South African passport ranks #96 worldwide, opening 98 destinations without a visa arranged in advance (60 visa-free, 33 with a visa on arrival and 5 with an eTA). Cuba is not among them — it is one of the 71 destinations that still require an embassy visa or an application before departure.
The arrangement is reciprocal: Cuban citizens traveling to South Africa face the same requirement (e-visa).
Across Caribbean as a whole, 12 of 13 destinations are open to South African travelers without arranging a visa in advance.
About Cuba
- Capital
- Havana
- Region
- Caribbean
- Currency
- Cuban convertible peso ($)
- Languages
- Spanish
Planning a trip to Cuba?
- Compare flights →
- Tours and activities →
- Airport transfers →
- Claim flight compensation →
- Rent a car locally →
- City attraction passes →
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Frequently asked questions
Do South African citizens need a visa for Cuba?
South African citizens need an e-visa for Cuba, which can be applied for online before traveling.
Can South African citizens apply online for entry to Cuba?
Yes. Cuba offers an online e-visa for South Africa passport holders. Apply through the official government portal before your trip.
What currency is used in Cuba?
The currency in Cuba is the Cuban convertible peso ($). The capital city is Havana.
Is this information up to date?
Current status: e-Visa for South African citizens traveling to Cuba. This page is built from the open Passport Index dataset, which was last updated on 2025-01-12. Visa rules can change between dataset updates, so always confirm with the Cuba embassy or immigration authority before booking.
More of Americas for South African passport holders
Going the other way? South Africa visa requirements for Cuban citizens →
Source data last updated 2025-01-12.