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🇿🇦 Does a South African need a visa for Cuba 🇨🇺?

What this means for your trip

An e-Visa is applied for on the destination's official government website. You upload your passport scan and photo, pay online and receive an approval letter by email.

Apply well before departure and print the approval; use only the official portal, as many look-alike sites charge extra.

Your passport should normally be valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure date and have blank pages for stamps; many countries apply this rule.

Cuba at a glance

Capital: Havana · Currency: Cuban convertible peso (CUC, $); Cuban peso (CUP, $) · Official languages: Spanish · Calling code: +53

U.S. State Department travel advisory for Cuba: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (updated 7 May 2025). It is written for U.S. citizens; read the advisory before you book.

Plugs and voltage

You need a travel adapter: Cuba uses plug types A, B, South Africa uses C, D, M, N. Mains voltage differs (Cuba: 110 V; South Africa: 230 V): most phone and laptop chargers accept 100–240 V, but single-voltage devices such as some hair dryers need a converter.

More about entering Cuba →

Your embassy in Cuba

If your passport is lost or stolen, or you need help in an emergency in Cuba, contact the embassy of South Africa:

• Embassy of South Africa in Cuba · Avenida 5ta, No 4201, esq 42

Missions from Wikidata (CC0), checked 2026-09-26. Addresses and opening hours change: check the mission's website before you go.

Easier destinations near Cuba for South African passport holders

• 🇦🇬 Antigua and Barbuda — Visa-free 180 days
• 🇧🇸 Bahamas — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇧🇧 Barbados — Visa-free 180 days
• 🇩🇲 Dominica — Visa-free 180 days
• 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic — Visa-free
• 🇬🇩 Grenada — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇭🇹 Haiti — Visa-free 90 days
• 🇯🇲 Jamaica — Visa-free

The other way round

🇨🇺 Cuban passport holders visiting South Africa: Cuban passport holders need a visa for South Africa, and it can be applied for online as an e-Visa before travelling.

The South African passport at a glance

All destinations for South Africa passport holders → · Who needs a visa for Cuba →

Questions