How Much Can You Bring Back From Cuba

Cigar Addict has not updated its FAQ on travel to Cuba since November 2017. A lot has changed in the last three years, and none of it good for U.S. citizens wanting to visit Cuba. The most recent Trump Administration rules, appear October thirteen, rolled dorsum a key element of legal travel to Cuba that affects Cigar Addict's U.S. readers as much as any other—no more purchases of Cuban cigars and rum to bring home, from wherever you in the globe. Here are the most up-to-appointment answers based on the U.S. Treasury Section's page explaining Cuba Sanctions.

I'm an American denizen. Tin can I still buy Cuban cigars and rum?

Yeah. Americans can still buy Cuban cigars and rum for personal consumption when traveling in Cuba or any country where Cuban cigars are sold. They are no longer allowed, however, to bring those purchases back to the United States. They are also prohibited from importing them by any method into the Usa.

Tin I all the same bring Cuban cigars and rum back to the U.South.?

No. A traveler can purchase Cuban cigars and rum while exterior the United States, only no Cuban alcohol or tobacco production may be brought back to, or imported into, the Usa. Other Cuban products may exist included in accompanied baggage but only as items for personal apply such every bit gifts. Those products may non exist sold.

Ownership a box of Cubans is nevertheless legal, but y'all'd amend finish the cigars abroad. It's now a violation of OFAC police force to bring them dorsum into the U.S.

I'thou an American. Volition I yet be able to travel to Cuba?

Yes. Travel nether the general license, and its 12 permitted categories of authorized activities, remains legal, but the ban created by the Trump assistants in October 2022 prohibiting American citizens from staying in many Cuban hotels makes it far harder for an American to stay in Cuba. (See below for details.)

The 12 permitted categories are:

• Family visits
• Official business concern of the U.Due south. regime, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations
• Journalistic action
• Professional research
• Educational activities
• Religious activities
• Athletic competitions by amateur or semi-professional person athletes or able-bodied teams
• Support for the Cuban people
• Humanitarian projects
• Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes
• Exportation, importation or transmission of information or information materials
• Certain authorized consign transactions

For specific details about each category, specially educational activity and religious related trips, delight check out the U.Southward. Treasury website.

The bar at the Saratoga Hotel in Havana is certainly picturesque, simply information technology's off limits to U.S. travelers, who are no longer allowed to spend coin at the Saratoga, or any other hotels on OFAC's list of restricted businesses.

The prohibition on individual travel, which allowed Americans to travel to Cuba under the people-to-people rule prior to 2022 and keep their own agenda, remains in effect, and has been tightened. All authorized travel under the full general license must now take place with a representative of an system that also qualifies for permitted travel. The one exception remains travel for journalistic purposes, only the department has get more prohibitive, requiring journalists to certificate and attach to a strict schedule of activities related to their work.

Finally, the new regulations emphasize that all authorized travelers and authorized groups must continue an verbal record of their activities, a daily itinerary that details every activity and transaction.

American tourists take had difficulties traveling to Republic of cuba ever since the U.Due south. imposed its full embargo on the island nation in 1962. During the Obama Administration, the regulations were gradually loosened, and while many of the regulations technically remained in effect, they were not strictly enforced. The Trump Administration has re-imposed all the pre-existing regulations and tightened others, while stating that enforcement will exist more rigorous.

You can beverage all the Cuban Havana Club rum you want—in Havana. Bottles of Cuban rum will be confiscated if you're caught trying to smuggle them back into the U.S.

But I have already planned my trip under the old guidelines. Can I still go?

If y'all made a transaction for a trip (for instance: purchasing plane tickets) authorized under the old guidelines prior to the most recent announcement on October 13, 2020, your trip can go on. "Consequent with the Administration'south interest in avoiding negative impacts on Americans for arranging lawful travel to Republic of cuba, any existing travel-related arrangements that include lodging at properties in Republic of cuba identified on the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations Listing will continue to be permitted, provided that those travel-related arrangements were initiated prior to the Land Department's addition of the property to the list as published in the Federal Register".

The Packard Hotel in Havana is some other belongings that U.S. citizens are forbidden to patronize, and that includes the Packard'south cigar bar shown here.

Are Americans prohibited from staying at sure hotels?

Yes. Hotels that are controlled by groups that appear on the Republic of cuba Restricted Listing are now off limits to Americans and they cannot accept whatsoever type of fiscal transaction with those properties, including payment of the lodging costs by a third party. To add to the defoliation, the U.Southward. State Department has published two restricted lists, i of them including just about every hotel in Cuba, from the Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski, to the new Hotel Packard and all the Meliá backdrop. The Treasury Department said only the State Section could comment on the discrepancy, and the State Section did not answer repeated requests for description.

We would suggest adhering to the more stringent of the two lists. In short, that more prohibitive listing ways should an American visit Republic of cuba he or she would not be immune in a hotel, and would have to opt for an Air B&B instead. At that place are private homes listed that are also off-limits, but it'south not clear which listing agency those homes use.

Will enforcement on Cuba travel stiffen subsequently this modify?

The U.South. Treasury Department refers that question to the Customs and Border Patrol segmentation. Equally of October 20, a Customs and Border Patrol spokesperson said it had not received updated guidelines almost enforcement requirements regarding Cuban cigars and rum. And up to now, at that place are no specific reports of heightened scrutiny although Cuba has kept its borders closed to nigh visitors under Covid-based restrictions. But heightened enforcement is likely. The police force states that Americans who travel to Cuba under the 12 authorized categories might face Treasury Section audits. Keeping a periodical of your itinerary while in Cuba on an authorized trip, and saving that periodical, is essential.

Stocking up on Cuban cigars was a preferred activity for American cigar-lovers looking to bring dwelling house boxes of Partagás, Montecristo and other high-scoring Havanas. Every bit of Oct, new OFAC rules prohibit the practice.

What near the Cuban embargo?

That remains in effect. Only U.Due south. Congress can stop the embargo. For now, the text of the Cuba Sanctions section reads as follows: "Please note that the Cuba embargo remains in place, and most transactions between Republic of cuba and the U.s.a., or persons bailiwick to U.S. jurisdiction, continue to be prohibited under the CACR (Cuban Nugget Command Regulations), which are enforced by OFAC."

Are there other facts nearly the new regulations Americans should exist aware of?

Yes. The new rules eliminate the full general license permission to nourish or aid organize professional conferences or meetings in Cuba. Attendance at those kinds of meetings requires a special license granted on a case-by-case basis.

Public performances accept also been curtailed, with but "participation in and organization of able-bodied competitions in Republic of cuba…for able-bodied competitions past apprentice or semi-professional athletes or able-bodied teams." All other types of public performances, clinics, workshops, competitions and exhibitions are now prohibited.

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Source: https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/cuba-travel-faq

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