Who can go to Cuba without a license

Authorized Travel to Cuba Without a License

The following travelers may engage in travel transactions while in Cuba:

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Journalists and support broadcasting or technical personnel (regularly employed in that capacity by a news reporting organization and traveling for journalistic activities)

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Official government travelers (traveling on official business)

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Members of international organizations of which the United States is also a member (traveling on official business)

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Persons traveling once a year to visit close relatives in circumstances of humanitarian need (additional trips within one year will need an OFAC specific license)

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Travelers who have received specific licenses from OFAC prior to going

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Full time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to professional research in their professional areas, provided that their research: (1) is of a noncommercial academic nature, (2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba, and (3) as a substantial likelihood of public dissemination

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Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries. The organization, institution, or association sponsoring the meeting or conference may not be headquartered in the United States unless it is specifically licensed to sponsor the meeting. The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to faster production of any biotechnological products

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Amateur or semiprofessional athletes or teams traveling to Cuba to participate in an athletic competition held under the auspices of the relevant international sports federation. The athletes must have been selected for the competition by the relevant US sports federation, and the competition must be one that is open for attendance and in relevant situations, participation, by the Cuban public.

Travelers in the above categories but should be prepared upon re-entry to the U.S. to present a copy of the regulations 515.564b authorizing such travel without a license. In addition, travellers must be prepared to show documentary evidence of your activities undertaken while in Cuba.
For example, those who attended an international conference or meeting that meets regulatory requirements should have available:

a copy of the conference session program or agenda
Documentation showing the name of the organisation, which must not be headquartered in the United States; and
if it has received a specific OFAC license of its own, documentation of that specific licence.

Attending a conference in Cuba

The University of Texas at Austin
License for Transactions
with Cuba

Faculty and staff members planning to attend a conference in Cuba must fit into this regulation:

"Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association that regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries. The organization, institution, or association sponsoring the meeting or conference may not be headquartered in the United States unless it is specifically licensed to sponsor the meeting. The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to faster production of any biotechnological products".

These faculty and staff members need not apply for a license but should be prepared upon re-entry to the U.S. to present a copy of the regulations 515.564b authorizing such travel without a license. In addition, be prepared to support your activities while in Cuba. For example, those who attended an international conference or meeting should have available a copy of the conference session program or agenda.

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Last Updated November 21, 2008