Living in Cuba
This guide sets out essential information for British nationals moving to or living in Cuba, including advice on health, education, benefits and residence requirements.
Overview
This guide sets out essential information for British nationals moving to or living in Cuba, including advice on health, education, benefits, and residence requirements. We are unable to provide guidance on general lifestyle enquiries apart from the information and links listed below.
See Our Service information on what we can and cannot do for British nationals.
Support for British Nationals Abroad: A Guide sets out how British nationals can stay safe abroad and how the FCDO can help if you get into difficulty.
Read general guidance on moving or retiring abroad.
To stay up to date: follow the British Embassy Havana on Facebook and Twitter.
This information is provided as a guide only. You should get definitive information from the Cuban Authorities.
Before you go
See our travel advice for Cuba for up-to-date information on entry requirements, local laws and customs, safety and emergencies.
Visas and residency
Check the entry requirements to enter Cuba in our travel advice.
British passport holders need a visa or tourist card to enter Cuba. Make sure you get the correct type of visa if you wish to live, study or work in Cuba.
You should contact the Cuban Embassy in London for advice on entering Cuba for the specific purpose of your trip before you travel.
The Cuban immigration authorities issue visas, and they may ask you to provide supporting evidence to your application.
Passports and travel
You can apply for or renew your British passport from Cuba if you reside in the island.
Check the Cuba travel advice for passport validity requirements.
Healthcare in Cuba
Contact your GP 8 weeks before you plan to travel to Cuba to check whether you need any vaccinations or other preventive measures. Country-specific information and advice is published by the National Travel Health Network and Centre. Useful information about healthcare abroad, including a country-by-country guide of reciprocal health care agreements with the UK, is available from NHS Choices.
There is no reciprocal healthcare agreement between Cuba and the UK.
Cuba has a state-run health system. British nationals with Permanent Resident status in Cuba are entitled to the same free health services as Cuban nationals. Tourists and temporary residents are not eligible for this and should ensure they have adequate health and travel insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation.
Medical facilities in Havana are better than elsewhere in Cuba, but you may need to be medically evacuated if you need specialist care. This can be very expensive. If you need medical treatment in Cuba you - or your insurance company - will be expected to pay by card in foreign currency. Cash payment is not allowed.
See list of medical facilities. If you are a Resident, check if the green health card is valid in these facilities, as some services may be chargeable. The Cuban Assistance Company ASISTUR (links to Facebook page) provides Health Insurance policies which may help cover these costs.
Healthcare professionals are usually well-trained in all medical specialties but hospital facilities are generally lacking due to a shortage of equipment and lack of maintenance. Psychiatric care facilities for foreigners are limited and difficult to access.
UK Travel insurance providers will not generally cover your healthcare costs if you live overseas.
Medicine
Many medicines are unavailable in Cuba. You should bring a sufficient supply of any prescription drugs you take regularly. You should consult your GP before travelling to Cuba to find out about any alternative medication if needed. A copy of the prescription and a letter from your doctor explaining your condition may be helpful. For further information, see our travel advice.
Working in Cuba
If you are planning to move to Cuba and work, you need a visa and work permit. Contact the Cuban Embassy in London for advice on entry requirements for this specific purpose. The Ministry of Labour and Social Security is the competent body responsible for authorising and granting work permits in Cuba.
Studying in Cuba
If you plan to study in Cuba, you must meet all visa requirements before you travel. Contact the Cuban Embassy in London for advice on entry requirements for this purpose.
Education
There are only a few bilingual schools in Cuba (admitting pupils from 2 to 18 years old approximately):
Education is free for Cuban nationals. Further information on Education in Cuba can be found from the Ministerio de Educación and Ministerio de Educación Superior.
Tax
The UK does not have a double taxation agreement with Cuba. You should get professional advice on paying tax in Cuba. Find an English-speaking lawyer in Cuba.
Read guidance on:
- tax if you leave the UK to live abroad
- tax on your UK income if you live abroad
- tax if you get a pension and live abroad
- paying National Insurance while abroad to protect your State Pension and entitlement to other benefits and allowances
Benefits
Check which UK benefits you can claim while abroad and how to claim them.
Many income-related benefits such as Pension Credit and Housing Benefit cannot be paid if you’re abroad for more than 4 weeks.
Pensions
If you retire in Cuba, see information on your Pension.
Your UK State Pension will likely not be paid into a Cuban bank account, given international banking restrictions as a result of US sanctions.
Life certificates for UK State Pension
If you get a ‘life certificate’ from the UK Pension Service, you must respond as soon as possible. Your payments may be suspended if you do not.
Banking
As a British national, you can only open a bank account in Cuba if you have a residence permit.
Accommodation and buying property
You should consult the list of Cuban lawyers with relevant experience on related matters before purchasing any property in Cuba for private/business purposes.
There is no Legal Section in the British Embassy and Consular staff are not legally trained to advise on legal matters, in private disputes over property, or other issues.
Driving in Cuba
Read the guidance below on what actions you must take to drive legally in Cuba.
Residents and visitors must hold a valid licence or permit. As a visitor, you can use your original licence issued in your own country up to 6 months from your date of entry in Cuba. You will need to have a local licence after that time. This can be acquired by submitting an application to the transit office located in the municipality where you reside. The process takes around two weeks.
To acquire a Cuban driving licence on the basis of your British licence, you will need to:
- show that you hold a valid UK driving licence and a Cuban permanent or temporary residency card
- present copies of these documents and a letter from the UK Consulate in Havana supporting the request to the Cuban Transit Office (Oficinas de Licencia de Conducción)
- provide 2 photos of 1x1 inches, stamps of a value of 30.00 Cuban pesos for the payment of tax
- include a medical certificate confirming your physical and mental fitness to drive, if you are 65 or over
- undergo a medical check-up every 2 years to validate your fitness to drive, if you are 70 or over
For more information see Driving Abroad.
If you’re asked for a letter authenticating, certifying or validating your UK driver’s licence, you should contact your UK issuing office (i.e. the DVLA). You can also:
- call the DVLA Contact Centre on: +44 300 790 6801 (opening hours - Monday to Friday 8am to 7 pm and Saturday 8am to 2pm)
- email them at DVRE.GBdriver@dvla.gsi.gov.uk. For security reasons, their reply will be sent over several e-mails
- write to them at: Driver & Vehicle Licensing Authority, DVRE, D9, Morriston, Swansea, SA6 7JL, UK
Use the free view Driving Licence service to view information held on DVLA records.
Check how you can view or share your driving licence information on www.gov.uk/dvla/nomorecounterpart.
See guidance for travelling by road in Cuba.
If you wish to take your vehicle with you, see https://www.gov.uk/taking-vehicles-out-of-uk.
Disabled drivers
If you have a UK Blue Badge and move to Cuba, you must return it to the original UK issuing authority.
Voting
You may be able to vote in some UK elections. You can:
You cannot vote in general elections, referendums, or local elections in Cuba unless you have Cuban citizenship.
Births, deaths, marriage and civil partnership
Births
If your child is born in Cuba you can register the birth with the UK authorities and apply for a UK birth certificate. See guidance on how to register a birth in the UK in addition to registering locally.
If your child has British nationality you do not need to register the birth with the UK authorities to apply for a British passport. See also: https://www.gov.uk/overseas-passports.
Deaths
If someone dies in Cuba, read our guidance on what to do if someone dies abroad.
See:
Marriage and civil partnership
Same sex marriages were recognised and approved in Cuba in October 2022 in a Referendum for the new Family Code.
You may also need a lawyer and a translator in Cuba.
See marriage abroad.
Pets
For information on importing pets to Cuba, you should consult with the Cuban Ministry of Agriculture.
Read guidance by the Ministry of Agriculture in Cuba on how to import pets to Cuba (in Spanish).
For exporting pets to the UK, you should consult UK regulations.
Emergencies
In case of an emergency in Cuba dial the following numbers:
- police: 106
- fire brigade: 105
- ambulance: 104
If you have been a victim of rape and sexual assault, see our guidance.
If you’re the victim of a crime, have been arrested, or are affected by a crisis, contact the British Embassy Havana.
Read the guidance on international parental child abduction if you think your child may be at risk of this.
You may also need a lawyer if you are involved in any of these situations.
Returning to the UK
Read the guidance on returning to the UK permanently which includes information on bringing family members, tax and access to services.
Disclaimer
This information is provided as a general guide and is based upon information provided to the embassy by the relevant local authorities and may be subject to change at any time with little or no notice. The FCDO and the British Embassy will not be liable for any inaccuracies in this information. British nationals wishing to obtain any further information must contact the relevant Cuban authorities.
Last updated 23 May 2023 + show all updates
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Routine review - guide updated overall.
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Living in Guide reviewed and updated - May 2021
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Coronavirus section added with a link to guidance on vaccines
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Amended January 2018
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First published.