The U.S. imposes substantial restrictions on travel to Cuba.  

Marazul is licensed by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) to make travel arrangements for those individuals and groups who either (a) have obtained a Specific License from OFAC authorizing their travel to Cuba, or (b) are traveling under the general authorization given by OFAC for certain categories of persons without any need for them to apply for a Specific License (this general authorization is called a “General License”). 

The US restrictions on travel apply to all citizens and residents of the US – no matter from what country you travel to Cuba and no matter if you hold citizenship from another country as well. Only persons authorized by OFAC may use the charter service between Miami and Havana. 

Brochure prepared by OFAC describing the restrictions* 

A General License (for which no application is necessary) allows certain categories of travel to Cuba and, if your travel is described by one of these categories, then you can travel and you do not have to make an application to OFAC. Categories under the General License include: 

  - Full-time professionals conducting professional research in Cuba.

  -  Full-time journalists on assignment.

  - Attendance at certain international professional conferences or meetings taking place in Cuba. Travel under a General License to a professional conference or meeting is limited to those conferences or meetings organized by an international entity not based in Cuba or the US and which regularly organizes conferences and meetings in other countries.

 -  Official government travel by officials of the US Government, foreign governments, and international organizations of which the US is a member.

 Marazul’s attorney has written a full description of the U.S. restrictions on professional research and educational activities in Cuba, including attendance at internationally organized and Cuban organized professional meetings.  

Memorandum on Professional Research and Educational Activities* 

A Specific License (for which an application must be sent by an individual or institution to the Office of Foreign Assets Control – OFAC). OFAC will consider issuing a Specific License in a number of categories of travel including: 

- Persons visiting members of their immediate family – but only once every three years – there are no exceptions.

- Business travel for the purpose of exporting food and medicine to Cuba.

- Educational travel by students and faculty at accredited academic institutions– but travel is now very limited and restricted in this category. It is limited to undergraduates and graduate students traveling to spend a minimum of 10 weeks in Cuba in a structured educational program in Cuba, to graduate students conducting research for which they are receiving credit towards their degree, and a few other categories. Please write for further details.

- Travel to attend Cuban-organized professional conferences and symposia.

- Religious travel.

- Free-lance journalists.

- Humanitarian projects.

- Travel for the purpose of public performances, exhibitions and certain athletic competitions.

- Travel by private foundations and educational and research institutes.

- Travel for the purpose of exporting or importing informational materials.

 For a complete description of these categories of travel – and for guidelines to apply for these Specific License, write to us or go to the following OFAC website:

Re Specialized Group Programs in particular professional fields:

    - Prior to 2004, the US Treasury Department issued Specific Licenses for non-academic educational programs to Cuba. This category was eliminated that year.

     - Under the General License allowing professionals to conduct research in their fields, it may be possible for Marazul to assist a group of professionals – all of whom must be in the same field - with a minimum of 5 participants – in arranging a full time research program of meetings and site visits in Cuba. We have had an extensive history of helping to arrange programs for groups of educators, health professionals, architects and planners, attorneys, artists and in other fields as well. Please write for details and please include as much information as you can send us: size of the proposed group, special research interests, projected dates of travel, etc

CATEGORIES OF TRAVEL:

  -General License for Research
  -General and Specific License for Journalists
  -General and Specific License for Conferences and Meetings
  -Family visits
  -Business travel (exporting food/medicine)
  -Educational Travel
  -Religious Travel
  -Humanitarian Travel
  -Private Foundations Research Travel
  -Exporting/Importing Informational Materials

Office of Foreign Assets Regulation:

  Professional Research & Meetings

  Journalistic Activities

  Travel Related to Licensed Exportations

  Academic Activities

  Humanitarian Projects

  Private Foundations and Educational and Research Institutes

  Exportation/Importation of Information and Informational Materials

  Family Visits 

   If you have any questions regarding the Guidelines and Restrictions on traveling to Cuba, please contact our office

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