Social Science Research Council

United States-based academic researchers working on Cuba-related projects are permitted to travel to Cuba under certain circumstances as determined by United States and Cuban government authorities. Similarly, Cuban scholars are permitted to travel to the United States for educational purposes as dictated and authorized by those authorities. Regulations are complex and change frequently. Neither the Councils nor the Working Group can provide guidance or respond to inquiries regarding the securing of visas and/or licenses for travel between the United States and Cuba. Information should be secured from the appropriate authorities in the United States, Cuba and other relevant governments. The following is a list of useful sources:

For current information on U.S. regulations regarding travel to Cuba, contact the Licensing Division, Office of Foreign Assets Control/U.S. Department of Treasury, 1500 Pennsylvania Ave N.W., Treasury Annex, Washington, D.C. 20220, tel: (202) 622-2480, fax: (202) 622-1657. Info-by-fax service: (202) 622-0077 from a touchtone or fax machine telephone, or via Internet at http://www.treas.gov/ofac/. Information may also be obtained on the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs Cuba Consular Information Webpage: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1097.html.

For current information on Cuban entry and customs requirements, contact the Cuban Interests Section, an office of the Cuban government, located at 2630 16th Street N.W., Washington, D.C. 20009, tel. (202) 797-8518.

Guidelines on securing appropriate documentation for Cuban academics traveling to the United States are set by the U.S. Interests Section of the Swiss Embassy (the U.S. does not maintain an embassy in Cuba), located in Havana, at Calzada between L&M, Vedado; tel. (53-7) 33-4401 through 33-4403. Hours are Monday-Friday, save Cuban and American holidays, 8:30am-5:00pm. U.S. citizens who travel to Cuba may also contact and register with the U.S. Interests Section.

For information on travel to and from Cuba, one of the most well-known travel providers authorized by the U.S. Department of Treasury to arrange trips to Cuba for qualified travelers is Marazul Tours, Inc., located at Tower Plaza, 4100 Park Ave., Weehawken, NJ 07087, Tel: 1-800-223-5334, Fax: (201) 319-9009. Marazul will also provide information on visa requirements, which may vary depending on the travel route taken.