Europe is getting ready to launch the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS), a new electronic requirement that will cost 20 euros and will affect millions of travelers who currently can enter without a visa for short stays.
But for Cubans, there is a fundamental difference: ETIAS will not replace the Schengen visa for those traveling exclusively with a Cuban passport.
Cuba remains among the countries whose citizens require a visa to cross European external borders. Therefore, the new system will primarily affect Cuban-Americans and Cubans holding a second citizenship from a visa-exempt country, such as the United States or Canada, when using that second passport for travel.
The official ETIAS page of the European Union states that the system will be operational during the last quarter of 2026, although no specific date has been announced yet.
The European Union itself warns that ETIAS is not yet operational and applications are currently not being accepted.
What is ETIAS?
ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization aimed at citizens of countries that can currently enter certain European countries without a visa application required in advance.
It is not a visa.
The authorization will be electronically linked to the passport used in the application and will allow for short-term travel, usually up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
An approved authorization does not automatically guarantee entry. At the border, the traveler will still need to meet the relevant immigration requirements.
A Cuban traveling alone with a Cuban passport will not need to request ETIAS
This is probably the most important point for the Cuban audience.
The European regulation that establishes which nationalities need a visa keeps Cuba on the list of countries subject to the visa requirement.
Therefore, a Cuban citizen who only possesses and uses a Cuban passport will not be able to replace the Schengen visa with an ETIAS authorization.
You will still need to apply for the corresponding visa to travel, for example, to Spain, France, Italy, or Germany for a short stay.
In Cuba, Spain will begin operations at a new Visa Application Center in Havana on October 5th. CiberCuba recently explained which Schengen visa procedures will take place at this new location.
Cuban with a U.S. passport: yes, you will need ETIAS
The situation changes for a Cuban who also holds U.S. citizenship.
The United States is among the countries whose nationals can travel to Europe without applying for a visa in advance for short stays, and whose citizens will be subject to ETIAS.
Therefore, a Cuban American traveling to Europe using their United States passport will need to apply for ETIAS once the system is operational.
The same logic applies to those who also hold Canadian, Argentine, Brazilian, Chilean, Mexican, Colombian, Uruguayan citizenship or any other nationalities included in the European visa exemption regime.
What happens if you have two passports?
The European Union has a particularly important rule for those with dual citizenship: the ETIAS authorization is tied to the passport used to make the application.
If a person holds citizenship from a country that requires a visa and another citizenship from a visa-exempt country, they can choose which passport to travel with.
For example, a Cuban who is also a U.S. citizen could:
Traveling with a U.S. passport: you will need ETIAS when the system is operational.
Traveling with a Cuban passport: you will need the appropriate European visa.
If you obtain ETIAS using your U.S. passport, you must travel with that same passport. Using another document may prevent the airline from confirming the authorization before boarding.
And what about Cubans who are also Spanish?
The case of a Cuban with Spanish citizenship is different.
A Spanish citizen is a citizen of the European Union and, therefore, does not need ETIAS to travel within the European countries covered by the system.
The EU stipulates that individuals who hold citizenship from a European country as well as another nationality must use the document issued by the European country for these travels.
For example, a person with Cuban and Spanish citizenship should travel using their Spanish passport and would not need an ETIAS authorization.
What happens with Cubans residing in Europe?
There are also exceptions for certain individuals who, although they do not have European citizenship, possess a residence permit or card issued by one of the European countries covered by ETIAS.
The European Union includes those travelers among the categories that are exempt from the ETIAS authorization requirement.
This means that a Cuban with documented legal residency in Spain or another participating country must check the conditions related to their residency permit and travel with the required documentation for their situation, rather than assuming they need ETIAS.
ETIAS will cost 20 euros
The official fee to submit an application will be 20 euros.
The European Union initially planned a price of seven euros, but later raised the fee to the current 20 euros.
The payment will be made electronically during the application process.
There are some travelers who will be exempt from payment, including:
Under 18 years old.
People over 70 years old.
Certain family members of European Union citizens who meet the established conditions.
Being exempt from paying the fee does not necessarily mean being exempt from needing ETIAS. A U.S. minor, for example, may still require authorization even if they do not have to pay the 20 euros.
How long will it be valid?
An approved ETIAS authorization will have a maximum validity of three years.
However, if the passport used to apply for it expires beforehand, ETIAS will also become invalid.
If the traveler obtains a new passport, they must request a new authorization linked to the new document.
Most requests will be resolved within minutes
The European Union states that most applications should be processed within a few minutes.
However, some cases may take longer.
If an additional examination is necessary, the decision may take up to four days. This period can be extended to 14 days if additional documentation is requested and up to 30 days if the traveler is called for an interview.
Therefore, European authorities recommend not to leave the application for the same day as the trip.
What information will ETIAS request?
The electronic form will request personal information and details from the travel document.
Among the anticipated data are:
Name and surname.
Date and place of birth.
Nationality.
Address and contact details.
Passport information.
Educational level and profession.
Basic information about the planned trip.
Certain criminal convictions.
Previous trips to war or conflict zones.
Certain previous migration decisions.
Minors will also need their own authorization when they fall within the required categories, although the application must be submitted by the person exercising parental authority or guardianship.
Spain will be one of the countries that will require ETIAS
ETIAS will be mandatory for visa-exempt travelers visiting 30 European countries.
Among them are Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Norway, and Sweden, as well as other countries in the European Union and associated countries.
This is especially relevant for Cuban Americans who use Spain as a gateway to Europe.
Do not confuse ETIAS with the biometric EES system
ETIAS should not be confused with the Entry and Exit System (EES).
The EES electronically records the entries and exits of non-European travelers and has gradually replaced the traditional manual passport stamping.
That system has been fully operational since April 2026.
The fundamental difference is simple: EES registers the traveler when they cross the border; ETIAS will be an authorization that certain passengers must obtain before starting their journey.
For now, there's nothing to request
The European Union currently maintains the launch of ETIAS for the last quarter of 2026, but it has not yet communicated the exact date it will begin to require it.
European authorities indicate that they will announce the specific date several months before the start and remind that currently no applications are being accepted.
When the system is activated, the process must be carried out through the official ETIAS website or its official mobile application.
The warning is especially important given the proliferation of private pages that are already offering supposed ETIAS procedures: if the official system is not yet accepting applications, no intermediary can obtain a valid authorization for a traveler at this time.
In summary: what each Cuban should do
Only Cuban passport: will still require a visa for a short stay in the corresponding European area; ETIAS does not replace it.
Cuban and American passport: you will be able to travel with the American one and will need ETIAS when it comes into effect.
Cuban and Canadian passport or other exempt nationality: you will need ETIAS if you use that visa-exempt passport.
Cuban and Spanish citizenship or other EU citizenship: does not need ETIAS if traveling with the corresponding European passport.
Legal resident with a card or permit issued by a participating European country: you must review the rules of your residence document, as these categories are outside the ordinary scope of ETIAS.
The key will not simply be having been born in Cuba or retaining Cuban citizenship, but rather what nationality and what passport the person uses to enter Europe.
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