The Official Gazette of Cuba published on Monday a set of three regulations that establishes for the first time precise limits and reference values for the importation of various products. One of those resolutions specifically outlines the limit for mobile phones, computers, and household appliances for individuals.
The new regulation establishes a legal mechanism allowing those who exceed these limits to pay tariffs in dollars instead of losing their goods.
The regulations are: the , the , and the . They come into effect on October 12, 2026, seven days after their publication.
In terms of technology, Resolution 340/2026 states that each traveler may bring up to five mobile or smart phones, with a reference value of 80 dollars per unit.
In the case of desktop computers, laptops, tablets, and similar devices, the limit is three units in total, regardless of the type or model, with reference values of 200 dollars for a desktop computer, 250 dollars for a laptop, and 100 dollars for a tablet.
In home appliances, Customs allows up to two items of the same type, provided that the total value does not exceed the general import limit.
The reference values include 300 dollars for a household refrigerator, 350 dollars for a freezer, between 250 and 500 dollars for flat-screen televisions depending on their size, and between 150 and 200 dollars for air conditioning units of up to one ton.
One of the main changes in the regulatory package is the creation of an alternative to confiscation. According to the Decree-Law 132, when Customs detects that an import exceeds the established limits or is of a commercial nature, "the individual may choose to formally process the import of the goods involved in these violations with the customs authority." Payment must be made in dollars.
The tariff rates for that formal commercial import are progressive: 15% on the value up to 2,000 dollars, 20% on the excess up to 4,000 dollars, 25% up to 6,000 dollars, and 30% above that amount.
For goods arriving via postal shipments, the rate is a fixed 30%. Payment can be made with an international or national card in dollars; cash is only accepted at airports.
Anyone who does not pay or request the re-shipments of goods will be subject to administrative sanctions. Furthermore, Customs may restrict the right to import for those who repeatedly engage in commercial imports disguised as personal ones.
The Resolution 340/2026 repeals Resolution 175 of 2022 and its amendments, and establishes a comprehensive list of reference values for eleven categories of products, ranging from miscellaneous items and construction materials to vehicles and tools. For items valued by weight, it sets the equivalent of one kilogram equal to 10 dollars.
This regulatory package is the regulatory realization of one of the 176 economic transformations announced by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz before the National Assembly on June 18, 2026, when the regime for the first time authorized individuals to import for commercial purposes, aiming to regulate the activities of those bringing goods from abroad for informal resale on the island.
At the end of September, Marrero stated that the country had already implemented 89% of those measures and published 197 legal norms. Gazette No. 83 represents one of the final links in that process.
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