The official portal for electronic visas in Cuba, evisacuba.cu, remained inaccessible this Tuesday, November 3rd, after the announced deadline for its reopening had passed. The disruption coincides with the implementation of the new Cuban immigration laws.
The platform was temporarily closed on October 29 to migrate from the Evisa1 system to Evisa2.
According to announcements made by Cuban consular representations, the service was scheduled to resume on Monday, November 2nd, at 6:00 a.m. Cuba time, but the site VisasNews reported that it was still unavailable after the expected time, a situation that continues past seven in the morning (Cuba local time) on this November 3rd.
The interruption coincides with the new immigration laws
On November 1, the Migration Law 171, the Citizenship Law 172, and the Foreigners Law 173 came into effect, approved by the National Assembly in July 2024 and published in the Official Gazette on May 5, 2026.
The Immigration Law regulates the conditions for entry, stay, and exit of foreign citizens in Cuba.
The interruption of the visa portal coincides with the implementation of the new legal framework, although it has not been established that the delay in reopening is related to those provisions.
The electronic visa has gradually replaced the old tourist card as the mechanism for entry authorization for travelers subject to this requirement.
However, there are exceptions for certain nationalities and categories of travelers, according to Cuban immigration regulations.
Without a new reopening date
The Cuban consulates in Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic had announced the temporary suspension of services and the planned schedule for their resumption.
However, according to the information published by VisasNews this Tuesday, the portal remained inaccessible after the announced deadline and no new reopening date or official explanation for the delay had been communicated.
The migration to Evisa2 aims to expand the categories of visas that can be processed online.
As of the time of the consulted notices, the consular representations had not specified what those categories would be, nor the possible changes in fees, requirements, or processing times.
What can travelers do if they need a visa?
The interruption may complicate the preparations of those needing to obtain an electronic visa to travel to Cuba, including foreign relatives of Cuban citizens planning to visit the island in the coming weeks.
Cuban consular representations have advised travelers in need of applying for a visa during the suspension to consult with travel agencies or airlines that offer this service.
The official tourism portal of Cuba also identifies travel agencies and consular representations as avenues for managing visas. However, the availability of these services and processing times must be confirmed directly with each provider.
The interruption of the platform does not mean that the issuance of visas for Cuba has been suspended in general. Travelers who already have a valid electronic visa should verify that their documentation meets the corresponding entry requirements.
The D'Viajeros form, which is a separate process from the visa application, must be completed within 72 hours prior to arrival in Cuba. Once filled out, it generates a QR code that travelers must present during the relevant checks.
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