US REGULATIONS

OFAC Regulations - Licensed Travelers
The Office of the Foreign Assests Control of the US Treasury Department (OFAC) has implemented a full embargo against Cuba, pursuant to the Trading With the Enemy Act and several other laws. OFAC has published regulations governing this embargo, which are located at 31 C.F.R. Part 515. OFAC also maintains a website that provides guidelines on its licensing requirements. This website also can be used for information on current US policies on spending while in Cuba. This website is located at: http://www.ustreas.gov/ofac/.

OFAC's regulations restrict travel to Cuba, by prohibiting U.S. persons from engaging in transactions relating to their travel, unless the persons are licensed by OFAC. There are two types of licenses that OFAC has established: general licenses and specific licenses. A general license constitutes an authorization that OFAC has stated in its regulations. A specific license is written authorization from OFAC authorizing you or your group to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions. OFAC has established five general licenses in its regulations. OFAC also has identified twelve activities, for which it may issue specific licenses on a case-by-case basis. Congress codified these travel restrictions into law. For OFAC licensing information, please refer to the OFAC website.
The U.S. State Department also provides useful information about Cuba on its website. The website is located at: http://travel.state.gov/cuba.html.

CUBA REGULATIONS

Cuban Customs permits each travel to bring 44 lbs of personal belongings and 22 lbs of medicine into the island without any customs fees. Anything above these amounts is subject to Custom fees. While Cuban Customs may permit 22 pounds of medicine, you must comply with the U.S. Department of Commerce requirements on exports of medicine parcels to Cuba. These requirements are summarized in DOC Regulations

For full details, please visit the Cuban Customs Website at: www.aduana.islagrande.cu

DOC REGULATIONS


Baggage Limitation

The U.S. Department of Commerce (“DOC”) permits licensed travelers to carry baggage that contains only the usual and reasonable kinds and quantities of items for the travelers’ personal use. DOC does not permit licensed travelers to carry items that the travelers intend to leave in Cuba.

DOC currently limits the amount of baggage that seven categories of licensed persons may carry from the United States to Cuba. DOC limits “baggage” to 44 pounds per traveler and does not exempt carry-on baggage from this limitation. Licensed persons subject to this limitation may carry only up to 44 pounds of carry-on and checked baggage. The 44 pound limitation applies to the following categories of licensed persons:

  1. Cuban Americans who are visiting immediate family members one time in three years;
  2. Full-time professionals who are conducting professional research in their professional areas or who are attending certain professional meetings and conferences in Cuba;
  3. Students and full-time employees of accredited U.S. undergraduate and graduate institutions, who are engaging in licensed educational activities in Cuba;
  4. Amateur and semi-professional athletes who are participating in certain athletic competitions and persons who are participating in public performances, non-athletic competitions, or exhibitions in Cuba;
  5. Persons who are engaging in activities of private foundations or nonprofit organizations or research or educational institutes;
  6. Persons who are engaging in export transactions that DOC has authorized by regulation or license (such as agricultural firms); and
  7. Cuban nationals who are returning to Cuba.

Licensed persons who fall within any other category set forth in OFAC’s regulations may carry more than 44 pounds of checked and carry-on baggage. Before you travel to Cuba, we recommend that you verify how much baggage you may take with you to Cuba. ABC Charters cannot permit you to carry more than the allowed amount.

Gift Parcels

Licensed persons may include in their baggage one gift parcel, provided that it complies with DOC’s requirements. The gift parcel is allowed only if the recipient is an immediate family member of the licensed traveler and if the recipient is not a prohibited Cuban Government official or Communist Party official. The contents of the gift parcel are limited to food and medicine items only, and the value of all contents cannot exceed $200. (Food items are not restricted in value.) The gift parcel must be addressed to the recipient. If licensed persons wish to carry to Cuba other items, they must determine in advance of the flight whether DOC requires an export license.

DAY OF TRAVEL
Licensed persons are expected to check-in 3 hours before the charter flight is scheduled to depart. The direct air carrier will close each charter flight 45 minutes prior to departure. If any passenger arrives after the flight has been closed, ABC cannot process the passenger. In this case, the passenger will not be permitted to board the charter flight.

FULL FARE


The airfare for the Cuba charter flights includes all U.S.-government imposed taxes, user fees, September 11th security charges, and passenger facility charges. Specifically, these charges total $49.80 and comprise $15.40 U.S. international arrival tax, $15.40 U.S. international departure tax, $7.00 immigration user fee, $5.00 APHIS user fee, $2.50 September 11th security charge, and $4.50 MIA passenger facility charge.

The airfare does not include Cuban government imposed per passenger departure tax of $25 CUC. Licensed passengers are responsible for paying the Cuban departure tax directly to the Cuban authorities on their departure from Cuba.

The airfare also does not include any excess baggage charges for the six categories of licensed travelers, who are allowed to carry more than 44 pounds of baggage. ABC will collect excess baggage charges at the airport.