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Cuba Import Restrictions

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In order to enter Cuba, certain goods are subject to specific controls and, regardless of their value and quantity, they require the consent of Cuba government, preferably, license must be obtained prior to passage through the customs, preventing the goods from being retained. On this page, you will see what kinds of items are prohibited from entering the Cuba, and which items need special documentation before exporting to Cuba.

Cuba Import Regulations

Import restrictions

All organisations of the State and its enterprises, embassy and diplomatic personnel in Cuba, and representatives of international agencies are authorised to receive items which correspond to their activities. All contents are subject to customs duty, except prosthetics, educational books, records and films. Cuban authorities will seize any item they cannot readily identify.

Senders should determine import restrictions from Cuba authorities before posting:

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Coffee
  • Cologne and perfume
  • Communications equipment
  • Computer components and parts
  • Cosmetics
  • Cotton
  • Electronic equipment and games
  • Fabrics and samples
  • Films, 8mm, 16mm and 35mm
  • Films promotional and training
  • Fire extinguishers
  • Foodstuffs
  • Industrial equipment
  • Jewellery, costume
  • Leather goods
  • Measuring apparatus
  • Medical Samples
  • Medicines, prescription and non-prescription
  • Oil products
  • Parts, machine and electric
  • Personal effects
  • Phone/modems
  • Plastic made products
  • Radar equipment; transmitters and recievers
  • Radio equipment
  • Radios or parts there of
  • Samples, textile
  • Subs. cont’g sodium/calc. cyclamate
  • Shoes
  • Swatches
  • Soil samples
  • Sports equipment
  • Stone/mineral samples for analysis.
  • Toys
  • Televisions and equipment

EDN’s and export permits are required for:

  • Kangaroo skins
  • Crocodile skins
  • Emu oil
  • Fish oil
  • Bunker oil
  • Coal
  • Petroleum bases products
  • Tobacco and tobacco products
  • Any other alcohol including beer and spirits all volumes.

Stamps

Only the Philatelic Federation can exchange stamps.

Special documentation

All packages require an invoice endorsed by a Cuban consul attached to the customs declaration.

The sender and receiver details must be addressed with a valid street address in English. A Post Office Box address is not acceptable.

The sender is responsible for finding if the destination country may impose duties, taxes, brokerage fees or any other fees that may be applied on the item that is being sent. Please contact the consulate office of the country you are sending to or contact the ECI customer contact centre on 1800 007 678.

Prohibitions

In addition to items prohibited by Dangerous and Prohibited Goods & Packaging Post Guide and ECI International Courier Regulations, Cuba prohibits:

  • Alcohol
  • Asbestos
  • Animals and animal produce, products and skins
  • Antiques
  • Bank notes or any other securities
  • Bullion and currency
  • Chewing gum
  • Clothing and footwear, used
  • Cotton plants and seeds
  • Dangerous goods, haz. or comb mat.
  • Earth and minerals
  • Electronic recording systems
  • Electronics
  • Furs
  • Gambling devices
  • Hair-dye
  • Hermetically sealed containers
  • Ivory
  • Jewellery
  • Lottery tickets and circulars
  • Maps
  • Military equipment
  • Perishables
  • Pornography
  • Plants and plant products
  • Playing cards
  • Precious metals and stones
  • Recording tape, films and photographic papers
  • Scent
  • Spare parts for motor vehicles
  • Spectacles and binoculars
  • Tobacco.

Cuban Postal authorities do not accept ordinary and registered letters containing articles subject to custom duty.

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