23 March 2021
There's a ban on overseas travel from Australia. You can’t leave Australia unless you have an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs, or are travelling to a destination that is exempt from the ban.
Our global travel advice remains at 'Do not travel' due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel. Some destinations were already set at Do Not Travel prior to COVID-19 due to the extreme risk to your safety.
If you’re overseas and wish to return to Australia, be prepared for delays and read our advice on trying to get home.
When you arrive in Australia you must quarantine for 14 days at designated facilities in your port of arrival, unless you have an exemption or are travelling on a quarantine-free flight from a green zone destination. At this time, vaccination against COVID-19 does not change this quarantine requirement. You may be required to pay for the costs of your quarantine. View State and Territory Government COVID-19 information for information about quarantine and domestic borders.
If you're staying overseas, make plans to stay for an extended period. Follow the advice of local authorities and minimise your risk of exposure to COVID-19. Stay in touch with family and friends so they know you're safe.
Our network of embassies and consular posts around the world will provide you with up-to-date local advice and support throughout this difficult period. Be aware consular services may be limited due to local measures.
For the latest information, read and subscribe to our news and travel advice. Also see our COVID-19 information pages.
Call 105.
Call 104.
Call 106.
Do not travel to Cuba.
Do not travel overseas due to the health risks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the significant disruptions to global travel.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Foreigners may experience violent crimes, such as assault, sexual assault and robbery.
Pickpocketing, bag snatching and other petty crime is common, especially on public transport and intercity buses.
It also happens at major tourist areas such as:
Power outages are common and can last from minutes to several hours. The opportunity for theft increases during these outages.
Thefts from hotels and guesthouses occur. Keep the doors and windows at your accommodation locked.
People have reported thefts from checked baggage at Cuban airports.
When travelling through airports, keep a close eye on your valuables, including during security screening.
On flights, keep your valuables on you or place them in your carry-on baggage. Don't check-in:
Criminals posing as tour agents or taxi drivers operate at the airport and in Havana.
Road-based crime is increasing. Thieves may slash car tyres and then help with repairs while an accomplice steals from the vehicle.
Thieves who pose as hitchhikers are also common.
To protect yourself from road-based crime:
If you're a victim of crime or theft, get a written police report (Comprobante de Denuncia) from the Cuban police (Policia Nacional) before you leave Cuba.
Cuba experiences natural disasters and severe weather, including:
If a natural disaster happens:
Register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System to receive alerts on major disasters.
If you're travelling to Cuba during hurricane season or after a natural disaster, monitor weather reports. Contact your tour operator or airline to check if the severe weather has affected your travel plans.
More information:
The hurricane season is June to November. Landslides, mudslides and flooding also occur. The direction and strength of hurricanes can change suddenly.
If there's a hurricane or severe storm:
Natural disasters can disrupt essential services. This includes power, communication systems, emergency and medical care, food, fuel and water supplies.
In some areas, adequate shelter from a hurricane may not be available if you stay.
If a hurricane is approaching:
Cuba is in an active earthquake zone. Tsunamis can also happen.
Familiarise yourself with earthquake safety measures for each place you stay and visit.
To receive tsunami alerts, register with the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System.
Move immediately to high ground if advised by local authorities or if you:
Do not wait for official warnings. Once on high ground, monitor local media.
More information:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave. A ban on overseas travel from Australia remains in place. You can’t leave Australia unless you get an exemption from the Department of Home Affairs.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition. Consider whether you may be in a vulnerable category for COVID-19.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Cuba. Take enough legal medication for your trip.
Many medications are in short supply or unavailable in Cuba.
Carry a copy of your prescription and a dated letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Cuba.
For information on Cuba’s COVID-19 vaccination program, refer to the Ministry of Health. You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia's regulatory process.
More information:
Outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya are common. Risks are higher during the wet season from April to November.
Zika virus is a risk, but it's not widespread.
If you're pregnant, the Australian Department of Health recommends you discuss travel plans with your doctor. Consider deferring non-essential travel to affected areas.
To protect yourself from disease:
Get medical help if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases are common. These include:
Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
Outbreaks of cholera are seasonal and common.
To protect yourself from illness:
Get medical advice if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
Public medical facilities in Havana are basic.
Standards are limited in smaller towns and rural areas.
Private medical facilities are well-equipped. However, the only private hospital for travellers in Havana is the Cira Garcia Hospital.
State-run Servimed clinics can provide emergency medical care in major tourist areas.
Doctors and hospitals require cash payment before treating you.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may be evacuated to get proper care. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
Penalties for drug offences are severe. They include lengthy prison sentences in local jails.
More information:
You must always carry photo ID. Authorities can detain you if you're found without it.
Contact the Embassy of Canada in Havana if you lose your Australian passport or other identification documents.
Serious crimes, such as espionage and mass murder, can attract the death penalty.
Under Cuban law, charges aren't laid until the investigation is complete.
If you're accused, you can be jailed during the investigation.
In Cuba it's illegal to:
Get local legal advice before preaching a religion or importing religious material. Doing so may be illegal.
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
Cuba doesn't recognise dual nationality.
If you're a dual national, this limits the consular services we can give if you're arrested or detained.
Australian-Cuban dual nationals must enter Cuba on a valid Cuban passport. However, you need to show your Australian passport when you leave Cuba.
Dual nationals may need to get permission to enter or leave Cuba. If you're a dual national, check your obligations with an embassy or consulate of Cuba or local authorities before you travel.
A travel ban for Cuban citizens is in effect. If you are a dual citizen and registered as a resident by immigration authorities, you will not be allowed to leave Cuba. Check with local authorities on exit procedures that apply if you are a dual citizen.
More information:
You need a visa to enter Cuba.
If your visit is for tourism, you can get a 'tourist card' through:
The tourist card includes a tourist visa.
In other situations, you need to apply for a visa.
Entry and exit conditions change can at short notice. Contact an embassy or consulate of Cuba for details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules.
Cuba has reopened its international airports, including José Martí International Airport in Havana. On arrival, you must show the completed health form provided to you on the flight, pay a health fee in US dollars and be tested for COVID-19. You must self-isolate until test results are available and you will be tested again in five days. Strict hygiene regulations are in place at airports, restaurants and tourist resorts including the use of face masks and maintaining 1.5 metres distance from people who do not belong to your household.
A travel ban for Cuban citizens is in effect. If you are a dual citizen and registered as a resident by immigration authorities, you will not be allowed to leave Cuba. Check with local authorities on exit procedures that apply if you're a dual citizen.
If you're staying in Cuba:
If you're travelling through Canada, note that transit arrangements are strictly enforced due to COVID-19. You'll need an electronic Travel Authorisation (eTA) for Canada. .
See our Canada travel advice for entry conditions.
You must meet all US entry or transit requirements. See our US travel advice for entry conditions.
You need to purchase extra insurance from Asistur, the Cuban insurance provider if you:
The list of duty-free items that you can take into Cuba is limited. If customs authorities consider any item is not for personal use, they can seize it. Equipment that draws heavily on electricity or uses satellite technology can also be confiscated.
Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of Cuba for details about official requirements for minors travelling without their parents.
A departure tax is included in the cost of your airline ticket.
More information:
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
Cuba has 2 official currencies:
Foreigners will always use CUC. The CUP is worth substantially less than the CUC. It's illegal to remove CUC bills from Cuba.
Australian dollars can't be exchanged in Cuba. The US Dollar attracts a large commission fee if you change it.
Australian travellers often experience problems with access to funds due to unique banking arrangements in Cuba.
Credit cards, debit cards and traveller's cheques aren't accepted in Cuba if they're issued by US banks or Australian banks affiliated with US banks. This includes:
Before you travel, check with your bank if your cards will work in Cuba.
International money transfer agencies aren't available to Australians in Cuba.
Authorities have detained and deported travellers without access to funds. If you're caught without money in Cuba, you can try to have funds transferred via Asistur SA. Services don't run on weekends and can take several days.
ATMs are limited outside Havana. Have a variety of ways of accessing your money, including:
Take an emergency supply of cash, including enough to leave Cuba if your bank cards don't work.
To drive in Cuba, you'll need both:
You must get your IDP before leaving Australia.
To hire a motor vehicle, you must be at least 21 years old.
Driving in Cuba is dangerous, particularly at night.
Hazards include:
If you're involved in an accident, you're likely to be detained, regardless of who's at fault.
You may not be allowed to leave Cuba until the case is resolved.
If you drive in Cuba:
Cuba has strict alcohol laws. It's illegal to drive with any alcohol in your bloodstream.
More information:
Check with your travel insurer whether your policy covers you when riding a motorbike, quad bike or similar vehicle.
Always wear a helmet.
Criminals posing as drivers operate at the airport and in Havana.
Mopeds and 3-wheeled 'Coco-taxis' are particularly dangerous.
To protect yourself from crime:
Avoid public transport. Many vehicles are poorly maintained.
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Cuba's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call 105.
Call 104.
Call 106.
Always get a police report when you report a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
The Consular Services Charter explains what the Australian Government can and can't do to help Australians overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy in Cuba. The Embassy of Canada in Havana provides consular help to Australians in Cuba. They can also issue Australian provisional travel documents.
You can also get consular help from the Australian Embassy in Mexico.
Calle 30 No.518 (esq. 7ma)
Miramar (Playa)
Ciudad de la Habana, Cuba
Telephone: (+53 7) 204 2516
Fax: (+53 7) 204 7097
Email: havan@international.gc.ca
Website: canadainternational.gc.ca/cuba
Ruben Dario 55, Polanco
Colonia Bosques de Chapultepec, CP
11580 CDMX Mexico
Telephone: +52 55 1101 2200
Fax: +52 55 1101 2201
Email: consularpassports.mexico@dfat.gov.au
Website: mexico.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: @AusEmbMex
Twitter: @AusEmbMex
The Australian Embassy in Mexico City is temporarily closed to the public due to local restrictions. We're still providing consular assistance to those in need by phone and email.
Check the Embassy website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.