US State Department Updates Cuba Travel Advisory on Crime and Power Grid Failures

Key points

• The State Department updated the Cuba advisory, keeping it at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution due to crime and unreliable electrical power.
• U.S. law and regulation prohibit travel to, from or within Cuba for tourist activities, with OFAC regulating such travel.
• Traveling to Cuba without an OFAC license is illegal, and violations may result in penalties and criminal prosecution.
• Travel consistent with one of the 12 travel categories authorized by a general OFAC license does not require a specific license; other non-tourist travel requires a specific license from OFAC.
• Since October 2024 Cuba has had several prolonged nationwide power outages, with daily scheduled and unscheduled cuts of up to 12 hours in Havana and longer outside the capital.
• Some large businesses, hotels, hospitals and institutions use generators, but inconsistent and scarce fuel may hinder keeping them running during long outages.
• U.S. Embassy employees must follow a special notification process with the Cuban government to travel outside Havana, which can affect the embassy's ability to help U.S. citizens during emergencies.