Frequently Asked Questions

OFAC currently authorizes a number of categories of remittances from persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction to persons in Cuba pursuant to 31 CFR § 515.570 .   Section 515.570 excludes from the scope of the authorization any transaction relating to the collection, forwarding, or receipt of… Read more

Yes. Pursuant to a general license at 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(3) , banking institutions, as defined in 31 CFR § 515.314 , U.S.-registered brokers or dealers in securities, and U.S.-registered money transmitters are permitted to process authorized remittances to or from Cuba without having to obtain a… Read more

In accordance with National Security Presidential Memorandum-5 on Strengthening the Policy of the United States Toward Cuba (NSPM-5) , the State Department publishes a list of entities and subentities that are under the control of, or act for or on behalf of, the Cuban military, intelligence, or… Read more

Travel-related transactions are permitted by general or specific licenses for certain travel related to the 12 categories of activities identified in 31 CFR § 515.560(a) .  Those travel-related transactions permitted by general license, subject to specified criteria and conditions, include: family… Read more

Consistent with the Administration’s interest in avoiding negative impacts on Americans for arranging lawful travel to Cuba, any travel-related arrangements that include direct financial transactions with entities and subentities that appear on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List will… Read more

No. No further permission from OFAC is required to engage in transactions by a person who meets all criteria in a general license. Individuals wishing to engage in activities that may fall within the scope of a general license should review the relevant general licenses contained in the CACR to… Read more

No. Consistent with the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000 (TSRA ), travel-related transactions involving Cuba are only permitted for the 12 categories of activities identified in the CACR. Travel-related transactions for other purposes remain …

OFAC regulations generally authorize persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction and those sharing a dwelling with them as a family to visit a close relative in Cuba, including a close relative who is a Cuban national or a person ordinarily resident in Cuba, or to visit or accompany a close relative who… Read more

Section 515.563 of the CACR contains a general license that authorizes, subject to conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactions that are directly incident to journalistic activities in Cuba. Among other things, this general license authorizes, subject to conditions, full-time… Read more

31 CFR § 515.564 (a)(1) contains a general license that authorizes, subject to conditions, travel-related transactions and other transactions that are directly incident to professional research in Cuba.  Among other things, this general license authorizes, subject to conditions, professional… Read more