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U.S. DEPARTMENT of STATE — BUREAU of CONSULAR AFFAIRS
Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Cuba Intercountry Adoption Information

Intercountry Adoption

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Travel.State.Gov > Intercountry Adoption > Country Information > Cuba Intercountry Adoption Information

Cuba

Cuba
Republic of Cuba
Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime and unreliable electrical power. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Updated to reflect information on power grid failures and Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) licenses for travel.

Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime and unreliable electrical power.

Country Summary: Petty crime is a risk for travelers in Cuba. This includes pick pocketing, purse snatchings, and car break-ins. Violent crime, including armed robbery and homicide, is also on the rise in Cuba.

U.S. law and regulation prohibit travel to, from, or within Cuba for tourist activities. OFAC regulates travel to, from, and within Cuba by persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, defined to include, among other things, all U.S. citizens or residents (wherever located) and anyone in the United States, regardless of their citizenship and nationality. Failure by a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction to act consistently with the regulations may result in penalties and criminal prosecution. Travel to Cuba without an OFAC license is illegal.

Cuba's electrical supply is unreliable. Since October 2024, there have been several prolonged nationwide power outages. Scheduled and unscheduled power cuts lasting up to 12 hours occur daily in Havana, and even longer outside the capital. Some large businesses, hotels, hospitals, and institutions use generators during power outages. However, they may have trouble keeping the generators running during a long outage due to the inconsistent and scarce availability of fuel.

U.S. citizens in Cuba or those planning to visit should check local news often to stay up to date. In Cuba, peaceful assembly and freedom of speech are not protected rights. U.S. citizens should avoid protests or demonstrations.

U.S. Embassy employees must follow a special notification process with the Government of Cuba to travel outside of Havana. This process can impact the embassy's ability to help U.S. citizens in Cuba during emergencies.

If a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction travels to Cuba consistent with 1 of the 12 travel categories authorized by a general OFAC license, the person would not need to apply for a specific OFAC license for the travel transactions. For non-tourist travel that is not otherwise covered by a general license, a person subject to U.S. jurisdiction must seek a specific license from OFAC to authorize the travel. For travel questions, check 31 C.F.R. 515.560 and OFAC’s Frequently Asked Questions.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Cuba.

If you decide to travel to Cuba:

  • Stay aware of your surroundings.
  • Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
  • Do not display signs of wealth, such as expensive watches or jewelry.
  • Prepare for prolonged power outages by:
    • Keeping mobile phones and portable battery banks charged.
    • Having flashlights and spare batteries easily accessible.
    • Stocking up on nonperishable food and water.
    • Preparing alternative methods to meet your medical needs (medical devices requiring power, medicines requiring refrigeration, etc.)
  • Obtain any required OFAC licenses as it is illegal to travel to Cuba without an appropriate license.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive messages and Alerts from the U.S. Embassy and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Prepare a plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel and return to the United States.

We highly recommend buying insurance before you travel. Check with your travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage.

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Hague Adoption Convention Country?
Yes
Are Intercountry Adoptions between this country and the United States possible?
Intercountry adoptions are not currently possible between Cuba and the United States.
ALL / ALL /

Hague Convention Information

Cuba is a party to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention). Intercountry adoption processing in Convention countries must be done in accordance with the Convention; the U.S. implementing legislation, the Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 (IAA); the IAA’s implementing regulations; and U.S. immigration adoption policies; as well as all applicable legislation and regulations of Cuba.

However, Cuba is not considered a country of origin for intercountry adoption at this time. While adoption is legally possible, children habitually resident in Cuba are not generally placed for intercountry adoption. No child habitually resident in Cuba has received a U.S. immigrant visa based on an intercountry adoption in the past five fiscal years. The information provided is intended primarily to assist in extremely rare adoption cases from Cuba, including adoptions of children habitually resident in Cuba by relatives in the United States, as well as adoptions from third countries by U.S. citizens living in Cuba.

In general, the Department of State is not aware of any U.S. citizens who have successfully completed domestic adoptions or legal guardianship in Cuba of Cuban children. We understand that some foreign nationals who are residing in Cuba with permanent status and are married to a Cuban national have successfully adopted children in Cuba.

The Department of State and USCIS caution that, under U.S. law and regulations, any Cuban children adopted by U.S. citizens under the Cuban domestic adoption process will generally not be eligible to immigrate to the United States as adopted children until they meet the criteria in section 101(b)(1)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act and have an approved Form I-130 petition as an immediate relative. More specifically, children adopted by U.S. citizens through the Cuban domestic adoption process while under the age of 16 (or age 18 if the sibling exception applies), including children adopted by their U.S. citizen biological family members (e.g., aunt, uncle, cousin, grandparent, etc.), may not be eligible for U.S. immigrant visas on the basis of a final adoption until the U.S. citizen adoptive parents accrue two years of legal custody and joint residence with the child outside the United States, among other requirements. Please see the USCIS website for additional information on this process and applicable age and Convention-related requirements.

Please visit the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for more information on traveling to Cuba and the U.S. Embassy in Havana’s website for information on consular services.

 

U.S. Immigration Requirements

To bring an adopted child to the United States from Cuba, you must meet certain suitability and eligibility requirements. USCIS determines who is suitable and eligible to adopt a child from another country and bring that child to live in the United States under U.S. immigration law.

Additionally, a child must meet the definition of a Convention adoptee under U.S. immigration law in order to be eligible to immigrate to the United States with an IH-3 or IH-4 immigrant visa.

Contact Information

U.S. Embassy in Havana, Cuba
Address: Calzada between L & M Streets
Vedado, Havana
Tel: (53)(7) 839-4100
Email: havanaconsularinfo@state.gov
Internet: cu.usembassy.gov

Office of Children’s Issues
U.S. Department of State
2201 C Street, NW
SA-17
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 1-888-407-4747
E-mail: Adoption@state.gov
Internet: http://adoption.state.gov

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
For questions about pending Form I-130 petitions and other immigration questions for USCIS:
USCIS Contact Center
1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833)
Internet: uscis.gov

For questions about a pending Form I-800A application or related supplements:
USCIS National Benefits Center (NBC)
Tel: 1-877-424-8374 (toll free); 1-913-275-5480 (local); Fax: 1-913-214-5808
Email: NBC.Adoptions@uscis.dhs.gov

Last Updated: February 28, 2024

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

United States Embassy
Calzada between L and M Streets,
Vedado,
Havana, Cuba
Telephone
+(53) (7) 839-4100
Emergency
+(53) (7) 839-4100 and dial 1 to speak with the emergency operator
Fax
+(53) 7839-4247
Email
acshavana@state.gov
Website
https://cu.usembassy.gov/embassy/havana/

Cuba Map

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Adoption Statistics

Adoptions from Cuba to U.S. by Year:
SEE ALL STATISTICS
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