Travelers who need an electronic visa to visit Cuba are facing an extended outage of the government portal used to submit applications.
The official website, evisacuba.cu, has been unavailable since October 29 as part of an upgrade to the country’s electronic visa system.
Cuban authorities are currently transitioning from the existing platform, known as “Evisa1,” to a new version called “Evisa2.” The upgrade is intended to expand the range of online services, including the processing of additional visa categories.
However, the shutdown, originally scheduled to end on Monday, November 2, has continued beyond the announced timeframe.
Portal was scheduled to reopen on November 2
In several announcements issued in late October, Cuban diplomatic missions confirmed that the electronic visa system would be temporarily taken offline.
According to the Cuban consulate in Costa Rica, the existing platform was scheduled to shut down at 12:00 a.m. on October 29, 2026, with service expected to resume at 6:00 a.m. on November 2, Cuba local time.
The Cuban consulate in the Dominican Republic also confirmed this schedule in an announcement published on October 29, describing the transition as a technical upgrade to the electronic visa system.
However, as of the morning of Tuesday, November 3, the official electronic visa portal remained inaccessible during checks conducted by VisasNews, more than 24 hours after the scheduled reopening.
No revised reopening date has been announced in the consular notices reviewed so far.
Cuban authorities have also not clarified whether the delay is due to technical difficulties or additional work required to launch the new platform.
New platform expected to support additional visa categories
Beyond the current outage, the system upgrade could represent a significant change to Cuba’s entry procedures.
The previous platform, Evisa1, was primarily designed to issue electronic tourist visas, which have gradually replaced traditional paper tourist cards.
With Evisa2, Cuba plans to expand the platform’s capabilities.
In its October 29 announcement, the Cuban consulate in the Dominican Republic stated that the new system would support the issuance of additional visa categories, although it did not specify which ones.
Over time, this could allow more consular procedures currently handled through Cuban diplomatic missions to be completed online.
However, several questions remain unanswered, including which visa types will be covered, which nationalities will be eligible, and whether payment methods or application processing procedures will change.
The official announcements reviewed have not provided details of any changes to visa fees, validity periods, or eligibility requirements.
How can travelers obtain a Cuban visa during the outage?
The extended unavailability of the electronic visa portal is particularly relevant for travelers who still need to obtain a tourist visa before an upcoming trip.
In their announcements, Cuban consular authorities advised travelers who need a visa during the transition period to contact travel agencies and airlines that provide visa services.
Travelers should confirm directly with the provider whether visas are currently available and how long processing is expected to take.
Cuba’s official tourism website also notes that visas can be obtained through travel agencies or Cuban consular offices.
Importantly, the government portal’s outage should not be confused with a general suspension of visa issuance, which Cuban authorities have not announced.
There has also been no announcement indicating that previously issued electronic visas have been canceled.
Travelers who already hold a valid visa are therefore not directly affected by the inability to submit new applications, provided they meet all other applicable entry requirements.
D’Viajeros arrival form remains available
The transition to the new electronic visa platform was also expected to temporarily disrupt D’Viajeros, Cuba’s mandatory online arrival form.
According to Cuban consular authorities, the D’Viajeros system was scheduled to be unavailable from 10:00 p.m. on November 1 until 4:00 a.m. on November 2, Cuba local time.
Unlike the electronic visa portal, the D’Viajeros website was accessible and functioning again during checks conducted on November 3 by visa and travel documentation specialists at VisasNews and Action-Visas.
The two platforms serve different purposes.
The eVisaCuba portal allows eligible travelers to obtain an electronic visa, while D’Viajeros is used to submit the immigration, health, and customs information required before entering Cuba.
Travelers must complete the D’Viajeros form within 72 hours before their trip to generate the document they must present when boarding their flight and upon arrival in Cuba.
New reopening date has yet to be announced
For now, the launch of Cuba’s upgraded electronic visa platform has not been confirmed through the official portal.
Although Cuban authorities have confirmed plans to modernize the system and expand its capabilities, they have not yet publicly explained how the new version will work.
The actual reopening date also remains unknown.
Until further details are released, travelers with upcoming departures are advised to check visa availability with their travel provider or the relevant Cuban consular authorities.
VisasNews will continue to monitor official announcements regarding the portal’s reopening and any new visa procedures introduced as part of the upgrade.
VisasNews Take
Cuba’s electronic visa system upgrade could make travel formalities easier, particularly if additional visa categories become available online. However, the missed reopening deadline and lack of details about the new platform call for caution. Until the official portal is back online and Cuban authorities clarify the updated procedures, travelers should not assume that these new services are already available.
