Visa, Tourist Card, and D'Viajeros: What's the Difference?

One of the most common questions we hear is: “If I've filled out the D'Viajeros form, do I still need a tourist card or visa?” The answer is yes — and understanding why each document exists will save you a lot of confusion.

Your visa or tourist card is your permission to enter Cuba

Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your trip, you'll need either a Cuban tourist card (sometimes called a tourist visa) or a full visa. This is the document that grants you legal entry into the country, and it's issued separately from the D'Viajeros form — often through an authorized agency such as Cuba Visa Services, your airline, or a consulate.

The D'Viajeros form is not a visa

It's Cuba's digital immigration and customs declaration — the modern replacement for the paper forms travelers used to fill out on the plane. It collects your personal details, travel information, customs declarations, and health information, and it generates a QR code that immigration and customs officials scan on arrival.

Why you need both

Think of it this way: the tourist card or visa answers the question “am I allowed into the country?” The D'Viajeros form answers the question “who are you, what are you bringing, and are you healthy to enter?” They serve different purposes and are checked at different points in your arrival process — you cannot substitute one for the other.

What to have ready when you arrive

Bring your passport and your D'Viajeros QR code. Your visa number will be present with the D'Viajeros QR code. Missing any one of these can cause delays at immigration.

If you're not sure which visa or tourist card applies to your nationality and trip type, Cuba Visa Services can help you figure out exactly what you need and get it sorted before you fly.