Is It Safe to Travel to Cuba?Advisories checked 9 November 2026. Check the official advisory on the day you travel: governments change them often, sometimes weekly.
The US rates Cuba Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). The UK advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel.
The governments disagree: the strictest advice comes from the UK and Canada (level 3), the mildest from the US (level 2).
The three advisories side by side
US Department of State
2Level 2“Exercise increased caution”
“Exercise increased caution in Cuba due to crime and unreliable electrical power. Petty crime is a risk for travelers in Cuba.”
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
3Level 3“Advises against all but essential travel to the whole country”
“Cuba is experiencing a worsening economic situation with shortages of fuel, electricity, water and basic necessities. This is affecting tourism services and disrupting travel within the country.”
Government of Canada
3Level 3“Avoid non-essential travel”
“The Health section was updated - travel health information (Public Health Agency of Canada)”
Why the advice differs
Each government uses its own scale. The US and Canada each have four levels for the whole country. The UK only states whether it advises against travel to the whole country or to parts of it. We place all three on a common 1 to 4 scale (see below); the scales are not identical, so the same level can mean slightly different things.
The advisories were last updated on different dates: US 6 May 2025, UK 25 September 2026, Canada 13 October 2026. An older advisory may not reflect recent events.
What the levels mean
TravelDecl places each government’s advice on a common 1 to 4 scale so the three can be compared. The wording in each column is the government’s own.
| Level | Meaning | US | UK | Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1Level 1 | Normal precautions | Level 1: Exercise normal precautions | No advice against travel | Exercise normal security precautions |
| 2Level 2 | Increased caution | Level 2: Exercise increased caution | Advises against travel to parts of the country | Exercise a high degree of caution |
| 3Level 3 | Reconsider or avoid non-essential travel | Level 3: Reconsider travel | Advises against all but essential travel to the whole country | Avoid non-essential travel |
| 4Level 4 | Do not travel | Level 4: Do not travel | Advises against all travel to the whole country | Avoid all travel |
Related
- Do I need an International Driving Permit in Cuba?
- How to get citizenship of Cuba
- Travel advisories for every country
Questions
What level is the Cuba travel advisory?
The US rates Cuba Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). US advisory updated 6 May 2025. The UK advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba. UK advisory updated 25 September 2026. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel. Canadian advisory updated 13 October 2026.
Does the UK advise against travel to Cuba?
Yes. The UK advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba. UK advisory updated 25 September 2026.
Is Cuba safe for tourists?
TravelDecl does not give its own verdict. Here is what the governments say: The US rates Cuba Level 2 (Exercise increased caution). The UK advises against all but essential travel to the whole of Cuba. Canada advises avoiding non-essential travel. Advisories checked 9 November 2026. Check the official advisory on the day you travel.
Check the official advisory on the day you travel. Each card above links to it.
Sources and methodology
- US Department of State: travel advice for Cuba, updated 6 May 2025. US Department of State: public domain (US Government work).
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office: travel advice for Cuba, updated 25 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
- Government of Canada: travel advice for Cuba, updated 13 October 2026. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada.
Levels on the common 1 to 4 scale are mapped from each government’s own rating: US levels 1 to 4 as published; UK: no advice against travel = 1, against travel to parts = 2, against all but essential travel to the whole country = 3, against all travel to the whole country = 4; Canada: its four risk levels in order. We do not combine them into a single score.
Advisories checked 9 November 2026. This page has not yet been checked by hand.