This is not a new rule. It is implementation of the existing policy.
Cuba Travel Services · April 30, 2026 · 10 min read · By Cuba Travel Services · May 2026 · cubatravelservices.com · 1-800-963-2822
Quick Answer
Beginning June 1, 2026, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines will only accept Cuba eVisas issued by the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C., either directly or through an authorized agency such as Cuba Travel Services (cubavisaservices.com). A valid eVisa will show "USA" on the D'Viajeros form. To be sure you are compliant, buy your eVisa online at cubavisaservices.com, in person from Cuba Travel Services staff at Miami (MIA) or Tampa (TPA), or by calling 1-800-963-2822.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Effective date: June 1, 2026 (enforcement of an existing policy, not a new rule)
- Affected airlines: American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and likely all carriers departing the U.S.
- Valid eVisas: issued by the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C., directly or through an authorized agency like Cuba Travel Services
- How to tell it is valid: the eVisa shows "USA" on the D'Viajeros form
- How to get one: online at cubavisaservices.com, in person at MIA or TPA, or by phone at 1-800-963-2822
- If non-compliant: you may be denied boarding with no airline refund
American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines have notified Cuba Travel Services of a change to how Cuba eVisas are reviewed at the airport. The Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. confirmed it to us as well. If you have a trip to Cuba coming up, read this before you assume your paperwork is in order.
What Is Changing
Starting June 1, 2026, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines will only accept Cuba eVisas, and the D'Viajeros forms tied to them, when those eVisas come from the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. or from an authorized consular channel such as cubavisaservices.com/packages. The eVisas must say "USA" on them and on the D'Viajeros form.
Good news: You do not have to buy your eVisa in person at the Cuban Consulate or embassy. You can get a fully valid eVisa from a licensed agency like Cuba Travel Services. Buy it online at cubavisaservices.com, or pick it up in person from our staff at your departure airport in Miami (MIA) or Tampa (TPA). What counts is that the agency holds a direct authorization from the Consulate. eVisas from unauthorized resellers will be turned away.
Any eVisa bought from an unauthorized source — such as an overseas visa processor, a third-party reseller, or a website with no direct Consulate contract — may not be valid, and it is possible this could impact your boarding.
All three airlines notified us of this change. The Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. confirmed it separately. We are putting the word out because for more than 25 years our job has been to get American travelers to Cuba legally and without surprises at the gate.
Not a Rule Change. Just Enforcing an Existing Policy.
The Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. is the one official source for Cuban entry documents for travelers departing to Cuba from the United States. Cuba moved off the old pink paper tourist card and onto a digital eVisa in 2025, and the government is simply enforcing the rules on how it checks where each eVisa actually came from.
On June 1, 2026 the process will once again be enforced (as it was with the old pink versus green visas). The eVisa will only be accepted for U.S. travelers if the document was issued by the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C., either directly or through an authorized agency like Cuba Travel Services. The eVisa will say "USA" once placed on the D'Viajeros form.
Who This Affects
This change matters to you if any of these apply:
- You bought a Cuba eVisa from an overseas provider, an international visa service, or any site with no direct Consulate contract that sourced the eVisa from somewhere other than the Consulate in Washington, D.C.
- You are flying American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, or any other carrier to Cuba on or after June 1, 2026.
- You already filled out your D'Viajeros form using an eVisa number from an unauthorized provider.
If you are not sure where your eVisa came from, treat it as a risk — unless you bought it from a licensed provider like cubavisaservices.com, which works under a direct Consulate contract. If the eVisa does not say "USA" under the QR code of the D'Viajeros, you may be required to purchase one that can be processed at the airport.
Who Is Already Covered: Cuba Travel Services Customers
Every eVisa from cubavisaservices.com, our official eVisa platform, comes straight out of our contract with the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. and is issued by them.
We are one of a few providers with a direct processing agreement.
If you bought your eVisa through cubavisaservices.com, or picked it up at the MIA or TPA airport counter, you are already covered under the June 1, 2026 enforcement. There is nothing else you need to do.
How to Get a Valid eVisa Without Going to the Consulate
Some travelers assume the enforcement means they have to show up in person at the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. That is not true.
The Consulate authorizes a small number of licensed U.S. agencies to process eVisas for them to issue. Those agencies work under a formal contract with the Consulate, so the eVisas they process carry the same official standing as one you would get at the Consulate window. All eVisas are issued by the Consulate.
Cuba Travel Services (cubavisaservices.com) is the authorized agency for U.S. travelers. You have a few easy ways to get your eVisa from us:
Online
Buy it at cubavisaservices.com and get it within minutes. No trip to Washington needed.
At the Airport
Buy it in person from our staff at Miami International (MIA) or Tampa International (TPA), the two main U.S. gateways for Cuba flights.
By Phone
Call us at 1-800-963-2822 and we will walk you through it.
However you buy it, your eVisa is issued under our direct Consulate contract, so it meets the June 1, 2026 standard. Online orders usually arrive within minutes, and our airport team is on hand at both MIA and TPA for last-minute travelers.
Here is the part people miss. It is not about where you bought the eVisa. It is about whether the agency that issued it holds a real authorization from the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. We do. Many of the eVisa sellers you find online do not, and they process them through Consulates in other countries.
Bottom line: Buy your Cuba eVisa from an authorized source. Get it online at cubavisaservices.com, or in person from our staff at the MIA or TPA airport counter. It is fast, it is legitimate, and it is the option that keeps you compliant starting June 1, 2026.
What Happens If Your eVisa Is Not Accepted
Airlines do not have to find a workaround for a bad document at check-in. If you show up after June 1, 2026 with an eVisa that did not come from the Consulate or an authorized agency, here is what you are looking at:
- You get denied boarding. You will not be allowed on the flight to Cuba without proper documentation.
- The airline is not required to provide a refund. Ticket costs are not refunded for a document problem.
- Your D'Viajeros form is useless. A QR code tied to a bad eVisa number will not be accepted either. You will be required to buy a valid eVisa and process a new D'Viajeros form.
- You may even miss your trip. Cuba flights fill up, so rebooking on the spot is not a sure thing.
This is a hard check at the counter, not something an agent can smooth over for you. Your only recourse is to purchase one from an authorized provider, or at the airport from a Cuba Travel Services representative positioned at the gate and/or in the ticketing area of American Airlines or Delta. We are also present at Southwest in Tampa (TPA).
What to Do If You Are Traveling After June 1, 2026
First, figure out where your eVisa came from. If you bought it anywhere other than the Cuban Consulate or an authorized agency like cubavisaservices.com, it may not hold up under the new enforcement. The eVisa must say USA under the QR code on the D'Viajeros form.
Second, call us. Our specialists can look at your situation and, if needed, issue a valid replacement eVisa fast. Call 1-800-963-2822 or go to cubavisaservices.com.
Third, hold off on D'Viajeros if you are unsure. If your eVisa turns out to be no good, the D'Viajeros QR code built from it is no good either. Wait until you have a confirmed, valid eVisa before you fill out the form.
Fourth, give yourself time, or use the airport option. Online replacements from cubavisaservices.com usually come through within minutes. If you are short on time, you can also buy your eVisa in person from our staff at Miami (MIA) or Tampa (TPA) on the day you fly, or call 1-800-963-2822 and we will move you to the front of the line.
Why We Can Stand Behind Your eVisa
Cuba Travel Services opened in 1999. For more than 25 years we have been the most experienced and most authorized Cuba travel company in the country. Our contract with the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. is not a slogan. It is a real legal relationship that few other U.S. Cuba travel companies have.
That is exactly why all three airlines came to us when it came time to launch service. We are the recognized U.S. authority on Cuban consular documents, and we are getting the word out now so nobody gets blindsided at the airport.
Our goal is to ensure a smooth, easy customer experience for everyone traveling with our airline partners.
What Our Consulate Contract Means for Travelers
- Every eVisa from cubavisaservices.com is Consulate-backed and carries a digital paper trail the airlines will check for after June 1, 2026.
- Online eVisas can be expedited to arrive quickly. No multi-day wait, no guessing.
- Our team at Miami International (MIA) and Tampa International (TPA) is available to help last-minute travelers at the counter and the gate.
- Cuban-born travelers who cannot use an eVisa can get consular services from us, like passport renewals and certified birth certificates, through our direct embassy relationship.
Common Questions About the June 1, 2026 Rule
How Do I Know If My eVisa Will Be Accepted?
If you bought it through cubavisaservices.com, or in person from our staff at MIA or TPA, you are good. If it came from anywhere else, like an overseas service or a site with no direct Consulate contract, call us at 1-800-963-2822 and we will check it and replace it if we have to.
I Already Filled Out My D'Viajeros Form. Do I Have to Redo It If I Get a New eVisa?
Yes. The D'Viajeros form is tied to your specific eVisa number. If you get a new eVisa, you will need a new D'Viajeros form with the new number. Do it within 7 days of departure, and note that some airlines want it within 72 hours. We can walk you through it.
Does This Apply to Every Flight to Cuba From the U.S.?
The notice we received covers American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Airlines, but we have been advised it applies to all carriers departing from the United States. Either way, making sure your eVisa comes from the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. is the safe move, regardless of how you purchased it.
Can I Get a Refund on a Bad eVisa From a Third-Party Site?
That comes down to that company's refund policy. We cannot refund another company's product. Reach out to them right away, and in the meantime get a valid replacement from cubavisaservices.com so your trip is not at risk.
I Am Traveling Before June 1, 2026. Does This Affect Me?
No. The rule will begin being enforced on June 1, 2026, so trips before that date are not subject to the new check. That said, buying through cubavisaservices.com is still the easiest and most reliable way to go.
Does This Change Anything for Cuban-Born Travelers?
Cuban-born travelers already could not use an eVisa as of July 1, 2024, separate from this rule. Cuban-born U.S. residents need consular services like passport renewals and certified birth certificates, which we handle through our direct Cuban Embassy relationship. Call 1-800-963-2822 for help.
Where Can I Get a Valid Cuba eVisa Right Now?
You have a few choices. You can go directly to the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C., you can buy online from an authorized U.S. agency like cubavisaservices.com, or you can buy in person at the airport from our staff at Miami (MIA) or Tampa (TPA). We hold a direct authorization from the Consulate, so any of these routes through us meets the new standard. You do not need to travel to Washington. Online orders usually come through within minutes.
One Last Thing
We have been getting Americans to Cuba legally and smoothly since 1999. In that time we have worked through every twist in U.S.-Cuba policy, from the Bush era to the Obama-era opening to the Trump restrictions, from paper tourist cards to the digital eVisa. Every time the rules shift, travelers with plans on the books are the ones who can get caught out.
This June 1, 2026 airline notice is one of the bigger operational changes for Cuba travelers since the eVisa came in. It comes down to a simple choice at the airport. You either have an eVisa from an authorized source like cubavisaservices.com, or you risk not getting on the plane. This is not a change in policy. It is simply enforcement of a policy that has always existed.
We are here to make sure everyone who books with Cuba Travel Services gets on that flight.
Take Action
- Get your Consulate-backed Cuba eVisa: cubavisaservices.com
- Plan your full Cuba trip: cubatravelservices.com
- Call us if your trip is at risk: 1-800-963-2822
- Email: info@cubatravelservices.com
- Offices: Newport Beach, CA · Coral Gables, FL
Cuba Travel Services, Inc. · OFAC-Licensed Travel Service Provider · IATA Accredited · FL ST36556 · CA CST #2074621-40
Disclaimer
This article reflects notifications Cuba Travel Services received from American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Delta Airlines, and the Cuban Consulate in Washington, D.C. about the June 1, 2026 eVisa rule. It is shared for informational purposes. Travelers should confirm current requirements with their airline and a Cuba travel specialist before they fly.