Retire in Cuba - Immigration Cuba

Residence in Cuba - Immigration Cuba

You need a visa to retire in Cuba. There are several types of visa for a stay in Cuba.

- Tourist visa also called tourist card or 'tarjeta tourista' gives you the permission to stay for 30 days in Cuba, one extension of 30 days is possible ( a total of 60 days)

- Family visa allows foreigners married to a Cuban citizen or close relatives to stay for 60 days in the house of the Cuban family. ( named A2 visa)

- Temporary Residendence for one year, granted to foreigners with a Cuban work permit.

- Permanent Residence for foreigners married to a Cuban citizen, the foreigner has to proof his solvency by making a security deposit of 5,000 Cuc in a Cuban bank account.

Advantages for Canadian citizens to retire in Cuba

Cuba and Canada have a long tradition of friendly relations. Cuba is one of the top vacation destinations for Canadians with more than 1 million Canadian travelers per year to the island. Therefore Candians have a special treatment, they get a tourist visa for 90 days extendable to 180 days.

House in Cuba

Daily life in Cuba

1) The dual currency system. The Peso Convertible (CUC) for the foreigners and the Peso National currency (CUP) for the Cubans and internal use in Cuba. 1 Peso Convertible equals 24 Peso National. Foreigners have to pay in peso convertible.

2) There are no abundant food supplies, and lots of modern shopping malls. In general fruit and vegetables are of excellent quality, but meat and dairy products are a luxury in Cuba, expensive and of poor quality. The basic meals consist off beans, rice and chicken or pork. Some luxury products like French cheese, branded products etc. can be bought in the Cuban shopping malls in the residential Havana Miramar district. The majority of the Cubans can not afford to shop in these venues.

3) The majority of the Cuban only speak Spanish, except in the hotels or tourist resorts where the staff is trained to speak English and sometimes a bit German or Russian. To have a social life in Cuba, you must have at least a basic knowledge of Spanish and some Cuban slang can be an advantage. There is a wide range of cultural activities, but do not expect the latest DVD releases or 50 TV channels, and Satelite TV dishes are prohibited in Cuba. Spanish language courses for foreigners are teached at Havana University.

4) Finally don't underestimate the financial issues when you retire in Cuba. Cuban island is a very beautiful country but not a cheap place for a long stay. A Cuban citizen has a complete different life style than a foreigner, he or she will drink tap water, while a foreigner is used to drink a beer, a soft drink, a Cuban will eat black beans and rice, but a foreigner may wish to eat a steak, pork or lobster. To own a car you need a permit and license from the Cuban government, so a lot of travel is done by taxis (cost 0.8 -1 cuc/km) Conclusion - to live a life in Cuba based on Western standards of living, besides the cost of renting a house a minimum of 1,000 - 1500 USD per month has to be provided. Do not expect to setup a small business, a bar, a shop, a restaurant etc. all small businesses are prohibited in Cuba. Work or a job in Cuba is not easy to get and paid 15 - 20 USD per month. So you have to rely on financial resources from abroad, a pension, rental income, savings etc.

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