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724. Do travel service providers (such as travel agents and tour group operators) need to obtain specific licenses from OFAC to provide services for travel to Cuba?
No. A general license authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including travel agents and tour group operators, to provide travel services in connection with authorized travel without the need for specific licenses from OFAC. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(1). This general license excludes direct or, effective September 30, 2026, indirect financial transactions with entities and subentities identified on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. This general license further excludes from the authorization lodging, paying for lodging, or making any reservation for or on behalf of a third party to lodge, at any property in Cuba on the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List to the extent prohibited by § 515.210. For a complete description of the scope of this prohibition, see 31 CFR § 515.210. The provision of services related to travel for tourist activities or other unauthorized travel to Cuba remains prohibited.
Updated on Sep 29, 2026
Cuba Sanctions
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724. Do travel service providers (such as travel agents and tour group operators) need to obtain specific licenses from OFAC to provide services for travel to Cuba?
No. A general license authorizes persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction, including travel agents and tour group operators, to provide travel services in connection with authorized travel without the need for specific licenses from OFAC. For a complete description of what this general license authorizes and the restrictions that apply, see 31 CFR § 515.572(a)(1). In accordance with NSPM-5, OFAC amended this general license to exclude from the authorization certain direct financial transactions with entities and subentities identified on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. Also, effective September 24, 2020, OFAC amended this general license to exclude from the authorization lodging, paying for lodging, or making any reservation for or on behalf of a third party to lodge, at any property in Cuba on the Cuba Prohibited Accommodations List to the extent prohibited by § 515.210. For a complete description of the scope of this prohibition, see 31 CFR § 515.210. The provision of services related to travel for tourist activities or other unauthorized travel to Cuba remains prohibited.
09/23/2020
[9-30-26 Update – FAQ amended to reflect expansion of 560.209 to “indirect” financial transactions]
1) Note that, prior to 2015, all travel service providers needed special authorization from OFAC prior to providing Cuba travel-related services. See 2006 Circular for Travel, Carrier and Remittance Forwarding Service Providers.
2) See Guidance Regarding Travel Between the United States And Cuba (2016), LICENSE No. CU-2016-329116-5 and General Note on the Provision of Services Related to Travel by non-U.S. Persons to Cuba (System Ed. Note), distinguishing between the scope of the carrier and travel services GLs with respect to travel by persons not subject to U.S. jurisdiction. For transportation from Cuba to the U.S. the scope of the carrier services GL is narrower than the travel services GL, as the former applies to a limited set of third country travelers.
3) FAQ amended on 4 June 2019 only to change the phrase "OFAC is amending this general license" to "OFAC amended this general license."
4) FAQ amended on 9-23-2020 to account for the addition of 515.210 to the CACR.