How to Send Money to Cuba

This article was co-authored by Michael R. Lewis and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD. Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

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If you live in most countries, sending money to Cuba is no different than any other international money transfer. This isn't the case in the US, however. Although the Obama administration eased restrictions on travel and money transfers to Cuba, the Trump administration rolled those changes back and added even more restrictions in October of 2020. As long as those restrictions are in effect, it can be very difficult to send money directly from the US to Cuba—but it's not impossible! Apart from sending money, there are other restrictions on how much money you can send and who you can send it to. [1] X Research source Below, we've provided answers to your most common questions about how to send money to Cuba.

Question 1 of 12:

Can I send money to Cuba through PayPal?

These services aren't available in Cuba at all, so it's not as though you can send money to someone in another country and they can send it to Cuba on your behalf. The person in Cuba wouldn't be able to access the app to get the money.

Advertisement Question 2 of 12:

Does Western Union transfer money to Cuba?

Unfortunately, Western Union has also closed its offices in Cuba, so you can't send money through someone in another country to get around US restrictions either.

Question 3 of 12:

Who can I send money to in Cuba?

Even if someone is a close relative, however, you can't send money to them if they are a prohibited member of the Cuban Communist Party, a Cuban government official, or a close relative of a prohibited party member or government official.

Advertisement Question 4 of 12:

How much money can I send?

For example, if your mother, brother, and sister all live in Cuba, you could send each of them $1,000 every 3 months.

Question 5 of 12:

How do I use online money transfer services?

Before you set up your account, check from the home page and make sure the service transfers money to Cuba—many don't, especially those based in the US. There's usually a link or drop-down menu on the home page that lists countries the service operates in.

Advertisement Question 6 of 12:

What information do I need to send someone in Cuba money?

If you're not sure which location to choose, share the options with the person you're sending money to and let them pick the one that's most convenient for them.
If you're trying to deposit money directly into the person's bank account, you'll need their bank account number.

Question 7 of 12:

Can Americans use Canadian money transfer services?

If the recipient does not yet have an AIS card, some services (including EnvioDinero) will automatically create one. Any money you send to the person after that would be loaded onto that card.
Your transaction will be processed in Canadian dollars, not US dollars. Keep this in mind when you're looking at your card statement.

Advertisement Question 8 of 12:

How can I use cryptocurrency to transfer funds?

The biggest problem with using cryptocurrency is internet access. Your recipient needs readily available WiFi to effectively use cryptocurrency, which isn't easy to come by in Cuba. [10] X Research source
It can also be difficult for people in Cuba to find places that will accept cryptocurrency for payment, so that can also be an issue. Only send cryptocurrency if the person you're sending it to is familiar with it and understands how it works.

Question 9 of 12:

Will my bank transfer money to a Cuban bank?

If your bank is headquartered in another country, you might be able to make a transfer—but usually, you would have to have an account in that country first (not an American account). For example, if your bank is headquartered in Canada, and you can travel to Canada and open a bank account in Canada, you might be able to do a bank transfer from that account.

Advertisement Question 10 of 12:

Can a Cuban national open a US bank account?

Money deposited in this account is still subject to federal restrictions, meaning you can only deposit money in the account that's authorized under federal law or exempt from one of the prohibitions under federal law.
Even in 2016, when the Obama Administration had lifted many of the US restrictions, most US banks did not validate their cards for use in Cuba. [11] X Research source

Question 11 of 12:

Can I pay a Cuban family member's bills?

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For example, the company Ding is offering Cubacel balance transfer promotions that allow you to send a recharge to a Cuban national's Cubacel phone. The person can then transfer that amount to other Cubacel numbers, allowing everyone to share that balance. They could also potentially sell the balance for cash in the private sector.

Advertisement Question 12 of 12:

What happens if I violate US regulations?

Financial institutions are generally required to report suspected violations to the Treasury Department.

Expert Q&A

Can I send money to Cuba for a U.S. citizen who is visiting there? Michael R. Lewis
Business Advisor

Michael R. Lewis is a retired corporate executive, entrepreneur, and investment advisor in Texas. He has over 40 years of experience in business and finance, including as a Vice President for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas. He has a BBA in Industrial Management from the University of Texas at Austin.

Business Advisor Expert Answer

Yes, you can send money to Cuba to a U.S. citizen visiting Cuba. You can use any of the transfer methods mentioned in the article. There is no limit on the funds you can transfer subject to US reporting laws.

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The US government prohibits US residents and organizations from engaging in direct financial transactions with entities that have ties to the Cuban military, intelligence, or security services. You can review the most recently updated list of these restricted entities at https://www.state.gov/cuba-restricted-list/list-of-restricted-entities-and-subentities-associated-with-cuba-effective-january-8-2021/.