Cuba’s Removal from the Terror List: What It Means for Your Travel Plans and ESTA Eligibility!

The exclusion of Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism facilitates improved diplomatic relations and streamlines processes for travelers who have visited the island since 2021.

With only a few days remaining in his term, U.S. President Joe Biden announced yesterday Cuba’s removal from the state sponsors of terrorism list.

Cuba was initially added to the list in 1982 during the Reagan administration, removed in 2015 under Barack Obama’s presidency, and subsequently reinstated on this list, which also includes North Korea, Iran, and Syria, on January 12, 2021 during Donald Trump’s first term.

President Biden based this decision on an extensive evaluation which determined that Cuba no longer satisfied the criteria established by U.S. law for remaining on this list.

“The Government of Cuba has not offered any support for international terrorism in the previous 6-month period and has provided guarantees that it will not assist acts of international terrorism moving forward,” the U.S. president explains.

This measure, aimed at nurturing more advantageous diplomatic relations between the two nations while promoting a more stable regional environment in the Caribbean, will also affect numerous travelers to the United States.

A considerable effect on travel to the USA

Alongside its diplomatic ramifications, this choice is anticipated to have an immediate influence on certain international visitors, particularly those covered by the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Since 2021, individuals who had traveled to Cuba were deemed ineligible for ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) approval and thus were required to apply for a traditional visa (B1/B2) to enter the United States. This limitation directly stemmed from Cuba’s placement on the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

Now that this designation has been lifted, travelers who have been to Cuba since 2021 will once again be eligible to apply for ESTA authorization, making the process of entering the United States easier.

U.S. authorities have not yet clarified when this alteration will take effect. The official ESTA website (https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/) continues to indicate that individuals who have visited Cuba since January 12, 2021 cannot utilize the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with the ESTA electronic travel authorization system and must seek a visa to enter the USA.

Overview of ESTA

ESTA is an online platform that allows citizens from Visa Waiver Program member nations to visit the United States for stays of 90 days or less, whether for tourism, business, or transit purposes.

As of now, the following 42 nations and territories qualify for this program:

• Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United Kingdom.

Following the addition of Israel in 2023 and Qatar in 2024, the United States will incorporate a 43rd country into the Visa Waiver Program by March 31, 2025: Romania.

The ESTA application can be submitted online or through the official mobile application, at a cost of $21. Once permitted, the authorization remains valid for two years or until the passport expires, whichever arrives first. Multiple entries to the U.S. are allowed during this period.

Conditions include possession of a biometric or electronic passport and providing specific personal and travel details during the application process.