Temporary residence with a work permit
Ministry of Labour permit plus residence
Foreigners in Cuba with temporary residence status need a work permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MTSS) to carry out professional or work activities. The work permit must be obtained before the residence application. Fees for granting and renewing work permits are set by MTSS Resolution 46 of 2020. Cuba is moving to a new system under the 2024 Ley 173 de Extranjería and its regulation (Decreto 137 de 2025). These were published in 2026 with a general 180-day period before they take effect.
1 entry rule for Cuba based on recent travel
These apply to people who were recently in certain countries. Sign in and add your trips to see whether any apply to you.
Yellow fever certificate needed after a stay in countries with risk of yellow fever transmission (WHO list)
Travellers aged 9 months and over arriving from a yellow fever risk country (or after more than 12 hours' airport transit in one) need a valid yellow fever certificate.
WHO International Travel and Health, Annex 1: Countries with risk of yellow fever transmission and countries requiring proof of vaccination against yellow fever (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) WHO ITH Country List: Vaccination requirements and WHO recommendations for international travellers, 2022 edition (18 Nov 2022, revised 3 Jan 2023) Checked October 19, 2026
Life in Cuba
Money
2
Currency
Cuban Peso
CUP
Cuban Peso
Tax
5–50%
Income tax (national)
Sales tax 10% · social security 5%
Annual sworn-declaration scale (self-employed, artists, etc.): 5% up to CUP 25,000 rising to 50% above CUP 1,000,000; salaried workers pay the tax on wages through withholding under separate rules.
Living
1
Happiness
#2 of 2 countries
World Happiness Report 2011
Your edge here Members
What gives you an edge here: passports, visas and permits you hold, work, study, language and family ties
Who it’s for
Foreign professionals and workers hired by Cuban employing entities, foreign companies or projects in Cuba.
Eligibility
Work permit first
Foreigners who need a work permit must obtain it from the MTSS before applying for residence (as described for the Ley 173 draft).
Who needs a permit
Temporary residents (and, under the new law, real-estate residents) need a work permit; provisional and permanent residents do not and are governed by the Labour Code.
Activity-limited
Temporary residents may only do the activities approved for their sub-classification unless the immigration authority authorises others.
A sneak peek at what's inside
- Next requirementEmployer reporting
- Document checklistMTSS work permit for the requested sub-classification
- FeesWork permit grant/renewal (MTSS Resolution 46/2020)
The full requirements are for members
Create an account and subscribe to see every requirement, the full document checklist, fees, steps, processing times and conditions, and how your profile compares.
- 1 more requirement
- 4 documents
- 1 fee
- 4 steps
- Processing times and conditions
Places to visit in Cuba
Attractions picked for you, based on your profile and interests.
Finding places for you…
Official sources
- Gaceta Oficial de Cuba - 'ciudadano extranjero' index (incl. MTSS Resolución 46 de 2020 on work permit fees)
- Gaceta Oficial No. 39 Ordinaria de 2026 (Leyes 171, 172, 173 and regulations Decretos 136 and 137 de 2025)
- MINREX Embajadas y Consulados - Nuevas leyes de Inmigración, Extranjería y Ciudadanía transforman sistema migratorio cubano (May 2026)
- Granma - ¿Qué incluye el Anteproyecto de la Ley de Extranjería en Cuba? (June 2024)
Other routes to Cuba
- Visit & tourismCuban tourist card (tourist visa) for foreign visitors
- Permanent residencePermanent and provisional residence under the new Ley 173 de Extranjería
- FamilyFamily visa (A-2) for relatives of Cuban citizens, and permanent residence application
Work permits in other countries
- CuraçaoCuraçao residence permit (work, family, investor, pensioner, study) and declarations
- CyprusTemporary residence and employment permit for third-country nationals
- CzechiaEmployee Card
- GermanyEU Blue Card
- DjiboutiWork authorisation (ANEFIP) with professional visa and residence card
- DenmarkPay Limit Scheme
