Tourist Card Guide
Discover what a tourist card is, and use our country-by-country guide to find out whether you will a tourist card to travel, complete with an overview of how to apply, documents required, and applicable fees.
Tourist Card - Know Before You Go
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What is a Tourist Card?
A tourist card, which might be called a ‘citizenship identity card’, is issued to a tourist for a stated period of time. A tourist card is different to a passport or a visa - some countries require all tourists to complete a tourist card before entering the country.
We've put together a guide to help you understand Tourist Card requirements for visiting the following countries:
Tourist Card
Cuba
The Cuban Tourist Card grants a maximum stay of 30 days (90 days for Canadian citizens), but can be extended once for the same period.
How do I get a Cuban Tourist Card?
The tourist card can be purchased online ahead of time, or at the airport. It is recommended to purchase ahead of time for peace-of-mind, plus you can Tourist Card line at the airport. A Cuban Tourist Card can also be obtained from your country’s Cuban Embassy - costs will range from $20 to $75.
Do I need a Tourist Card to travel to Cuba?
Most visitors to Cuba need to complete a Cuban Tourist Card. Here is a breakdown:
Travellers from the following countries do not require a Tourist Card or Visa:
- Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia, China, Dominica, Grenada, Macedonia, Malaysia, Montenegro, Mongolia, Namibia, Saint Kitts, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Serbia, Singapore, and Vietnam.
Travellers from the following countries require a Visa:
- Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, India, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sri Lanka.
Travellers from the following countries require a Tourist Card:
- Everyone not on the above two lists, including all travellers from the US and Canada.
Flying from the USA to Cuba
Those travelling from the US to Cuba will require a different Tourist Card (it is pink, rather than green). The airline you are travelling with will help arrange your Cuban Tourist Card (cost varies from airline to airline):
- Southwest: $50, to be pre-purchased online and delivered at the gate.
- JetBlue: $50, to be purchased at gate.
- Delta: $50, to be purchased at gate. United: $75 ($50 visa + $25 processing fee), to be purchased at gate. American: $85 ($50 visa + $35 processing fee), to be purchased online and sent via mail.
- Frontier: $110 ($50 visa + $35 processing fee + $25 mailing fee), to be purchased online and sent via mail.
Flying from Canada to Cuba
If flying from Canada direct to Cuba your airline will provide the Tourist Card in-flight. The price is included in your flight.
Tourist Card
Mexico
All foreign citizens (including children) traveling to Mexico will need to fill out an Official Entry Immigration Form (FMM) before arriving in the country. The information collected is kept by the Mexican Immigration Authority as an official record of those visiting Mexico. There are two parts of the Immigration Form, the Entry Form & the Exit Form. When you arrive, an immigration officer will keep the ENTRY Part of your form; when you leave, you will then present the Exit Part of your form, along with your passport. Obtaining a Mexico Tourist Card is free - no online charges apply.
How do I get a Mexican Tourist Card?
Passengers can complete an online registration before flying - this can be done 30 days before arrival within Mexico. Information required includes passport information, flight information, address and/or name of the hotel you will be staying at. You will then need access to a printer to print your Official Entry Tourist Card. When you arrive in Mexico you will need to present your printed Tourist Card and your passport.
Tourist Card
Dominican Republic
Within the Dominican Republic, the tourist card is a form of visitor tax. Foreign Travellers wishing to enter the Dominican Republic for tourist purposes will, in addition to a valid passport, require a tourist card visa. For those flying to the Dominican Republic, this is now easily obtained, because, as of April 2018, Dominican Republic tourist card entry fees (10 USD per passenger) are incorporated into airfare.
How do I get a Dominican Republic Tourist Card?
All travellers will still have to complete an online application form, and provide details of valid travel documents/passports. After completing this online application, the tourist card is electronically issued, and will be valid for one year from the date of issue. Once used, the card allows for stays of up to 30 days.
Tourist Card
Chile
On arrival within Chile, foreign citizens will be handed a 90-day tourist card, or ‘Tarjeta de Turismo’. The card is in the form of a receipt with barcode. You will need to keep this card to present at immigration when you leave. It is very important not to lose this card.
Tourist Card
Suriname
Foreign nationals who are travelling as a tourist from certain countries have the option to purchase a tourist card or apply for a visa. The tourist card is short term, single entry and expires after 90 days. This applies to tourists travelling from the following countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Turkey, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
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