Applying for an ESTA for the US after a trip to Cuba
Cuba is a very popular tourist destination. Given the short distance between this Caribbean island and the United States, many travellers would like to combine a trip to the US with a stay in Cuba. However, travelling to Cuba has significant implications for those wishing to travel to the United States on an ESTA.
State Sponsors of Terrorism
The US government has accused several countries of supporting terrorist activities. As a result, these countries and their citizens are subject to wide-reaching sanctions in economic, financial and social spheres. Visitors to these countries may also face restrictions if they later wish to travel to the United States.
List of States that sponsor terrorism
In 1979, the US State Department published a list of countries supposedly sponsoring terrorism for the first time. At that time, Iraq, Libya, South Yemen and Sudan were included on the list. Several countries have since been added to and removed from the list.
At present, the list includes the following four countries:
- Syria
- North Korea
- Iran
- Cuba
The United States imposes severe sanctions on countries included on the list of states that sponsor terrorism. Travellers who have visited those countries also face restrictions.
States that sponsor terrorism and the implications for obtaining the ESTA
US sanctions affect not only the countries in question but also travellers who have visited the above-mentioned countries and wish to travel to the United States. According to the ESTA requirements, travellers are not elegible to apply for an ESTA if they have previously visited any of the countries in question. The application form includes a number of security questions. One of these questions refers to previous travel to any of the countries that were once included on the list of State sponsors of terrorism, such as Cuba. This is the reason why this article about travel advice mentions more countries than the ones included in the current list of state sponsors of terrorism.
The ESTA is a digital travel authorisation allowing travellers to visit the United States without a visa for holidays, business trips or stopovers. Citizens from most European countries are eligible for the ESTA. On this website, you can apply for an ESTA using an application form with clear explanations.
If you have been to Cuba, Iraq, Iran, Yemen, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, Somalia and/or Syria since 1 March 2011, or are you a national of any of these countries, you cannot apply for an ESTA via this website.
If you were in Cuba between 1 March 2011 and 12 January 2021, you can apply for an ESTA via the US Immigration Service website, but not via esta-us.es. The same applies if you have visited any of the other countries in question, depending on the date of your trip.
The implications for your ESTA if you have been to Cuba
Many travellers wonder if they can still apply for an ESTA after a trip to Cuba. This is because Cuba has been added to and subsequently removed from the list of state sponsors of terrorism on several occasions. If you have been to Cuba after 1 March 2011 you will not be able to apply for an ESTA on esta-us.es. However, if you have been to Cuba before 12 January 2021, you can apply for an ESTA on the US Immigration Service website.
How does the US Immigration know that I have been to Cuba?
You cannot circumvent this restriction by claiming that you have never been to Cuba or any of the countries included on the list of state sponsors of terrorism. The US Immigration Service usually has access to airlines’ passenger lists. In addition, your social media accounts will be checked to find out where you have been in the past. This allows the immigration authorities to determine whether you have actually been in the country. This also means that it is pointless to apply for a new passport that does not bear the Cuban Immigration Service stamp.
Can I travel to the United States if I don’t meet the ESTA requirements?
Yes, you can travel to the United States even if you do not meet the requirements for an ESTA. In that case, you should contact the US consulate or embassy to apply for a physical visa.
In the United Kingdom, the US Embassy in London and the Consulate General in Belfast process applications for physical visas. In Ireland, you will need to visit the American Embassy in Dublin.
Apply for an ESTA now
