TRAVEL TO CUBA FOR RESEARCH BY PROFESSIONALS
As the following section of the OFAC’s Comprehensive Guidelines For License Applications To Engage In Travel-Related Transactions Involving Cuba explains, professionals may travel to conduct research in Cuba under the General License authority. The relevant parts of the Professional Research and Professional Meetings Section are highlighted.
Note: “Research requires a full work schedule of noncommercial, academic research that has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination and is in the traveler’s professional area.”
A General license authority means that if you fit into the category of permitted travel, no further permission from OFAC is required.
Note: “General licenses constitute blanket authorization for those transactions set forth in the relevant regulation. For persons satisfying all criteria and conditions in a general license, no further permission from OFAC is required to engage in transactions authorized by that general license.”
“Those individuals who determine that their activities are authorized by a general license must be able to document that their travel qualifies under that general
license and must keep records that are required to be furnished to OFAC or other law enforcement officials (e.g., U.S. Customs and Border Protection) upon demand for a period of five years after the travel transactions take place. See 31 C.F.R. §§ 501.601, 501.602.
Travel agents that are authorized to sell tickets for transportation to Cuba will usually ask you to sign an affidavit stating the category under which you can travel if you are using a general license authority.
OFAC will also grant specific licenses for other types of travel/purposes under the research and professional meetings category. The specific license must be requested from OFAC and a paper license is provided to the traveler. The details about general licenses for research are provided in the excerpt from Department of Treasury’s website on regulations for travel to Cuba.
If you have questions about the regulations, whether you qualify under the general license authority, and where to seek clarification, please visit the contact section of our website.
Note: “Research requires a full work schedule of noncommercial, academic research that has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination and is in the traveler’s professional area.”
A General license authority means that if you fit into the category of permitted travel, no further permission from OFAC is required.
Note: “General licenses constitute blanket authorization for those transactions set forth in the relevant regulation. For persons satisfying all criteria and conditions in a general license, no further permission from OFAC is required to engage in transactions authorized by that general license.”
“Those individuals who determine that their activities are authorized by a general license must be able to document that their travel qualifies under that general
license and must keep records that are required to be furnished to OFAC or other law enforcement officials (e.g., U.S. Customs and Border Protection) upon demand for a period of five years after the travel transactions take place. See 31 C.F.R. §§ 501.601, 501.602.
Travel agents that are authorized to sell tickets for transportation to Cuba will usually ask you to sign an affidavit stating the category under which you can travel if you are using a general license authority.
OFAC will also grant specific licenses for other types of travel/purposes under the research and professional meetings category. The specific license must be requested from OFAC and a paper license is provided to the traveler. The details about general licenses for research are provided in the excerpt from Department of Treasury’s website on regulations for travel to Cuba.
If you have questions about the regulations, whether you qualify under the general license authority, and where to seek clarification, please visit the contact section of our website.
