(a) The travel-related transactions listed in paragraph (c) of this section may be authorized either by a general license or on a case-by-case basis by a specific license for travel related to the following activities (see the referenced sections for the applicable general and specific licensing criteria):
(1) Family visits (see Sec. 515.561);
(2) Official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations (see Sec. 515.562);
(3) Journalistic activity (see Sec. 515.563);
(4) Professional research and professional meetings (see Sec. 515.564);
(5) Educational activities (see Sec. 515.565);
(6) Religious activities (see Sec. 515.566);
(7) Public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions (see Sec. 515.567);
(8) Support for the Cuban people (see Sec. 515.574);
(9) Humanitarian projects (see Sec. 515.575);
(10) Activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes (see Sec. 515.576);
(11) Exportation, importation, or transmission of information or informational materials (see Sec. 515.545); and
(12) Certain export transactions that may be considered for authorization under existing Department of Commerce regulations and guidelines with respect to Cuba or engaged in by U.S.-owned or -controlled foreign firms (see Sec. Sec. 515.533 and 515.559).
(b) Effective October 28, 2000, no specific licenses will be issued authorizing the travel-related transactions in paragraph (c) of this section in connection with activities other than those referenced in paragraph (a) of this section.
(c) Persons generally or specifically licensed under this part to engage in transactions in connection with travel to, from, and within Cuba may engage in the following transactions:
(1) Transportation to and from Cuba. All transportation-related transactions ordinarily incident to travel to and from (not within) Cuba are authorized.
(2) Living expenses in Cuba. All transactions ordinarily incident to travel within Cuba, including payment of living expenses and the acquisition in Cuba of goods for personal consumption there, are authorized.
(3) Importation of Cuban merchandise. The purchase or other acquisition in Cuba and importation as accompanied baggage into the United States of merchandise with a value not to exceed $400 per person are authorized, provided that no more than $100 of the merchandise consists of alcohol or tobacco products and the merchandise is imported for personal use only. The importation of Cuban-origin information and informational materials is exempt from the prohibitions of this part, as described in Sec. 515.206. The importation of certain other specified goods and services is authorized in Sec. 515.582.
(4) Carrying remittances to Cuba. The carrying to Cuba of any remittances that the licensed traveler is authorized to remit pursuant to Sec. 515.570 is authorized, provided that:
(i) The total of all remittances authorized by Sec. 515.570(a) through (d) does not exceed $10,000; and
(ii) No emigration remittances authorized by Sec. 515.570(e) are carried to Cuba unless a U.S. immigration visa has been issued for each payee and the licensed traveler can produce the visa recipients' full names, dates of birth, visa numbers, and visa dates of issuance.
Note to paragraph (c)(4):
This paragraph does not authorize a traveler to carry remittances on behalf of other remitters.
(5) Processing certain financial instruments. All transactions incident to the processing and payment of credit cards, debit cards, stored value cards, checks, drafts, travelers' checks, and similar instruments used or negotiated in Cuba by any person authorized pursuant to this part to engage in financial transactions in Cuba are authorized. Persons subject to U.S. jurisdiction may rely on the traveler with regard to compliance with this paragraph, provided that such persons do not know or have reason to know that a transaction is not authorized by this section.
Note to Sec. 515.560(c)(5):
Please see Sec. 515.584 for additional provisions related to the processing and payment of credit and debit card transactions.
(d) A blocked Cuban national permanently resident in Cuba who is departing the United States may carry currency as follows:
(1) The amount of any currency brought into the United States by the Cuban national and registered with U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon entry;
(2) Up to $3,000 in funds received as remittances by the Cuban national during his or her stay in the United States; and
(3) Compensation earned by a Cuban national from a U.S. academic institution up to any amount that can be substantiated through payment receipts from such institution as authorized pursuant to Sec. 515.565(a)(5).
(e) [Reserved]
(f) Nothing in this section authorizes transactions in connection with tourist travel to Cuba.
Note 1 to Sec. 515.560: Each person relying on the general authorization in this section must retain specific records related to the authorized travel transactions. See Sec. Sec. 501.601 and 501.602 of this chapter for applicable recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
Note 2 to Sec. 515.560: This section authorizes the provision of health insurance-, life insurance-, and travel insurance-related services to authorized travelers, as well as the receipt of emergency medical services and the making of payments related thereto.
Note 3 to Sec. 515.560: The export or reexport to Cuba of items subject to the Export Administration Regulations (15 CFR et seq.) may require separate authorization from the Department of Commerce. [64 FR 25814, May 13, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 36688, July 12, 2001; 68 FR 14146, Mar. 24, 2003; 69 FR 33771 and 33773, June 16, 2004; 74 FR 46006, Sept. 8, 2009; 76 FR 5074, Jan. 28, 2011; 80 FR 2295, Jan. 16, 2015]