Americans Living and Retiring in Cuba (2024)

FAQs

Can American citizens retire in Cuba? ›

Is it possible at all to move to Cuba as a foreigner? The short answer is no, you cannot move to Cuba unless you are a Cuban citizen.

To move to Cuba, you must obtain a long-term Cuba visa or temporary residence visa. The type of visa you choose depends on the purpose of your relocation and how long you will stay in Cuba. The most common long-term visas are work, family, and study visas.

Ecuador. If you're looking for a country where you can retire outside the US comfortably with $800 per month and experience one of the most ecologically diverse places in the world, then Ecuador might be for you. The go-to city for US retirees in Ecuador is Cuenca, which also happens to be a UNESCO World Heritage site.

As of early 2023, the short answer is: Yes, you can travel to Cuba as a U.S. citizen.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury prohibits making payments to anyone residing in Cuba or North Korea. Under the Social Security Act, you are not eligible to receive Social Security benefits for the months that you lived in Cuba or North Korea if you are not a U.S. citizen, even if you meet all other requirements.

U.S. immigration law requires that U.S. visa fees and validity periods be reciprocal, insofar as practicable, with the treatment accorded to U.S. citizens. Cuba allows U.S. citizen tourists a single entry for a stay of two months, with a possible 30-day extension to three months total, for $50.

To acquire property, you must go to a Cuban bank to pay, and you are not allowed to pay less than the legal value of the house. Once you've chosen the property you want to purchase, it will be valued by the Housing Institute Office. Following this, you and the seller will go to a notary to transfer ownership.

Essentially, yes, you can visit Cuba and travel exactly as you would anywhere else. Just avoid government-run hotels, restaurants, and tours while you're there.

The Cuban government operates a national health system and assumes fiscal and administrative responsibility for the health care of all its citizens. All healthcare in Cuba is free to Cuban residents. There are no private hospitals or clinics as all health services are government-run.

Cape Coral, Fla. With its desirable climate and favorable tax status, Florida is filled with popular retirement destinations. Many of our favorite retirement spots in the Sunshine State can be found along the Gulf Coast including St. Petersburg, Sarasota and Punta Gorda.

How much is $100 dollars a month for retirement? ›

Investing $100 per month will grow to more than $160,000 when you are ready to retire in 47 years. At $500 a month, the same 20-year-old would retire with more than $800,000 if they stuck to their saving. If you bump that number up to $1,000 per month, your total will grow to over $1.6 million for retirement.

1. Charleston, Illinois. The safest and most affordable place to retire is Charleston, Illinois. Enjoy Lake Charleston, and take in all it has to offer on one of its many trails.

Most of the best places to stay in Cuba are in Havana, perfect for kicking off your explorations in style from the northern part of the island. Journey to Santiago de Cuba — from where Fidel Castro launched his revolution — for gorgeous architecture and lots of history, as well as a more noticeably Caribbean feel.

If you want to visit Cuba as an American and do it legally, you will need to obtain a Cuban visa in advance. This is also called a “general license” and the Cuban government requires it to travel to Cuba. It can be a bit confusing, but calling it the general license is the way to go.

Legal Cuba travel essentials for US citizens and residents

American visitors to Cuba require a valid passport. Cuba visitors require an entry visa. Purchase a Cuban Tourist Visa here. US credit and debit cards don't work in Cuba.

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

Cuba requires visitors to have non-U.S. medical insurance, which is usually included in airline ticket prices on flights originating in the United States or can be purchased at the airport upon arrival to Cuba.

If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool to be sure you can receive your payments.

What gifts to bring for the Cuban people? Any gift for the Cuban people you bring will usually be appreciated as there are shortages of pretty much everything you could imagine. However, there are three main things that are extremely hard to come by in Cuba: medicine, clothing, and toiletries.

It's perfectly legal for Americans to travel to Cuba, except for explicit tourism purposes. However, you will need to meet some requirements. Specifically, you need a Cuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Visa), travel insurance, and a self-certification under one of the 12 travel categories of authorized travel to Cuba.

Does Cuba allow dual citizenship with US? ›

The Government of Cuba treats U.S. citizens born in Cuba as Cuban citizens and may subject them to a range of restrictions and obligations. The Cuban government requires U.S.-Cuban dual citizens who departed Cuba on or after January 1, 1971 to enter and depart Cuba using a Cuban passport.

The minimum wage is set at 2,100 CUP (Cuban Pesos) per month. The average salary in Cuba is around 4,000 CUP per month (see Table 1 below). The average salary of health and professionals with higher education is around 6,000 CUP per month. The average retirement pension does not exceed 1,528 CUP per month.

Legally, the only currency you can use in Cuba is the Cuban peso (CUP). However, any Cuban would be glad to accept foreign currency, especially Euros or USD. If you haven't pre-booked and paid for accommodations, activities, or transportation, you could likely pay for these things in cash in foreign currency.

Where to stay in Cuba. American citizens are not currently allowed to stay in Cuba's government-run hotels or use most state-owned enterprises. Instead, it's best to opt for private accommodation such as apartments, B&Bs and homestays (known in Cuba as casas particulares).

This means U.S citizens currently cannot visit Cuba to simply sightsee, go to the beach, and explore. As of 2022, Americans that wish to travel to Cuba must fall into one of the 12 approved categories of travel, determined by the Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).

Leading causes of death in Cuba 2020, per group

The leading cause of death in Cuba in 2020 was ischemic heart disease. That year, around 18,791 people died from this condition, also known as coronary heart disease, a heart condition characterized by narrowed heart arteries.

Cuba has a near-zero homelessness rate. This is due in part to the fact that rent in state built housing is capped at 10% of family income. The average lifespan in Cuba is higher than that of the US and they have a lower rate of infant and maternal mortality as well.

Life expectancy in Cuba is higher than that of the US (72.5 vs. 71.9). Health workers have eliminated polio, tuberculosis, typhoid fever, and diphtheria. Malnutrition incidence amount 1-15 years olds is 0.7% compared with 5% in the US.

Where is the best place to retire with $1 million dollars? ›

1. Mississippi. World Population Review ranks Mississippi as the state with the lowest cost of living for 2022. A million dollars will likely provide you with a comfortable lifestyle for most, if not all, of your retired years.

Five of the 10 most affordable states — Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Delaware and Tennessee — rank among the nation's most tax-friendly, according to a Kiplinger analysis. The least affordable states for retirees are clustered on the coasts: Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and California.

The (Overly) Simple Math Behind the “$1000/Month Rule”

The math behind the $1000-a-month rule is simple. If you take 5% of a $240,000 retirement nest egg each year, that works out to $12,000/year, which, divided into 12 months, gives you $1000 each month. Painless, right?

That means that many will need to rely on Social Security payments—which, in 2021, averages $1,544 a month. That's not a lot, but don't worry. There are plenty of places in the United States—and abroad—where you can live comfortably on $1,500 a month or less.

According to the 4% rule, if you retire with $500,000 in assets, you should be able to take $20,000/ yr for a 30-year or longer. Additionally, putting the money in an annuity will offer a guaranteed annual income of $24,688 to those retiring at 55.

Mexico. Just south of the United States of America border with warm weather, a wide variety of places to live, miles of coastline, and beautiful cities, Mexico, one of the cheapest countries to retire in, is a popular destination for retirees as well as vacationers.

Alaska and New Hampshire are the only states with no sales, income or Social Security tax.

Most of the best places to stay in Cuba are in Havana, perfect for kicking off your explorations in style from the northern part of the island. Journey to Santiago de Cuba — from where Fidel Castro launched his revolution — for gorgeous architecture and lots of history, as well as a more noticeably Caribbean feel.

Cuba is a great place to visit and so is Costa Rica for all the things you're looking for. One difference is that most people visit cuba through all inclusives, which means tourists far more than "travellers," while most visitors to CR avoid AIs. The water and beaches are fairly different too.

What to be careful in Cuba? ›

Foreigners may experience violent crimes, such as assault, sexual assault and robbery. Pickpocketing, bag snatching and other petty crime is common, especially on public transport and intercity buses. It also happens at major tourist areas such as: Old Havana.

Can Americans still travel to Cuba in 2023? Yes! Travel to Cuba in 2023 is still possible for Americans who wish to travel independently, without being part of a big, expensive tour group.

In the modern era, Cuba is considered to be a safe place to visit. This is due largely thanks to its widespread policing efforts, coupled with its strict laws.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines, jetBlue, United, Delta, Republic Airways and Mesa Airlines all fly non-stop to Cuba.

There are three ways for foreigners to buy property in Cuba. They can marry a Cuban; they can buy in the name of a Cuban relative; or they can purchase from another foreigner. Therefore, if you're neither married to a Cuban nor have Cuban relatives, you'll need to buy a home from another foreigner.

General Process: On arrival in Cuba, yachts must go to the nearest Port of Entry, with the Q and courtesy flags flying. The main port of entry for yachts is Hemingway Marina immediately to the west of Havana.

The primary reason for travel restrictions on Americans headed to Cuba is to keep money out of government-run tourism services and businesses. Because of the decades-long U.S. embargo against Cuba, American debit cards and credit cards will not work on the island as they do for those traveling from any other country.

A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship. However, persons who acquire a foreign nationality after age 18 by applying for it may relinquish their U.S. nationality if they wish to do so.

It's perfectly legal for Americans to travel to Cuba, except for explicit tourism purposes. However, you will need to meet some requirements. Specifically, you need a Cuban Tourist Card (a.k.a Cuban Visa), travel insurance, and a self-certification under one of the 12 travel categories of authorized travel to Cuba.

How long can a U.S. citizen stay out of the country? ›

While the normal limit is a year, you can stay longer and still preserve your US citizen if you are a military service member, Government employee, or meet any other criteria discussed above i.e., work for a US multinational or you proactively preserve residence.

Many more Americans — estimates on both sides range from 20,000 to 50,000 a year — are sneaking into Cuba, in breach of the U.S. embargo's ban on Americans' spending money here, via third countries like Mexico, Canada, Jamaica or the Bahamas.

If you earned Social Security benefits, you can visit or live in most foreign countries and still receive payments. Look up the country on the SSA Payments Abroad Screening Tool to be sure you can receive your payments.

According to various studies, including International Living, Portugal is ranked as the best country for US expats to retire to. Its friendly population, welcoming community of American expats, excellent weather, safety records, and affordable cost of living are all big draws for retirees.