Area: 109,884.01 km²
Residents: 11,239,224 (2016)
Population density: 102 E / km²
Form of Government: Republic
System of Government: Socialist, authoritarian one-party system
Capital: Havana National
language: Spanish
Religions:
45% Catholic,
10% Cuban-Protestant,
5% Afro -american
0.85% Jehovah’s Witnesses
Currency: Cuban Peso (CUP)
1 Peso = 100 Centavos
Exchange rates:
1 CUC = 25 CUP (fix)
25 CUP = 1 CUC (fix)
1 EUR = 30.30 CUP
100 CUP = 3, 56 EUR
1 CHF = 27.88 CUP
100 CUP = 3.58 CHF
(exchange rate from 02/22/2021)
Currency: Convertible Peso (CUC)
1 Peso = 100 Centavos
Exchange rates:
1 CUC = 1 USD (fixed)
1 EUR = 1.21 CUC
1 CUC = 0.83 EUR
1 CHF = 1.12 CUC
1 CUC = 0.90 CHF
(Rate from 02/22/2021)
Telephone area code: +53
Time zone: UTC −4 summer time,
UTC -5 winter time
Mains voltage: 110/220 volts
In 2020, 51 Germans officially emigrated to Cuba and 89 returned to their homeland. Within the 10 years from 2010 to 2019, 1,030 Germans officially emigrated to Cuba and 1,107 moved back to Germany.
According to best-medical-schools.com, the island state of Cuba belongs to the Greater Antilles and is located in the Caribbean. The climate is tropical and warm all year round, which also says a lot about the vegetation. Many different types of palm trees, breathtaking beaches, an azure blue sea combined with the life-affirming nature of the Cuban population attracts not only tourists but also emigrants.
In the east of Cuba is the Sierra Maestra with the highest mountain on the island, the Pico Turquino (1974 meters). In addition, Cuba only has two seasons. The rainy season from May to October and the dry season from November to April. January is the coldest month with an average of “cool” 29 ° C as the daily temperature. The night temperatures are then an average of 18 ° C. The annual average water temperature is 26.7 ° C.
Classic car enthusiasts get their money’s worth in Cuba, as there are numerous cars from before 1959. Cubans have only been allowed to buy new cars since 2014, albeit at high prices.
Travel and Visa
Changed travel regulations during and after the corona pandemic
Upon entry, a negative PCR test in paper form in English or Spanish from the home country must be presented, which must not be older than 72 hours on departure (start of the journey) and must be issued by a certified laboratory.
All travelers must undergo another mandatory PCR test after arriving in Cuba at the airport. In addition, a declaration of health must be submitted at the airport.
Travelers who enter for tourist purposes and who have a reservation in a licensed hotel are then obliged to stay at the hotel until they receive the negative test result. For travelers who do not plan to stay in a hotel designed for package tours, but want to stay in a “casa particular” or any private accommodation, the following rules apply: Immediately after entry, there is an obligation to separate in a chargeable hotel assigned by the Cuban authorities until another negative test result is received.
The new test usually takes place on the fifth day after entry. The test result should be available after one to two days. Delays in individual cases cannot be ruled out. Accommodation costs may vary depending on the hotel. The regulations also apply to people residing in Cuba.
If the result is positive, inpatient admission and isolation in a hospital or state hotel for at least eight days must be expected. The quarantine facilities are only geared towards ensuring medical necessities and are always chargeable. Payment must be made by credit card, payment in cash is not possible.
Accompanying relatives of people who tested positive and who tested negative themselves must stay in the booked hotel room until a second negative test result is available. The second test is carried out on the seventh day after entry. The test result is available on the eighth day at the earliest.
Vaccinated travelers also have to do a PCR test before departure and on arrival and go into quarantine after arrival. The Cuban authorities regularly adapt the entry regulations to the current epidemiological conditions. These can therefore be subject to changes at short notice.
Source: Federal Foreign Office on July 24th, 2021
General provisions for travel and residence (until the corona pandemic)
In order to be able to travel to Cuba, you need a tourist visa before starting your trip , which guarantees a stay of 30 days. This stay can be extended by a further 30 days, i.e. to a total of 60 days. Then you have to leave the country. It is up to you whether you apply for another tourist visa for 30 days.
A longer stay in Cuba is only possible for a specific purpose. The reasons for this are study visits, work stays or family reunification and family visits.
A student visa entitles you to live in Cuba for the duration of your studies. The prerequisite is that you are a recognized student at a university / school in Cuba. The subject does not matter. Dance and language courses are also considered subjects of study. When applying for the visa, one must present a corresponding contract or an invitation from the institution concerned. You can apply for a student visa at a Cuban consulate.
Immigration and permanent residence
Obtaining a permanent residence permit (Residencia Permanente) is associated with a lot of bureaucracy. In addition, it is not certain whether you will actually get a Residencia Permanente.
