Flying private to Cuba: permits, paperwork and handling
Cuba requires foreign private and business aircraft to obtain authorization from IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba) before landing or overflying. This guide covers what you need, how far in advance to ask, and which airports accept international arrivals, using live data from the i-Handler airport directory, sourced from the country AIP.
Authority: IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba) · Reviewed: 2026-09-27
Permits: who issues them and when to apply
Landing and overflight permits for foreign civil aircraft are handled by IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba). Cuba requires prior permits for landing and overflight; request at least 72 business hours ahead, longer for landing.
Reference the approved permit in your ICAO flight plan (item 18) and file the plan only once the permit is confirmed. Private non-revenue and charter (revenue) flights follow different tracks; charter requires additional commercial documentation, so start earlier.
Operators subject to United States jurisdiction have additional OFAC/BIS requirements for Cuba beyond the Cuban permit itself; verify your own regulator before planning.
Documents you will be asked for
Aircraft: certificate of airworthiness, certificate of registration, international insurance certificate with coverage valid for Cuba, and noise certificate.
Crew: pilot licenses and current medical certificates.
Passengers: passports (6 months validity is the safe standard) and a General Declaration (GENDEC) for arrival.
The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, passenger manifests and the ICAO flight plan from your trip data, so the paperwork above is produced in minutes instead of retyped per flight.
Airports of entry
Havana Jose Marti (MUHA) is the main gateway; Varadero (MUVR), Camaguey (MUCM), Holguin (MUHG) and Santiago (MUCU) also take international traffic.
Plan your first landing at an airport of entry. Other fields may show customs in the AIP data, but use them as onward stops after clearing in, unless the authority authorizes otherwise. The live table below marks entry, customs, mandatory handling, slots and fuel per airport.
Cuba airports at a glance (live from the i-Handler directory)
| Airport | Entry | Customs | Handling | Slots | Fuel | Providers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MUBABaracoa/Gustavo Rizo | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| MUBRCayo Las Brujas/Las Brujas | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUBYBayamo/Carlos Manuel De Cespedes | No | No | No | No | JET ONLY | 0 |
| MUCACiego De Avila/Maximo Gomez | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| MUCCCayo Coco/Jardines Del Rey International | Yes | Yes | No | No | JET | 1 |
| MUCFCienfuegos/Jaime Gonzalez | Yes | Yes | No | No | JET | 2 |
| MUCLCayo Largo Del Sur - Vilo Acuna Intl | Yes | Yes | No | No | JET | 1 |
| MUCMCamaguey / Ignacio Agramente International | Yes | Yes | Mandatory | Yes | AVGAS JET | 3 |
| MUCUSantiago de Cuba/Antonio Maceo Internacional | Yes | Yes | Mandatory | No | JET ONLY | 2 |
| MUGMLeeward Point Field/Guantanamo Bay AB | Yes | Yes | No | No | JET | 0 |
| MUGTGuantanamo/Mariana Grajales | No | No | No | No | JET | 1 |
| MUHAHavana/Jose Marti International | Yes | Yes | Mandatory | Yes | AVGAS JET | 11 |
| MUHGHolguin/Frank Pais International | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | JET ONLY | 2 |
| MUKWVaradero/Kawama | No | No | No | No | AVGAS | 0 |
| MULBHavana/Ciudad Libertad | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MULMPinar Del Rio/La Coloma | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUMGManagua AB | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUMOMoa/Orestes Acosta | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUMZManzanillo/Sierra Maestra | Yes | Yes | No | No | JET ONLY | 1 |
| MUNGNueva Gerona/Rafael Cabrera | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 1 |
| MUPBHavana/Playa Baracoa | No | No | No | No | JET | 1 |
| MUSASan Antonio De Los Banos AB | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUSCSanta Clara/Abel Santamaria | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | JET ONLY | 1 |
| MUSJSan Julian Air Base | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUSLSanta Lucia/Joaquin de Aguero | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUSNIsla de La Juventud/Siguanea | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUSSSancti Spiritus | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUTDTrinidad/Alberto Delgado | No | No | No | No | NO FUEL | 0 |
| MUVRVaradero/Juan Gualberto Gomez International | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | AVGAS JET | 3 |
| MUVTLas Tunas/Hermanos Ameijeiras | No | No | No | No | JET | 0 |
Live data from the i-Handler directory; each ICAO links to the airport page with contacts, frequencies and live METAR/TAF.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a landing permit for a private flight to Cuba?
Yes. Foreign private and business aircraft need authorization from IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba). Cuba requires prior permits for landing and overflight; request at least 72 business hours ahead, longer for landing. The permit goes in item 18 of your ICAO flight plan.
Which airports in Cuba accept international arrivals?
Havana Jose Marti (MUHA) is the main gateway; Varadero (MUVR), Camaguey (MUCM), Holguin (MUHG) and Santiago (MUCU) also take international traffic. The table on this page shows entry, customs and handling status per airport, live from the i-Handler directory.
How do I find a handler or FBO in Cuba?
The i-Handler airport directory lists ground handlers and FBOs per airport with phone numbers, and pilots contact them by chat through the free i-Handler App.
What paperwork does a flight to Cuba require?
Aircraft certificates, insurance, crew licenses, passports and a General Declaration. The i-Handler App generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan automatically from your trip.
Do the paperwork once, not per flight
The free i-Handler App organizes the trip, generates the GENDEC, manifests and ICAO flight plan, and connects you by chat with the handlers and FBOs listed at your destination. Create your pilot account at i-handler.app.
Create your free pilot accountLast reviewed 2026-09-27 against operational sources. Requirements change: always confirm current rules with IACC (Instituto de Aeronautica Civil de Cuba) or your handler before the flight. This page is operational guidance, not legal advice.