Travel to Cuba

Joseph Glover, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Leonardo Villalón, Dean, UF International Center

Since diplomatic relations are being restored with Cuba with the embassy reopening on July 20, 2015, Florida laws restricting the use of University funds for travel to certain foreign countries will no longer apply to Cuba. However, approval for travel to Cuba must be sought well in advance and MUST BE APPROVED BY THE DEAN OF YOUR UNIT OR THE PROVOST until further notice. Faculty who do not have a Travel Authorization approved in advance of travel may not have their travel expenses reimbursed. In addition, faculty are required to register their international travel through the online UFIC Travel Registry at http://ufic.ufl.edu/TravelRegistration.html

Faculty and staff may request permission to travel to Cuba for the following purposes, although certain conditions below are imposed by federal law:

Professional research, provided the traveler is engaged in a full schedule of research and does not engage in tourist or recreational activities;

Professional meetings, provided the purpose of the meeting is not the promotion of tourism in Cuba;

Teaching at a Cuban academic institution related to an academic program at the Cuban institution;

Sponsorship or co-sponsorship of academic seminars, conferences, study abroad, and workshops related to Cuba or global issues involving Cuba and attendance at such events by faculty, staff, and students of a participating U.S. academic institution;

The organization of, and preparation for, activities described above by members of the faculty and staff of the sponsoring U.S. academic institution;

Records of the above types of travel must be kept for 5 years.

The allowable activities above do not include the authorization to bring equipment, technology, and other items into Cuba that are subject to export control laws. That authorization must be checked and sought separately through the International Center or the Research Compliance Office.