The Cuban regime has announced an extension to the duty-free exemption for travelers bringing food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical supplies into the country for non-commercial purposes. This decision, outlined in Resolution 26 of 2025 by the Minister of Finance and Prices (MFP), is published in the extraordinary issue number 2 of the Official Gazette, and prolongs the benefit until April 30 of this year. The previous extension was set in September last year and was due to expire on January 31.
The new MFP regulation specifies that, "exceptionally and temporarily," the importation of the aforementioned products is permitted without commercial intent, without value limits, and exempt from customs duties in the following scenarios:
1. Food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical supplies are allowed as accompanied baggage by passengers.
2. These same items can also be brought in as unaccompanied baggage by passengers, up to a limit of $500 USD or the equivalent weight up to 50 kg, according to the value/weight relation established by the General Customs of the Republic, and exempt from customs duties.
3. The customs value limit for non-commercial imports by individuals via shipments increases from $200 USD to $500 USD. The duty-free exemption is maintained for the first $30 USD of the value or its equivalent weight of 3 kg of the shipment, with the excess subject to a 30% tariff rate.
4. Food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical supplies imported by individuals via air, sea, and postal shipments are allowed up to a limit of $200 USD or the equivalent weight up to 20 kg, adhering to the weight/value ratio established by Customs.
The regulation clarifies that for the first two scenarios, the benefits apply on the condition that items classified as food or hygiene, as well as those identified as medicines and medical supplies, must be presented to Customs in separate packages from the rest of the products. Moreover, the benefits outlined in the fourth provision apply only if the shipments exclusively contain items classified as food, hygiene, medicines, and medical supplies.
Understanding Cuba's Duty-Free Import Regulations
What items are exempt from customs duties in Cuba?
Items such as food, hygiene products, medicines, and medical supplies are exempt from customs duties when brought into Cuba for non-commercial purposes.
Until when is the duty-free exemption valid?
The duty-free exemption is valid until April 30 of this year as per the latest extension announced by the Cuban government.