Sending money to Cuba can be confusing and daunting, especially for those unfamiliar with the process. Perhaps you may be wondering how to process money transfers to Cuba. First, if you are trying to send money to Cuba from the United States, understand that the United States has strict regulations on financial transactions with Cuba.
And this is because of the ongoing economic and political tensions between the two countries. As a result, sending money directly from a U.S. bank account to a Cuban bank is impossible. But how can you send money to Cuba?
There are several ways to send money to your family or relatives in Cuba. You can use money transfer services like Western Union, cash pick-up agents, or other companies.
This article will discuss how you can send money to Cuba and provide tips for making the process as smooth and efficient as possible.
Understanding Cuban Currency
As a result, it is only accessible within Cuba. Due to its intended use by visitors to Cuba, the other official currency of Cuba, (the CUC) Cuban Convertible Peso, is directly correlated to the U.S. Dollar (USD) value. Despite the numerous irregularities surrounding their usage in Cuba, both currencies are legal money there.
Options for Sending Money to Cuba
You have several viable options to transfer money to Cuba from other countries.
Electronic Transfer Service
Our recommended option for sending money to Cuba is a money transfer service.
An electronic transfer service, such as a wire transfer or an online money transfer service. To use one of these services, you must set up an account and provide the recipient’s bank account information or other details. There may be low or high fees associated with these services. The recipient may also need access to a bank account or financial institution to receive the transfer.
It is also possible to send money to Cuba through a money transfer service that operates in person, such as a Western Union or MoneyGram location. To do this, you must visit one of these locations and provide the recipient’s information and the amount you wish to send.
While using any of these money transfer companies, check out their transaction fees and go with the one with the lowest costs. The recipient will need to present identification and pick up the money in person at a location in Cuba.
It is essential to carefully consider all of the available options and choose the one that best meets the recipient’s needs and your circumstances.
One option is to send cash or a check through the mail. However, this would not be our first option due to the lack of security. Nevertheless, it is straightforward. You just put money in an envelope and address it to the person you wish to send it to.
Sending Money to Cuba Through a Bank Transfer
You can send money to Cuba through bank transfers. To do this, the recipient must set up an account with Cuban banks or other financial institutions offering international wire transfer services. Some popular Cuban banks include; Banco Popular de Ahorro and Banco Metropolitano.
Due to the inability of American banks to cooperate with Cuban banks, money transfers between both countries are currently not allowed. Meanwhile, most banks from other countries continue to do business with Cuban banks.
These institutions may permit you to send money straight to the beneficiary’s Cuba bank accounts if they have and still maintain an account there. In addition, opening a bank account in the U.S. is allowed by American law for Cuban island residents.
And this simplifies the process of moving money across bank accounts once it falls under the categories of eligible transactions. Account owners should make sure they can use their credit or debit card in Cuba as per bank policies before making this transaction.
Sending Money for Salary
Suppose you are an employer working with a freelancer; you must remember the following things. And this also applies to the freelancer residing in Cuba.
Fees: You should carefully analyze the payment methods to ensure that you send or receive your money at a reasonable exchange rate without paying high fees.
Taxes: Most countries will still tax you if your income is from abroad. To prevent legal issues with the government, become familiar with the local income tax regulations. To ensure the proper taxes have been paid, get expert legal counsel from a tax adviser.
How Much Time Does It Take to Complete Transfers From the United States to Cuba?
Also, it usually takes two days to reload MLC or AIS cards. Fast reloading services are available from some businesses and can be completed in one to three hours. The drawback of these cards is that they prevent your close relatives from making cash withdrawals. They primarily work in places that are approved.
Documents Required to Send Money to Cuba From the United States
Each Cuban money transfer provider has their own set of specifications. Generally speaking, the following documents are necessary to send money to Cuba:
- Photo ID issued by the government
- Recipient’s legal name
- Address of the recipient
- Relationship with the recipient
In some circumstances, you may need to provide the following:
- Your beneficiary’s identification number
- the Cuban magnetic card id for your relative
- You will also have to submit a debit or credit card to complete the payment if you want to send money over the Internet.
Cheapest Means of Sending Funds to Cuba
Prepaid debit cards are the most affordable way to send money to Cuba. Compared to other methods of sending money, this method is cheap and straightforward. Unfortunately, some of the most well-known money transfer companies are either unavailable or are significantly hampered by the particular difficulties associated with international money transfers in Cuba.
It is relatively simple to add money to a debit card and send it if necessary. Most of the services you would use to send money to Cuba offer services for refilling the debit card.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is challenging to send money to Cuba, mainly if you are based in the United States. The business restrictions between both countries make it challenging for financial institutions to work together. However, while it may be challenging, it is possible. Just ensure you conduct your research and cover all your bases before sending.
In this article, we have provided several options to send money to a close relative or employee in Cuba. And you can send money in any currency of your choice. It is easy.
Paul Martinez is the founder of EcomSidekick.com. He is an expert in the areas of finance, real estate, eCommerce, traffic and conversion.
Join him on EcomSidekick.com to learn how to improve your financial life and excel in these areas. Before starting this media site, Paul built from scratch and managed two multi-million dollar companies. One in the real estate sector and one in the eCommerce sector.