Travel to Cuba
The University of California has a general OFAC license for travel to Cuba by UC graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, faculty and staff. At this time, undergraduates are not eligible for travel under the license.
The UC OFAC license is managed by the UC Education Abroad Program. Contact Andrea Delap by phone at 805-893-4705 or by email at adelap@eap.ucop.edu.
Under the license, the following categories of travelers are authorized to engage in travel-related transactions incident to the following activities without seeking further authorization from the Office of Foreign Assets Control. However, UC requires registration with the EAP.
Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a structured educational program lasting at least 10 weeks as part of a course offered at a U.S. undergraduate or graduate institution. Students planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating 1) the institution’s license number, 2) that the student is enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the institution, and 3) that the travel is part of an educational program of the institution.
Persons doing noncommercial Cuba-related academic research in Cuba for the purpose of qualifying academically as a professional (e.g., research toward a graduate degree). Students planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating 1) the institution’s license number, 2) that the student is enrolled in a graduate degree program at the institution, and 3) that the Cuba research will be accepted for credit toward that graduate degree.
Undergraduate or graduate students participating in a formal course of study lasting at least 10 weeks at a Cuban academic institution provided the Cuban study will be accepted for credit toward a degree at the licensed U.S. institution. A student planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed U.S. institution stating 1) that the individual is a student currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree program, or a full time permanent employee at the institution, 2) that the Cuba-related travel is part of a structured educational program of that institution that will last at least 10 weeks, and 3) citing the institution's license number.
Persons regularly employed in a teaching capacity at a licensed U.S. undergraduate or graduate institution who plan to teach part or all of an academic program at a Cuban academic institution for at least 10 weeks. An individual planning to engage in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating 1) the institution’s license number, and 2) that the individual is regularly employed by the licensed institution in a teaching capacity.
Cuban scholars teaching or engaging in other scholarly activities at a licensed college or university in the United States. Licensed institutions may sponsor such Cuban scholars, including payment of a stipend or salary. The Cuban scholar may remit all such stipends or salary payments back to Cuba.
Full-time employees of a licensed institution organizing or preparing for the educational activities described above. An individual engaging in such transactions must carry a letter from the licensed institution stating 1) the institution’s license number, and 2) that the individual is regularly employed there.
