How to Send Money to Cuba in 2026: Options and Rules

You can still help family in Cuba, but the routes keep shifting. Between 2025 and 2026, well-known services shut down, the U.S. tightened its rules, and Cuba opened new ways to collect. This guide walks through what exists today and what to check before you send.

This is not legal or financial advice. Always confirm current terms with the provider and, if you are a U.S. person, check OFAC's rules.

What changed in 2025 and 2026

• Western Union stopped U.S.-to-Cuba transfers in February 2025, after its Cuban processor, Orbit S.A., was put on the State Department's Cuba Restricted List (14ymedio). As of late October 2026, no restart had been announced.
• In May 2026, Executive Order 14404 created a new Cuba sanctions authority, and GAESA was designated under it (OFAC).
• Since September 30, 2026, OFAC bars both direct and indirect financial transactions with Restricted List entities and has ended the "U-turn" authorization (Federal Register). The remittance general license itself was not amended.
• In April 2026, Fincimex announced that cash-pickup remittances can be collected in U.S. dollars at CADECA offices. Fincimex is on the U.S. Restricted List (see below) (CiberCuba).

The main ways people help

Remittance agencies

These companies take your payment and deliver the money in Cuba as cash, a card top-up or a bank deposit. What's available depends on where you send from and which Cuban operator handles the payout. Some, such as Cubamax, have received a Central Bank of Cuba license to act as money transmitters, though fees and coverage weren't defined when that was reported (Directorio Cubano). Always ask who pays out on the Cuban side.

Online stores and "combos"

Many families now skip cash and buy food, toiletries, medicine or appliances from online stores that deliver on the island. The 2026 fuel crisis forced cutbacks: in February, Supermarket23 was operating normally only in Havana, the Pinar del Río municipality and the Isla de la Juventud; Cubamax limited shipments to essentials and paused door-to-door delivery; Katapulk kept nationwide delivery but couldn't say for how long (Directorio Cubano).

Digital wallets and fintech

Several apps and wallets move balances between abroad and Cuba. Their terms change quickly, and some rely on intermediaries in third countries. Before using one, check its current status, who runs it and which regulator supervises it.

Cash carried by travelers ("mulas")

Very common, but with limits:

• Cuba requires you to declare more than USD 5,000 (or equivalent) on the D'Viajeros form (Directorio Cubano).
• Leaving the U.S. with more than USD 10,000 must be reported to CBP on FinCEN Form 105, including when someone carries it for you.
• There's no receipt and no insurance. If the money goes missing, there's nobody to claim from. Only use people you trust completely.

Dollars, MLC and pesos: why the informal rate matters

Cuba runs on several currencies at once: the Cuban peso (CUP), cash dollars, and foreign-currency cards such as MLC. They are not worth the same. On October 27, 2026, elTOQUE's reference rate was about 845 CUP per dollar and about 702 CUP per MLC, while the Central Bank's official rate for individuals was 749 CUP (EFE via Infobae).

Bottom line: if your relative gets pesos converted at the official rate, they end up with less buying power than if they get dollars. Always ask which currency arrives.

If you send from the United States

• People subject to U.S. jurisdiction who are 18 or older may send remittances to close relatives in Cuba, as long as the recipient isn't a prohibited government official or prohibited Communist Party member (31 CFR 515.570).
• That authorization does not cover dealings with entities on the Cuba Restricted List, which includes CIMEX, FINCIMEX, Orbit S.A., American International Services (AIS) and RAFIN, among others. Since September 2026 that also covers indirect involvement, so ask the agency which entity pays out in Cuba.
• Since January 1, 2026, a 1% federal tax applies to remittances funded with cash, money orders or cashier's checks. It doesn't apply when you pay from a U.S. bank account or with a U.S.-issued card (IRS Notice 2025-55).

These rules also apply to U.S. citizens living outside the U.S.

If you send from Spain, Europe or Latin America

U.S. sanctions don't bind non-U.S. residents in the same way, and Europe has more options: regulated providers that deposit to accounts or cards at BPA, BANDEC or Banco Metropolitano, or deliver cash to the door. Check that the company is registered with its home regulator (in Spain, the Banco de España). Be wary of informal intermediaries who want payment up front without a receipt.

How the recipient collects

• Bank card or account in MLC, USD or CUP.
• Cash, delivered home or picked up at an office such as CADECA.
• Store credit or a combo, picked up or delivered.

Comparing costs and sending safely

1. Ask exactly how much your relative will receive, and in which currency, not just the fee.
2. Compare that with the day's informal rate.
3. Confirm the company covers the destination province and municipality.
4. Start with a small first transfer and wait for confirmation.
5. Keep receipts and screenshots.

Be wary of messages asking your relative to pay a "delivery fee" for a package or to "verify" bank details. It's a common scam in Cuba. Contact agencies only through their official website.

Frequently asked questions

Does Western Union work for Cuba?

Not from the U.S.: service has been suspended since February 2025, and no return had been announced as of October 2026. From other countries, check with the company directly.

Is it legal to send money to Cuba from the U.S. in 2026?

Yes. Family remittances are still authorized, but they can't involve, directly or indirectly, any entity on the Cuba Restricted List.

How much cash can I bring to Cuba?

You can bring more than USD 5,000, but you must declare it on D'Viajeros. Leaving the U.S. with more than USD 10,000 must be reported.

Is it better to send money or a food combo?

It depends. A combo avoids exchange-rate losses and shortages on the island, but coverage and delivery times vary a lot by province.

Where can I check today's dollar rate in Cuba?

elTOQUE publishes a daily reference rate for the informal market. It's not official, but it's useful for comparing offers.

Last reviewed: October 2026.