Country Conditions for Mailing — Cuba
Mail service is limited to First-Class Mail International items, International Priority Airmail (IPA) items, International Surface Air Lift (ISAL) items, and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes items. Priority Mail International parcel service is not available.
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury administers sanctions that restrict the mailing of items to certain destinations and recipients, including a broad sanctions program against Cuba. Prior to mailing any items to Cuba, mailers should refer to IMM 510 or access www.treas.gov/ofac for additional information.
In addition, prior to mailing, mailers mailing gift parcels and humanitarian donations must abide by the rules in 15 CFR § 740.12, or with the rules for consumer communications devices, computers, and software in 15 CFR § 740.19, which can be accessed at www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr. The maximum weight is 4 pounds. Potentially dutiable items may be confiscated upon entering Cuba or returned to sender.
Generally (and consistent with 15 CFR § 740.12 and § 740.19), the following standards apply when mailing goods to Cuba:
Gift Parcels
Eligible Gift Parcels to Cuba
Eligible gift parcels for Cuba may include any of the following: food (including vitamins); medicines; medical supplies and devices (including hospital supplies and equipment and equipment for the handicapped); receive-only radio equipment for reception of commercial/civil AM/FM and short wave publicly available frequency bands, and batteries for such equipment; clothing; personal hygiene items; seeds; veterinary medicines and supplies; fishing equipment and supplies; soap-making equipment; and all other items of a type normally sent as gifts between individuals (including consumer communications devices, computers, and software as described below and in 15 CFR § 740.19(b)) except for certain items prohibited under U.S. Department of Commerce regulations (described below). Items in gift parcels must be in quantities normally given as gifts between individuals.
Note: A digital camera within the value limit (see “Value” below) may be an appropriate gift. However, subsequent shipments of the same item to the same recipient would not be a gift normally given between individuals.
Note: Even if Commerce Department regulations permit an article to be sent out of the United States in a gift parcel, the article might still be subject to a Cuban import prohibition or other prohibition. Accordingly, articles included in gift parcels may be subject to detention or seizure upon arrival in Cuba.
Export and Shipping Requirements
A gift parcel must be sent directly to the recipient by the individual donor or for such donor by a commercial or other gift-forwarding service or organization. Each gift parcel must show, on the outside wrapper, the name and address of the donor, as well as the name and address of the recipient, regardless of whether sent by the donor or by a forwarding service. Each parcel must have the notation “GIFT—Export License Not Required” written on the address side of the package and the symbol “GFT” written on any required customs declaration.
Prohibited Items
Items not eligible for inclusion in gift parcels as listed in 15 CFR § 740.12(a).
All items included on the Commerce Control List (15 CFR Part 774), other than consumer communications devices, computers, and software.
Military wearing apparel, regardless of whether all distinctive U.S. military insignia, buttons, and other markings are removed.
Gold bullion, gold taels, and gold bars.
Items listed under the general listing of prohibitions below.
Frequency
Except for gift parcels of food, not more than one gift parcel may be sent from the same donor to the same recipient in any one calendar month. There is no frequency limit on gift parcels of food to Cuba.
Parties seeking authorization to exceed the frequency limit due to compelling humanitarian concerns (e.g., for certain gifts of medicine) should submit a license application, with complete justification, to the Commerce Department, Bureau of Industry and Security, in accordance with 15 CFR §§ 748.1, 748.4, and 748.6.
Value
The combined total domestic retail value of all commodities in a single gift parcel may not exceed $800. This limit does not apply to food sent in a gift parcel.
Note: Although Commerce Department regulations provide an $800 maximum limit for these items, the total value for each First-Class Mail International, International Priority Airmail, International Surface Air Lift, and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes item cannot exceed $400.
Eligible Recipients
A gift parcel may be sent to any individual or a religious, charitable, or educational organization for the use of the recipient or the recipient’s immediate family (and not for resale). The gift parcel must be provided free of charge to the recipient. However, payment by the recipient of any handling charges or of any fees levied by Cuba (e.g., import duties, taxes, etc.) is not considered to be a cost to the recipient for purposes of this definition of gift parcel.
Ineligible Recipients
No gift parcel may be sent to any of the following officials of the Cuban government: ministers and vice-ministers; members of the Council of State; members of the Council of Ministers; members and employees of the National Assembly of People’s Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; director generals and sub-director generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; or members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional).
No gift parcel may be sent to any of the following officials or members of the Cuban Communist Party: members of the Politburo; the Central Committee; department heads of the Central Committee; employees of the Central Committee; and the secretaries and first secretaries of provincial Party central committees.
No gift parcel may be sent to organizations administered or controlled by the Cuban government or the Cuban Communist Party.
Humanitarian Donations
Eligible Humanitarian Donations to Cuba
Articles eligible for inclusion in humanitarian donation items to Cuba must meet basic human needs, which are defined as those requirements essential to individual well-being: health, food, clothing, shelter, and education. These needs are considered to extend beyond those of an emergency nature and those that meet direct needs for mere subsistence.
Items must be provided free of charge to the beneficiary. However, the payment by the beneficiary of normal handling charges or fees levied by Cuba (e.g., import duties, taxes, etc.) is not considered to be a cost to the beneficiary.
Eligible commodities and software are those listed in Supplement No. 2 to 15 CFR Part 740: equipment for the handicapped; hospital supplies and equipment; laboratory supplies and equipment; medical supplies and devices; medicine-processing equipment; medicines; vitamins; water resources equipment; food; agricultural materials and machinery suited to small-scale farming operations; agricultural research and testing equipment; fertilizers; fishing equipment and supplies suited to small-scale fishing operations; insecticides; pesticides; seeds; small-scale irrigation equipment; veterinary medicines and supplies; bedding; clothes; cooking utensils; fabric; personal hygiene items; soap-making equipment; weaving and sewing equipment; building materials; hand tools; books; individual school supplies; school furniture; special education supplies and equipment for the handicapped; and generators, office supplies, audio-visual aids for training, and equipment necessary to operate and administer the donative program.
Export and Shipping Requirements
Each humanitarian donation must show on the outside wrapper the name and address of the donor, as well as the name and address of the recipient, regardless of whether sent by the donor or by a forwarding service.
Each parcel must have the notation “GIFT—Export License Not Required” written on the address side of the package and the symbol “GFT” written on any required customs declaration.
Eligible Donors
Eligible donors are U.S. charitable organizations that have an established record of involvement in donation programs and experience in maintaining and verifying a system of distribution to ensure delivery of commodities and software to the intended beneficiaries. The donor organization must keep records containing certain information, in accordance with 15 CFR § 740.12(b)(7).
Eligible Recipients
Humanitarian donations may be sent to groups or organizations that have experience in maintaining a verifiable system of distribution that ensures delivery to intended beneficiaries of items that meet basic human needs.
Consumer Communications Devices, Computers, and Software
Eligible Consumer Communications Devices, Computers, and Software (CCD) to Cuba
In accordance with Commerce Department rules, the following commodities and software are eligible for export as CCD items:
- Computers classified under Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) 4A994.b or designated EAR99 that do not exceed an adjusted peak performance of 0.02 weighted teraflops.
- Disk drives and solid state storage equipment classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Input/output control units (other than industrial controllers designed for chemical processing) designated EAR99.
- Graphics accelerators and graphics coprocessors designated EAR99.
- Monitors classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Printers classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Modems classified under ECCNs 5A991.b.2 or 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Network access controllers and communications channel controllers classified under ECCN 5A991.b.4 or designated EAR99.
- Keyboards, mice, and similar devices designated EAR99.
- Mobile phones, including cellular and satellite telephones, personal digital assistants, and subscriber information module (SIM) cards and similar devices classified under ECCNs 5A992 or 5A991 or designated EAR99.
- Memory devices classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- “Information security” equipment, “software” (except “encryption source code”), and peripherals classified under ECCNs 5A992 or 5D992 or designated EAR99.
- Digital cameras and memory cards classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Television and radio receivers classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Recording devices classified under ECCN 5A992 or designated EAR99.
- Batteries, chargers, carrying cases, and accessories for the equipment described in this paragraph that are designated EAR99.
- “Software” (except “encryption source code”) classified under ECCNs 4D994, 5D991, or 5D992 or designated EAR99 to be used for equipment described in this paragraph.
Prohibited CCD Items
Items not included on the list above.
Value and Frequency
There are no limits on value or frequency of shipments.
Note: Although Commerce Department regulations provide no maximum limit for CCD items, the total value for each First-Class Mail International, International Priority Airmail, International Surface Air Lift, and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes item cannot exceed $400.
Donation Requirement
CCD items must be donated free of charge by the exporter to one or more eligible end-users. The payment by an end-user of any handling charges arising within Cuba or any charges levied by the government of Cuba shall not be considered a charge for these purposes.
Export and Shipping Requirements
Each CCD item must have the symbol “CCD” written on any required customs declaration.
Prior to mailing a CCD item, the customer must file electronic export information via the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System or AESDirect Web site and must comply with other applicable requirements (see 520).
Note: These requirements do not apply to CCD-type articles included in a gift parcel item.
Eligible End-users
Organizations. The Commerce Department License Exception may be used to export or re-export eligible commodities and software to and for the use of independent non-governmental organizations. As indicated in the “Ineligible End-users” paragraph below, the Cuban government and the Cuban Communist Party and organizations they administer or control are not eligible end-users.
Individuals. The Commerce Department License Exception may be used to export eligible commodities and software to and for the use of individuals other than the officials of the Cuban government and Cuban Communist Party listed in the following paragraph.
Ineligible End-users
Ineligible Cuban Government Officials. Ministers and vice-ministers; members of the Council of State; members of the Council of Ministers; members and employees of the National Assembly of People’s Power; members of any provincial assembly; local sector chiefs of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution; director generals and sub-director generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT); employees of the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its component unions; chief editors, editors, and deputy editors of Cuban state-run media organizations and programs, including newspapers, television, and radio; or members and employees of the Supreme Court (Tribuno Supremo Nacional).
Ineligible Cuban Communist Party Officials. Members of the Politburo; the Central Committee; department heads of the Central Committee; employees of the Central Committee; and the secretaries and first secretaries of provincial Party central committees.
Prohibitions (130)
Coins; banknotes; currency notes; securities payable to bearer; manufactured and unmanufactured platinum, gold, and silver; precious stones; jewelry; and other valuable articles.
Musical letters or cards that play a sound recording when opened.
Perishable infectious biological substances.
Perishable noninfectious biological substances.
Radioactive materials.
Restrictions
Currency, postage stamps for sale or exchange, checks, securities, and other financial instruments must be licensed by the U.S. Treasury Department.
All items not subject to the above rules for gift parcels, humanitarian donations, and consumer communications devices, computers, and software must be licensed or otherwise authorized by the U.S. Commerce Department and/or the U.S. Treasury Department.
Observations
- Items not eligible for import into Cuba may be confiscated upon entering Cuba or returned to sender.
- Customers mailing consumer communications devices, computers, and software to Cuba are required to file electronic export information via the Census Bureau’s Automated Export System or AESDirect Web site prior to mailing (see 520) except when such articles are included in a gift parcel item. Customers are not required to make such a filing for gift parcels and humanitarian donations as described above.
Customs Forms Required (123)
First-Class Mail International items and Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes:
PS Form 2976 (see 123.61)
Global Express Guaranteed (210)
Not Available
Express Mail International (220)
Not Available
Priority Mail International (230) Price Group 9
Available only for Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes.
Flat Rate Envelopes or Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes: $13.95
May not contain dutiable items. The maximum weight is 4 lbs.
Insurance (232.82)
NOT Available
First-Class Mail International (240) Price Group 9
Letters
Large Envelopes (Flats)
Packages (Small Packets)
Size Limits
Letters: See 241.212
Postcards: See 241.221
Large Envelopes (Flats): See 241.232
Packages (Small Packets): See 241.242 and 241.243
Postcards (241.22)
$0.98
Airmail M-bags (260) —
Direct Sack to One Addressee Price Group 9
Matter for the Blind (270)
Free when sent as First-Class Mail International, including Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes. Weight limit: 4 pounds.
Free when sent as Priority Mail International. Weight limit: 15 pounds.
Certificate of Mailing (313)
COD and Certified
NOT for International Mail
International Business Reply Service (382)
Fee: Envelopes up to 2 ounces $1.45; Cards $0.95
International Postal Money Order (371)
NOT Available
International Reply Coupons (381)
Fee: $2.10
Registered Mail (330)
Fee: $11.50
Maximum Indemnity: $46.04
Available for First-Class Mail International,
including postcards and Flat Rate Envelopes
and Small Flat Rate Priced Boxes, and matter
for the blind or other physically handicapped
persons. Not applicable to M-bags.
Restricted Delivery (350)
NOT Available
Return Receipt (340)
Fee: $2.30
Available for registered mail only.
