By: Staff Writer
February 4, 2022
The long-term rental market is opening up in Cuba as the government has become increasingly more receptive to “snowbird visas” for foreigners wishing to stay long-term spot in the Caribbean Island.
Viena Garcia, general manager of Cuba Property Sales, told Caribbean Magazine Plus about the process for foreigners getting long term rental visas as well as buying property in Cuba, where she said: “Technically, foreigners can live in Cuba, providing they can get a visa. Work permits and business visas are incredibly difficult for foreigners to obtain, and the only guaranteed way of living in Cuba is to marry a Cuban national.
“However, the Cuban government is becoming more open to the idea of retirement and has started to initiate ‘snowbird’ visas. A snowbird visa is valid for 6 months and is fairly easy to renew. You need to leave the country, but many expats fly elsewhere for a weekend to reset the visa’s clock.”
Getting your hand on one of these visas may be tricky if you are an American, considering that the U.S. and Cuba have not been normalized, so this may be primarily for Europeans and Asian retirees.
Ms Garcia added: “The first step is getting a tourist card from a Cuban embassy, which you can convert into a snowbird visa in the country. However, visa-holders can only buy property under a few circumstances, which many expats find limiting. While there are country club-style developments under construction with government backing in Cuba, apartments listed for sale may be leasehold, not freehold, generally with lease terms around 50-75 years.”
It’s currently still very difficult for foreign nationals to own freehold residential property in Cuba outside of international owned complexes, she said.
She also said: “The majority of expats and retirees living in Cuba rent “casa particulares” or homestay accommodation. Prices range from $15 to $60 USD per night, although you can negotiate significant discounts if you plan to live in Cuba for more than 2 or 3 weeks.
Can foreigners buy property in Cuba?
Responding to if whether or not foreigners can buy property in Cuba, Ms Garcia said: “Until very recently, non-citizens were unable to buy property in Cuba. This has now changed, as the country offers a Real Estate Resident visa. However, the rules are still fairly restrictive.
In order to buy property in Cuba and to obtain a real estate visa, you must either:
– Marry a Cuban
– Buy property in the name of a Cuban citizen (spouse, family member, or friend); or
– Buy directly from a foreigner who owns property in Cuba
Ms Garcia noted that: “The most likely option for many is the third, although this depends on finding someone with property for sale, and there are not many. As it’s the most viable option for many foreigners, you might find massive disparity in property prices.”