Sending remittances to Cuba from the US: the OFAC rules

OFAC rule 31 CFR 515.570 lets people 18+ send family remittances to close relatives in Cuba, except to prohibited officials or via Cuba Restricted List entities.

Sending remittances to Cuba from the US: the OFAC rules

Under 31 CFR 515.570, a person subject to US jurisdiction who is 18 or older may send family remittances to close relatives in Cuba, and the current regulatory text sets no dollar cap on them; the money may not reach a prohibited Cuban official, a prohibited Communist Party member or their close relatives, and no remittance may involve an entity on the State Department’s Cuba Restricted List. These rules are part of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations (31 CFR part 515), administered by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The text here was checked on eCFR on October 19, 2026 (title 31 checked October 19, 2026); the section was last amended effective September 30, 2026.

This page explains how the remittance rules work. It does not evaluate any individual transfer.

The remittance categories in 31 CFR 515.570

Paragraph	Who may send	To whom	Limits in the text
(a) Family	Persons subject to US jurisdiction, 18 or older	Cuban nationals who are close relatives of the sender	No dollar amount; not from a blocked source; no prohibited recipients; not for emigration
(b) Donative	Persons subject to US jurisdiction (individuals 18 or older)	Cuban nationals	Same exclusions as (a)
(c) Religious	Persons subject to US jurisdiction (individuals 18 or older)	Religious organizations in Cuba, for religious activities	Not from a blocked source
(d) Students	Persons subject to US jurisdiction, 18 or older	Close relatives studying in Cuba under 515.565	Not from a blocked source; only to fund the licensed educational transactions
(e) Emigration	Persons subject to US jurisdiction	Cuban nationals emigrating to the US	Two one-time amounts of up to $1,000 each per payee
(g) Civil society and private sector	Persons subject to US jurisdiction	Individuals and independent non-governmental groups in Cuba	Listed purposes, including private businesses and farms of up to 100 employees

Paragraph (i) adds remittances to third-country nationals for travel that a general license would cover, and (k) allows OFAC to issue specific licenses case by case, including for non-immigrant travel to the US “where humanitarian need is demonstrated, including illness or other medical emergency.”

Who counts as a close relative

31 CFR 515.339 defines a close relative as “any individual related to that person by blood, marriage, or adoption who is no more than three generations removed from that person or from a common ancestor with that person.” The regulation’s own examples:

A mother’s first cousin is a close relative (both are within three generations of shared great-grandparents).
A husband’s great-grandson is a close relative.
A daughter’s father-in-law is not (no common ancestor).

Who may not receive family or donative remittances

The family and donative licenses exclude three groups of recipients: prohibited officials of the Government of Cuba (31 CFR 515.337), prohibited members of the Cuban Communist Party (515.338), and close relatives of either.

31 CFR 515.337 lists as prohibited officials: ministers and vice-ministers; members of the Council of State and 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 (CDR); director generals, sub-director generals and higher of all Cuban ministries and state agencies; employees of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Ministry of Defense (MINFAR); secretaries and first secretaries of the Confederation of Labor of Cuba (CTC) and its unions; chief editors, editors and deputy editors of state-run media; and members and employees of the Supreme Court.

How the money may move

Banks and money transmitters. 31 CFR 515.572(a)(3) authorizes banking institutions, “including U.S.-registered brokers or dealers in securities and U.S.-registered money transmitters,” to collect, forward or receive authorized remittances. OFAC FAQ 733 says they may do so “without having to obtain a specific license.”
The Cuba Restricted List exclusion. The same paragraph, and 515.570(j), exclude any remittance transaction “involving any entity or subentity identified on the Cuba Restricted List.” The State Department’s list (state.gov, version “As of July 14, 2025”, checked October 19, 2026) names, among subentities of CIMEX, “American International Services (Remittances)”, alias AIS Remesas, FINCIMEX and “Orbit, S.A. (Remittances)” (effective March 10, 2025), and among subentities of GAESA, RAFIN S.A. (financial services).
Carrying cash on a trip. 31 CFR 515.560(c)(4) authorizes an authorized traveler to carry to Cuba “any remittances that the licensed traveler is authorized to remit.” Emigration-related remittances may be carried only after a US immigration visa has been issued for each payee, and the traveler must be able to produce the visa recipients’ names, dates of birth, visa numbers and issue dates. Travel itself is covered in travel to Cuba from the US.

31 CFR 515.570(e) authorizes, per payee and on a one-time basis (amounts as of the eCFR text checked October 19, 2026):

Up to $1,000 to cover “preliminary expenses associated with emigrating from Cuba to the United States.” This may be sent before the payee has a visa, but may not be carried to Cuba by a traveler until the payee has a valid visa or other approved US immigration document.
Up to an additional $1,000 to enable the emigration, “including for the purchase of airline tickets and payment of exit or third-country visa fees or other travel-related fees.” This may be sent only once the payee has received a valid visa or other approved US immigration document, and the sender “must be able to provide the visa recipients’ full names, dates of birth, visa numbers, and visa dates of issuance.”

The regulation adds that these remittances “may not be made from a blocked source unless authorized pursuant to paragraph (f) of this section.”

What changed in 2025 and 2026

May 1, 2026: Executive Order 14404. OFAC’s alert of September 29, 2026 says the order created a separate sanctions authority, implemented in the Cuba Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR part 516) effective September 30, 2026. OFAC’s General License 1 (May 7, 2026) authorizes transactions prohibited by E.O. 14404 to the extent they are authorized under the Cuban Assets Control Regulations; the alert gives “certain family remittances” as an example.
September 30, 2026: amendments to part 515 (91 FR 61741). OFAC added a prohibition on indirect financial transactions with Cuba Restricted List entities (31 CFR 515.209), on top of the existing ban on direct ones; removed the “U-turn” authorization for banks; and revised 515.570(d) on remittances to students. OFAC FAQ 734, updated September 29, 2026, says the remittance exclusion for Cuba Restricted List entities applies “regardless of the existence of any pre-existing commercial engagements.”

Record keeping

31 CFR 501.601 requires “every person engaging in any transaction subject to the provisions of this chapter” to keep “a full and accurate record of each such transaction,” available for examination “for at least 10 years after the date of such transaction.” The 10-year period comes from an amendment published September 13, 2024 (89 FR 74832).

How a family remittance works, step by step

Category. The sender identifies which 515.570 paragraph covers the transfer: family (a), donative (b), or another.
Recipient. The family and donative licenses exclude prohibited officials, prohibited Communist Party members and their close relatives.
Provider. A bank or US-registered money transmitter forwards the money under 515.572(a)(3); no part of the chain may involve a Cuba Restricted List entity.
Records. The sender keeps records for at least 10 years under 501.601.

What the sources do not say

No OFAC source consulted for this page names approved remittance companies; 31 CFR 515.572(a)(3) authorizes categories of providers, not named firms.
No official source captured for this page describes how money is paid out inside Cuba (cash, cards or accounts), so this page does not cover the Cuban side.
The State Department page captured for this page is dated “As of July 14, 2025” and describes the list’s prohibition on “direct financial transactions”; the September 30, 2026 rule extended the prohibition to indirect ones.

Find an attorney: how to find an immigration attorney, including free options. OFAC also accepts specific license applications through its own website. No link on this page is paid or an affiliate link.

Last verified: 2026-10-19. This is general information, not legal advice. Consult an attorney for your specific situation. The rules quoted are those in 31 CFR part 515 as published on eCFR and in OFAC’s guidance on the date shown; sanctions rules change by Federal Register notice.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a limit on how much money I can send to my family in Cuba?

The current text of 31 CFR 515.570(a) on eCFR (checked October 19, 2026) sets no dollar amount or frequency limit for family remittances to close relatives. The conditions are that the sender is 18 or older, the money does not come from a blocked source, the recipient is not a prohibited official or prohibited Communist Party member or their close relative, and the remittance is not for emigration-related purposes.

Who counts as a close relative for Cuba remittances?

31 CFR 515.339 defines a close relative as anyone related by blood, marriage or adoption who is no more than three generations removed from the person or from a common ancestor. The regulation’s own examples: a mother’s first cousin qualifies; a daughter’s father-in-law does not.

Can I send money to someone in Cuba who is not family?

31 CFR 515.570(b) authorizes donative remittances to Cuban nationals by persons subject to US jurisdiction, with the same exclusions for prohibited officials, prohibited Communist Party members and their close relatives, and a requirement that an individual sender be 18 or older. OFAC FAQ 732 says this authorization took effect June 9, 2022.

Who is a prohibited official of the Government of Cuba?

31 CFR 515.337 lists, among others, ministers and vice-ministers, members of the Council of State and Council of Ministers, members and employees of the National Assembly, local CDR sector chiefs, director generals and higher of ministries and state agencies, employees of MININT and MINFAR, and chief editors, editors and deputy editors of state-run media.

Can I send money to help a relative emigrate from Cuba?

31 CFR 515.570(e) authorizes two one-time remittances per payee: up to $1,000 for preliminary emigration expenses, and up to an additional $1,000 once the payee has a valid US visa or other approved US immigration document. For the second, the sender must be able to provide the visa recipients’ full names, dates of birth, visa numbers and visa issue dates (amounts as of the eCFR text checked October 19, 2026).

Can I carry cash to Cuba for my family on a trip?

31 CFR 515.560(c)(4) lets an authorized traveler carry to Cuba any remittance the traveler is authorized to send under 515.570. Emigration-related remittances can be carried only if a US immigration visa has been issued for each payee and the traveler can produce the visa details.

What changed in Cuba remittance rules in September 2026?

OFAC amended the Cuban Assets Control Regulations effective September 30, 2026 (91 FR 61741). The rule adds a prohibition on indirect financial transactions with entities on the Cuba Restricted List, removes the U-turn authorization for banks, and revises 515.570(d) on remittances to students. 515.570(j) bars remittance transactions involving any Cuba Restricted List entity.

How long do I have to keep records of money sent to Cuba?

31 CFR 501.601 requires every person engaging in a transaction subject to OFAC’s regulations to keep a full and accurate record available for examination for at least 10 years after the transaction. That period was set by an amendment published September 13, 2024 (89 FR 74832).

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General information, not legal advice. MigrantUSA is an independent publisher and is not a law firm; using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship, and this content is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney about your specific situation. US federal, state, and local government procedures, fees, and forms change. Always verify current details directly with the relevant agency before acting. For immigration, tax, or other legal matters specific to your situation, consult a licensed attorney or BIA-accredited representative.