Cuba Reinstates Travel Permits for Havana Trips Amidst Fuel...

What Happened

Starting June 18, residents of Villa Clara will face a new system requiring government authorization for travel to Havana. This measure is a direct response to the ongoing energy crisis and severe fuel scarcity affecting Cuba. A special commission, involving direct participation from the provincial government, will now be the sole authority responsible for approving any journeys using the limited national transport services.

This strict control mechanism closely resembles the protocols implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, which similarly restricted inter-territorial movement through special permits.

Where and When

The new travel control system begins on June 18, 2026, affecting residents of Villa Clara province. The commission responsible for evaluating travel requests will be based at the Interprovincial Terminal in Santa Clara. Applications will be reviewed individually from Monday to Thursday, approximately one week before the intended travel date. The results of these evaluations will be publicly posted every Friday at the Santa Clara Interprovincial Terminal and the railway station.

Specific bus schedules indicate Yutong buses will run only three times weekly between Santa Clara and Havana, departing at 1:00 AM on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with return trips on the same days at 9:30 AM. National trains connecting western and eastern Cuba will operate with significantly reduced frequency, running only every 16 days.

Why It Matters

This stringent approval process highlights the critical deterioration of Cuba's transportation infrastructure, severely hampered by fuel shortages and operational limitations. For residents of Villa Clara, inter-provincial travel, particularly to the capital, will now depend on the discretion of a commission. This effectively limits mobility and underscores the government's efforts to manage scarce resources, even at the cost of personal travel freedom.

The system prioritizes certain categories of travelers, meaning many will likely be denied passage, impacting family visits, essential appointments, and economic activities.

What Parties Say

According to Juan Carlos Ferriol, a representative from the Ministry of Transport in Villa Clara, the commission will assess each application individually. While specific groups will be given priority, not all requests will be granted due to limited capacity. Prioritized travelers include those with recently deceased relatives, confirmed international flights, appointments at embassies or consulates, patients discharged from hospitals outside their home province, prisoners with approved passes or nearing sentence completion, and individuals needing to return to their place of residence or travel to Isla de la Juventud under exceptional circumstances.

What Comes Next

The public will be informed of the commission's decisions every Friday. Citizens residing outside Santa Clara must submit their applications through their respective municipal transportation offices, which will then forward them to the central commission. The Ministry of Transport has provided a phone number, 42 29 21 14, for inquiries regarding the new authorization mechanism. Travelers should anticipate further reductions in service and potential delays, as the situation reflects the ongoing economic challenges facing the island.