Send Money to Cuba — USD/EUR to CUP, Simple Guide
120
8/27/2025
International Bank Transfers to Cuba — Clear, Simple and Predictable (2025)
Quick answer
Decide which currency should appear on the recipient’s statement, make the all-in total visible before funds move, and keep beneficiary details exact. Banks in Cuba follow routine reviews; when data is clean and the payment note is short and consistent with documents, posting is steadier and on time.
What’s specific about Cuba
No IBAN. Cuba does not use IBAN. Cross-border transfers rely on SWIFT/BIC, the bank name and a local account number. Exact legal names and numbers reduce manual checks.
Currency reality. The local currency is the Cuban peso (CUP). Many payers fund in USD or EUR and aim for either a like-for-like posting or a local CUP outcome. Decide this early so everyone reads totals the same way.
Currency choices — plain view
CUP on the statement. Practical for local spend in Havana, Santiago de Cuba or Santa Clara: bills, payroll, day-to-day costs.
USD/EUR on the statement. Useful when both sides hold major-currency balances; FX is not a factor and reconciliation stays simple.
Key point: be clear where conversion happens (before sending or on arrival) and agree the target net amount on account.
Cost & timing — explained simply
Your real total is the all-in cost: fees + FX. Seeing this upfront avoids top-ups and keeps the week predictable. Timing depends on daily processing and routine reviews; earlier-in-the-day submissions are more reliable, especially around public holidays.
| Use case | Currency on statement | Conversion point | All-in cost (fees + FX) | Timing note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Supplier invoice / services | CUP or USD/EUR | Before send or on arrival (agree) | Confirm total upfront to avoid top-ups | Submit earlier; note mirrors documents |
| Family support / rent / tuition | CUP for local spend | Before send for a fixed outcome | See fees + FX together (all-in) | Keep names and numbers exact |
| Like-for-like balances | USD/EUR (same currency) | No FX involved | Operational factors dominate | Use one email thread for proofs |
Field notes (practical and brief)
Expect routine screening and purpose confirmation. Keeping documents coherent (same wording across invoice, emails and the payment note) shortens reviews. If the value date matters, plan a time window: submit early in the day and consider holidays in both countries.
“Clear purpose wording and exact beneficiary data help banks in Cuba post incoming funds faster and with fewer clarifications.”
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Signals your transfer is on track
Subject lines that mirror documents, one currency agreed for the statement, early submissions, and a standard proof in the same email thread — these small signals add up to smooth, on-time posting.
About
VelesClub Int., together with our partner UNIBROKER, supports secure international payments to Cuba with clear planning, simple documents and predictable posting timelines.
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