How to work in Cuba: Requirements and opportunities

Working in Cuba can be an interesting experience if you want to explore its culture, pace of life, and economy closely. Although job access for foreigners isn’t as broad as in other countries, opportunities do exist in areas such as tourism, language teaching, international cooperation, or some business projects. However, before planning a move or accepting an offer, you should understand how the country’s labour system works and which steps you need to take legally.

In this article, we’ll explain clearly: The advantages, the requirements to work in Cuba, which permits or procedures foreigners usually need, and which sectors offer opportunities more often. This way, you’ll get a clearer idea of what working on the island involves and prepare better before taking this step. 

Advantages of working in Cuba

Before deciding to work in Cuba, you should understand which aspects can make this experience worthwhile. Although salaries don’t stand out, the country still offers several advantages linked to quality of life, safety, and the cultural setting.

Below, we show the main advantages of working in Cuba, especially for those seeking a different experience both personally and professionally. 

• Relatively low cost of living: Some basic expenses can be cheaper, especially if the job includes accommodation or meals.
• Unique cultural experience: Living and working in Cuba lets you explore its culture, traditions, and way of life closely, which makes the experience more rewarding.
• Safety in many areas: Cuba is considered a relatively safe country compared with others in the region.
• Opportunities in specific sectors: Options exist in areas such as tourism, language teaching, international cooperation, and projects with foreign companies.
• Slower pace of life: The lifestyle feels more relaxed, so you can enjoy your free time and surroundings more fully.
• Recognised healthcare system: Access to medical services is included in some jobs, especially in programmes or organisations.
• Access to education and training: Education is free, and training and specialisation opportunities are available.

Requirements to work in Cuba

Before you start looking for work in Cuba, you should understand the basic requirements foreigners must meet to work legally in the country. These include the visa or permit you need, plus some documents and conditions that foreign workers usually must provide. This will give you a clear idea of what you need before taking this step. 

1. Types of visas to work in Cuba

To work legally in Cuba, foreigners need a work visa, which people usually arrange before travelling to the country. In most cases, this visa is issued when a company, institution, or organisation in Cuba requests permission from the migration authorities to hire the foreign worker.

• Work visa (D-1): It is the main visa to work in Cuba. It is granted to foreigners hired by a company, state institution, international organisation, or authorised entity in the country. The employer usually handles the process with the Cuban authorities, and the visa is granted according to the employment contract length.
• Business visa (D-7): This visa is designed for people travelling to Cuba for business or commercial activities, such as meetings, negotiations, or projects with Cuban companies. It doesn’t always involve permanent employment, but it does allow some temporary work activities linked to business.
• Visa for journalists or media professionals (D-6): This is the visa required for journalists, photographers, documentary makers, or media professionals travelling to Cuba to carry out reporting work or audiovisual productions. To obtain it, they need prior authorisation from the relevant authorities in the country.
• Visa for scientific, technical, or cultural cooperation (D-8): This visa is intended for researchers, specialists, teachers, or professionals taking part in scientific, cultural, or technical projects in Cuba. It is common in international cooperation programmes or academic collaborations.

2. Work permit authorised by the government

Besides the visa, you also need a work permit approved by the Cuban authorities. This document confirms that the foreign worker is authorised to carry out paid work in the country, and the employer usually arranges it.

3. Valid passport

If you are a foreign national, you must hold a valid passport throughout your stay in Cuba. In many cases, the document must remain valid for several additional months when you apply for the visa or work permit.

4. Employment contract with an authorised entity

In Cuba, foreigners usually need a formal employment contract signed with an authorised entity. These entities may include state-owned companies, international organisations, embassies, or official institutions. This contract not only defines the working conditions, but also supports the migration procedures and the work permit application. Without this formal link, you can’t move forward with the authorisation process to work in the country.

5. International health insurance

To enter and stay in Cuba for work, you usua

lly need valid international health insurance. This insurance must cover possible healthcare costs throughout your stay, including consultations, treatments, or emergencies. Its purpose is to ensure that the foreign worker can access medical services without burdening the local health system, while also offering security during their time in the country.

6. Tips to start working in Cuba

Before you start working in Cuba, it helps to consider some practical points that will make it easier to adapt and organise your daily life from the beginning.

• Research the real cost of living carefully: Before moving, try to find out how much essentials such as food, transport, or rent really cost in the city where you’ll live. In Cuba, prices can vary greatly depending on the place and access to certain products, so a clear monthly budget will help you plan better.
• Look for accommodation in advance: Although some jobs include housing, in other cases you’ll need to find accommodation yourself. Many foreigners choose to rent private homes or apartments, which is very common in cities such as Havana and in tourist areas.
• Bring some personal items that are hard to find: In Cuba, some everyday products can be harder to find or may offer little choice. So, many foreigners prefer to bring personal care items, basic medicines, or electronic devices from home that they may need during their stay.
• Build a local network of contacts: Meeting people in your workplace or neighbourhood can help you a lot during your adjustment period. Local contacts are often very useful when you want to understand services, find certain products, or solve daily situations.
• Use your free time to explore the country: Working in Cuba also gives you the chance to discover its culture, music, and landscapes. Exploring the island on your days off can help you enjoy the experience of living and working there much more. 

7. Arrange your internet connection from the moment you arrive

Having internet access in Cuba can feel a little different from what we’re used to in other countries. On the island, the only company offering telecommunications services is Empresa de Telecomunicaciones de Cuba S.A. (ETECSA), which controls the mobile network, data access, and Wi-Fi connection points across the country.

In recent years, connectivity has improved with the arrival of 3G and 4G mobile data, although speed and stability can vary depending on the city or area where you are. The most common ways to connect to the internet in Cuba are:

• Mobile data with a local SIM card (Cubacel)
• Public Wi-Fi hotspots or hotel networks

There are also public Wi-Fi zones in parks, hotels, and airports, where people connect using access accounts or cards.

Types of jobs in Cuba for foreigners

Working in Cuba doesn’t operate in the same way as in other countries. Here, it isn’t common to arrive and find work easily. In practice, most opportunities appear when a project, agreement, or international company is already involved. Even so, some sectors do offer better chances.

Tourism sector

If there is one area where international employment moves the most in Cuba, it is tourism. This happens because the country receives visitors from all over the world, and many operations are linked to hotel chains or foreign companies.

This is where some foreigners manage to fit in, especially in roles linked to management, coordination, support for international clients, or tourism marketing. These aren’t usually entry-level jobs, but rather positions that require experience or language skills.

Language teaching

Another fairly common route is language teaching. Cuba shows interest in foreign language learning, especially English, so foreigners, particularly native speakers, can find opportunities in schools, educational projects, or cultural programmes.

It isn’t a huge market, but it is still a real option, especially for those with teaching qualifications or classroom experience.

International cooperation and NGOs

Many foreigners who work in Cuba do so without realising that they are part of this sector. International cooperation has a strong presence in the country, and through it professionals arrive to take part in social, cultural, educational, or development projects.

People don’t usually get these jobs through a traditional job search. Instead, they come through programmes, calls for applications, or agreements between organisations.

Scientific and academic projects

Cuba also places a strong focus on education and research, which opens the door to collaborations with universities and international centres.

This is where teachers, researchers, or specialists join academic exchanges, joint studies, or scientific projects. These experiences are usually temporary, but they offer strong professional value.

Business and technical projects

Although it isn’t the most common route, some foreign or joint-venture companies operating in Cuba need specialised talent. In these cases, they hire foreigners for very specific roles in areas such as engineering, technology, trade, or consultancy.

These aren’t general jobs. Instead, they suit experienced professionals who bring specific knowledge that local employers can’t always find.

Embassies and international organisations

Another route, and a more structured one, is to work in embassies, consulates, or international organisations. These spaces usually offer administrative, technical, or project management roles, and they operate under their own hiring conditions.

It isn’t a path open to everyone, but it is a real option for those who already have experience in this type of institution.

The most in-demand jobs in Cuba for foreigners

In Cuba, the law gives priority to employment for Cuban citizens. So, when a company hires a foreigner, it usually does so because it needs experience, technical knowledge, or skills that are hard to find locally. 

Even so, some sectors tend to offer more opportunities to foreigners. These are the jobs that usually show the highest demand for international professionals in Cuba.

Executives and managers in companies with foreign investment

One of the most sought-after profiles in Cuba for foreigners is that of executives or managers in international companies or joint ventures. These companies, which operate in sectors such as tourism, trade, or industry, often need professionals with international experience to lead their operations.

Foreigners in these roles are responsible for coordinating teams, supervising projects, managing resources, and ensuring that the company meets international standards. These aren’t entry-level roles. Instead, they require career experience, leadership skills, and, in many cases, previous work in similar environments.

Technical specialists or highly qualified professionals

There is also demand for professionals with specific technical knowledge, especially in areas where enough specialised local staff isn’t always available.

This includes profiles such as engineers, consultants, technology specialists, international trade experts, or business advisers, who are hired for specific projects or to provide technical expertise. In many cases, these jobs are linked to foreign companies or investment projects.

Tourism and hospitality professionals

Tourism remains one of the key sectors in Cuba, so some foreigners find opportunities in hotel management, tourism service coordination, or marketing aimed at the international market.

These roles are usually linked to international hotel chains or companies connected to tourism, and they generally require previous experience, language skills, and the ability to support international customers.

Language teachers

Language teaching, especially English, is another area where foreigners face some demand. This happens because the language plays an important role in sectors such as tourism and education.

Foreigners can work in language schools, educational institutions, or cultural programmes, where native speakers or experienced teachers are valued highly. Although it isn’t a large sector, it still offers a real option for those with a background in education.

Researchers and professionals in academic projects

Cuba maintains collaborations with foreign universities and institutions, which allows international professionals to join research projects, academic exchanges, or scientific programmes.

These roles are usually temporary and target profiles such as university lecturers, researchers, or specialists in specific fields. Rather than traditional jobs, they are opportunities linked to agreements between institutions.

Workers in international organisations and NGOs

Another important field is international cooperation. Many foreigners work in Cuba through NGOs, international organisations, or development programmes.

These jobs usually focus on social, educational, cultural, or community projects, and they generally require previous experience in this type of work. In most cases, access to these opportunities comes through calls for applications or international programmes.

Salaries and cost of living in Cuba

Understanding salaries and the cost of living in Cuba requires one key point: Local income and market prices don’t follow the same logic. So, at first glance, the figures may seem inconsistent. Below, we explain how to interpret them correctly.

Average salaries in Cuba

In Cuba, most people work in the state sector, where salaries are low compared with international standards.

• Average salary: Around 6,500 Cuban pesos per month
• Approximate equivalent: Between €13.80 ($15) and €15.64 ($17) per month (based on the informal exchange rate)
• Minimum salary: It can range from €3.68 ($4) to €15.64 ($17) per month

These incomes don’t reflect the real market cost of living, because many people supplement their income through other activities, informal work, or financial support from abroad.

For foreigners, however, the situation is different. If you work with international companies, NGOs, embassies, or cooperation projects, they usually receive salaries in foreign currency:

• Foreign workers’ salary: Between €460 ($500) and more than €1,840 ($2,000) per month, depending on the role and organisation

Monthly cost of living in Cuba

The cost of living also depends heavily on your lifestyle and the city where you live, but these are some approximate figures in dollars per month:

• Apartment rent: Between €184 ($200) and €736 ($800), depending on the city and area. 
• Food and groceries: Approximately €138 ($150) to €414 ($450) per month. 
• Basic utilities (electricity, water, gas): Between €46 ($50) and €138 ($150) per month. 
• Transport and daily expenses: Around €46 ($50) to €92 ($100) per month.

Overall, a person living with a moderate lifestyle may spend roughly between €460 ($500) and €1,104 ($1,200) per month, especially in cities such as Havana. 

Relationship between salary and cost of living

As you can see, there is a significant gap between local salaries and the real cost of living in Cuba. In practice, an average worker can’t cover all expenses with a state salary alone, because it doesn’t match current market prices.

For this reason, many families supplement their income through other sources, such as private activities, extra work, or financial support from abroad.

By contrast, for a foreigner earning income in foreign currency, the situation is different. Their income usually sits far above the local average, which makes it easier to cover living costs with greater stability and financial room.

Where to find job opportunities in Cuba?

Although opportunities for foreigners aren’t very numerous, there are still some ways to find work in Cuba, especially in sectors linked to international projects or foreign companies.

• Foreign companies or joint ventures: Many job opportunities arise in international companies or joint ventures operating in Cuba, especially in sectors such as tourism, trade, or technical projects.
• International organisations and NGOs: Some foreigners work in cooperation programmes, NGOs, or international organisations that run social, educational, or cultural projects in the country.
• International job platforms: Some Cuba-related roles may appear on global job platforms such as LinkedIn, Indeed, or Glassdoor, especially for positions in international companies.
• Embassies and diplomatic bodies: Embassies and consulates in Cuba also publish vacancies occasionally for administrative, technical, or cultural roles.
• Professional networks: In many cases, opportunities appear through professional contacts or international collaborations, so building a network can be key to finding work in the country. 

Frequently asked questions about how to work in Cuba

Plans that may interest you

eSIM Indonesia

Belén Grima

Read full bio

Related reading