How to Send Money to Cuba
U.S. dollars and credit and debit cards issued by U.S. banks are not accepted in Cuba. You can send money to a person there using a company called Duales, Inc., which was established in Canada in 1994. Individuals can receive funds by picking up a debit card at one of the company's 17 office locations in Cuba; the company can also deliver payment to homes or hotels in Havana and surrounding provinces. Check the Resources below for the office addresses and phone numbers of the Cuban offices of Duales, Inc.
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Things You'll Need
- Money
- Passport, driver's license or national ID number
- Front and back copies of your credit or debit card, social security card, driver's license, and a utility bill
Instructions
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Determine the amount you must pay in U.S. dollars or Canadian currency, inclusive of currency exchange rates and fees. Do so by using the calculator at the top of the Duales, Inc. website (duales.com). Enter the amount you want your recipient to receive in Cuban currency. From the drop-down menus, select your home country, how you will send money to Duales, Inc., and where your recipient will receive the money. As of April, 2010, 1 convertible Cuban peso is sent for each $1, less fees.
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Create an online account by clicking the "Register Now!" button on duales.com or by contacting Duales, Inc. by phone toll-free from the United States or Canada, at 888-781-2822 or 866-779-0825. Internationally, calls can be made to 905-949-0266 or 905-949-2815. In Cuba, call 55-4444. You will need to provide your passport, driver's license, or national ID number to open an account.
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Gather verification documents. For security purposes, Duales may request copies of your social security card, driver's license, utility bill, and the front and back of your credit or debit card. Fax requested items to 905-949-4606.
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Fund your account by credit card, money order, cashier's check, international wire transfer, bank draft, personal check, or email wire transfer. If mailing a payment, send by overnight delivery to the following address:
Duales, Inc.
3221 Wolfedale Road
Mississauga, Ontario, L5C 1V8
Canada -
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The money you send will be available in Cuba 4 to 48 hours after you send it for debit cards, 1 to 3 days later for funds that are delivered.
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Tips & Warnings
Business hours for live agent service are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern time Monday through Friday.
There is a $2,000 per transaction deposit limit and a $500 limit on the first credit-card funded transaction.
Opening an account may take up to 2 business days to complete. Respond quickly with providing any verification documents requested to make the process go faster.
If you order a debit card, you will see a card number online in your account, which means your recipient can pick up the card.
Funding by a personal check must clear before payment is issued and may take up to a week for processing.
Duales, Inc. keeps records of your transactions. Refer to the U.S. Department of State's Cuba site in the section "Sending or Carrying Money to Cuba" provided in the Resources to ensure you are not exceeding legal limits.
