Full guide
How to send money to Cuba in 2026
There is no single "best" method — it depends on whether your family needs cash this week or a dollar balance, and on how much you are sending. Here is the full picture.
The four main methods
MLC card top-up
✓ Your family keeps the value in dollars — useful for MLC stores
⚠ Not every operator offers it; your family must already have an MLC card
Cash home delivery (CUP)
✓ Most flexible for day-to-day spending in Cuban pesos
⚠ The final amount depends on the day's informal rate, which moves
Bank deposit (USD)
✓ Goes straight into an account at a Cuban bank
⚠ Usually slower, and some banks have had withdrawal restrictions
Zelle or other P2P apps
✓ Fast if you already have someone you trust acting as an intermediary
⚠ Not an official remittance service — it depends entirely on the intermediary
Is it legal to send money to Cuba from the United States?
Broadly speaking, the United States permits family remittances to Cuba under Treasury Department (OFAC) licences, but the specific rules — caps, which Cuban entities may receive funds, which operators are authorised — have changed several times in recent years with the administration in office. We do not assume what the current rule is: before sending large or regular amounts, check the OFAC Cuba FAQ page directly — it is the official source and is updated when policy changes.
How to choose without losing money along the way
- 1.Decide the delivery method first — cash or MLC — based on what your family needs this time, not on which operator advertises the lowest fee.
- 2.Use the calculator to compare how much actually arrives, not just how much the fee is.
- 3.If the payout is cash, check that the operator's exchange rate is reasonable against the informal rate of the day — some apply a worse-than-market rate as a way to earn more on the spread.
- 4.Confirm the delivery time before sending, especially if a date matters — not every method is instant.
Sending cash or topping up an MLC card?Calculate how much arrives →