Office of International Academic Activities

UC Specific License Authorizing Educational Travel to Cuba

In 2001, the University of California's Office of the President obtained a “Specific Educational License” from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), on behalf of UC's ten campuses. The License authorizes qualified UC students, faculty and staff to travel to Cuba for educational purposes. The License is valid systemwide, has been renewed for use through February 28, 2009, and is administered by the University’s Office of International Academic Activities.

Information about the Office of Foreign Assets Control Cuba Sanctions

UC Specific License – Academic Activities

There are six specific areas of educational endeavors involving travel to Cuba authorized under the UC specific license. These areas are detailed in the OFAC’s "Comprehensive Guidelines for License Applications to Engage in Travel-Related Transactions Involving Cuba" (revised Sep. 30, 2004).

Applicants for the UC specific license will need to provide information pertaining to their planned activities in Cuba, dates of intended stay, and proof of UC affiliation. They are also required to sign a "Licensee Agreement" stating that they understand, and will comply with, the provisions of the license and that they absolve UC of any possible liability in connection with their travel to Cuba. Student applicants must also obtain a brief statement of support from their faculty sponsors or advisors.

Padona Yeung at padona.yeung@ucop.edu for additional information and instructions on how to apply for UC’s specific license.

General License

In addition to the specific license for travel to Cuba, professional scholars may be eligible to travel to Cuba under the general license which does not require an application process. Information concerning the General License can be found in the OFAC’s “Overview of Sanctions” brochure. According to the brochure (page 2), the following travelers are authorized, under OFAC general license, to engage in travel transactions while in Cuba:

Journalists and supporting broadcasting or technical personnel (regularly employed in that capacity by a news reporting organization and traveling for journalistic activities).
Official government travelers (traveling on official business).
Members of international organizations of which the United States is also a member (traveling on official business).
Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to professional research in their professional areas, provided that their research 1) is of a noncommercial, academic nature; 2) comprises a full work schedule in Cuba; and 3) has a substantial likelihood of public dissemination.
Full-time professionals whose travel transactions are directly related to attendance at professional meetings or conferences in Cuba organized by an international professional organization, institution, or association hat regularly sponsors such meetings or conferences in other countries. The organization, institution, or association sponsoring the meeting or conference may not be headquartered in the United States unless it has been specifically licensed to sponsor the meeting. The purpose of the meeting or conference cannot be the promotion of tourism in Cuba or other commercial activities involving Cuba, or to foster production of any bio-technological products.
Travelers who have received specific licenses from OFAC prior to going.