TT - Cuba - Starting a Business in Cuba

Hi there! A businessman in England is interested in starting a paladar in Cuba. I'm doing some research for him, but am unable to answer the following questions. Am hoping some of you experienced Cuba travelers/expatriates can lend me some advice. Questions: 1. Can foreigners start a paladar WITHOUT a Cuban partner? 2. Visas: does the government issue a long-term visa to a person who holds a permit for a paladar? 3. What about visas for other non-nationals? 4. Anyone with any experience starting a paladar there (or casa) willing to share their experience? Thank you! Lisa

1. - no. [Foreigners cannot own such properties either.] Same goes for casas particulares.
2. Why - only Cubans can run paladares.
3. What about them ?

1. no
2. no

In short : a paladar or casa is an activity that is limited to Cubans in principle.
A foreigner can set up a reataurant or a hotel.
Cuban relatives can set up a paladar or casa.

Note that a foreigner can only legally purchase a house in special projects. You can't "just go to Cuba and buy a place".
Even transfers of real property between Cubans is limited to "exchanges".
In Santiago this year the government has cracked down tremendously on illegally transferred houses and appartments involving both Cubans and foreigners.

Your investor is dreaming.

PL

Contact your embassy in Havana, commercial section.
They will advise you of opportunities for business in Cuba.
No way for a paladar but you could joint venture with a cuban company to operate a restaurant for tourists.

There is property (condos) for sale for foreigners in Miramar. I believe they are also building in Santa Maria. These condos run about $110,000 to $180,000 USD. My understanding from talking to one of the marketers was that the owner can rent out the condo.

Outside of these condos, foreigners cannot own property.

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is outdated information. They stopped selling condos over a year ago. You can rent one though.

You're asking advice on an extremely complicated situation. Doing business in Cuba is a bloody minefield. I'd agree though that's it's impossible for a foreigner to own and operate a paladar - but almost anything else is possible, at least in theory.

Staring and operating a business of any type in Cuba is an exercise in frustration, and almost impossible if you don't have a very well placed Cuba "patron" to help the process. Much of the problem is a reflection of the inability to even get straight answers out of the Cuban government itself. Remember, you're dealing with a bureaucracy with almost no experience in the "real" world of capitalist, profit-making ventures, so they're extremely difficult to deal with.

Your best bet is to research everything directly - always backing up ALL CONVERSATIONS in writing (faxes or email) - with the commerce and foreign investment division of the embassy in your country. Then, go to Cuba and deal with it directly.

It's a total pain man.

Cheers,
Terry

Poster #4: The condos you're referring to were taken off the market quite some time ago. The government figured out they could make more money leasing them out themselves, rather than selling them outright. There are also many exceptions to the rule about foreigners not being allowed to purchase property in Cuba, especially commercial property. The only real rule is that the rules are "flexible" and changing even as we speak...

Castro owes all businesses in Cuba. He is king, queen and everything else. Nobody can own anything in a communist dictatorship. Even when some of the liberaloid commies tell you the opposite. Sad, but it's the truth.

Hey, I've got an even better business for you here in Brooklyn, a terrific real estate deal involving the purchase of the Brookly Bridge. Whatever amount you have in your bank account, that just happens to be the purchase price!

Cuba recently changed the rules again. Try this web page <www.embacuba.ca>

Poster #7: You are wrong.

Business in Cuba is complicated, but possible. Stay safe in your Miami basement apartment, reading the propaganda pumped out by the ant-travel/pro-embargo nutbars. (Say hi to Gracie, Alipin and Susan.)

Cheers,
Terry

You've become a real pain in the ass. I've never responded to one of your posts before, but it seems that anytime you disagree with anyone, or what anyone says, you want to call him/her a Miamian, antiCuba, a trol, Gracie, etc.

Do you really believe every post which points out something negative about Cuba is posted by someone from Miami? I'm beginning to question your mentality! Give it up for God's sakes!

Anonymous [Mon 17 Sep, 21:20] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	Starting a Business in Cuba - (11 replies) Hi there! A businessman in England is interested in starting a paladar in Cuba. I'm doing some research for him, but am unable to answer the following questions. Am hoping some of you experienced Cuba travelers/expatriates can lend me some advice. Questions: 1. Can foreigners start a paladar WITHOUT a Cuban partner? 2. Visas: does the government issue a long-term visa to a person who holds a permit for a paladar? 3. What about visas for other non-nationals? 4. Anyone with any experience starting a paladar there (or casa) willing to share their experience? Thank you! Lisa
Anonymous [Tue 18 Sep, 04:12] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	1. jajajajajaja 1. - no. [Foreigners cannot own such properties either.] Same goes for casas particulares. 2. Why - only Cubans can run paladares. 3. What about them ?
Anonymous [Tue 18 Sep, 04:16] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	2. Answers 1. no 2. no In short : a paladar or casa is an activity that is limited to Cubans in principle. A foreigner can set up a reataurant or a hotel. Cuban relatives can set up a paladar or casa. Note that a foreigner can only legally purchase a house in special projects. You can't "just go to Cuba and buy a place". Even transfers of real property between Cubans is limited to "exchanges". In Santiago this year the government has cracked down tremendously on illegally transferred houses and appartments involving both Cubans and foreigners. Your investor is dreaming. PL
Anonymous [Tue 18 Sep, 06:06] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	3. Business in Cuba Contact your embassy in Havana, commercial section. They will advise you of opportunities for business in Cuba. No way for a paladar but you could joint venture with a cuban company to operate a restaurant for tourists.

The Travelor [Tue 18 Sep, 14:19] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	4. property in cuba There is property (condos) for sale for foreigners in Miramar. I believe they are also building in Santa Maria. These condos run about $110,000 to $180,000 USD. My understanding from talking to one of the marketers was that the owner can rent out the condo. Outside of these condos, foreigners cannot own property.
greslogo [Tue 18 Sep, 14:30] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	5. #4 Correct me if I am wrong but I believe this is outdated information. They stopped selling condos over a year ago. You can rent one though.
CheersTerry [Tue 18 Sep, 15:28] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	6. Business in Cuba, it's a pain... You're asking advice on an extremely complicated situation. Doing business in Cuba is a bloody minefield. I'd agree though that's it's impossible for a foreigner to own and operate a paladar - but almost anything else is possible, at least in theory. Staring and operating a business of any type in Cuba is an exercise in frustration, and almost impossible if you don't have a very well placed Cuba "patron" to help the process. Much of the problem is a reflection of the inability to even get straight answers out of the Cuban government itself. Remember, you're dealing with a bureaucracy with almost no experience in the "real" world of capitalist, profit-making ventures, so they're extremely difficult to deal with. Your best bet is to research everything directly - always backing up ALL CONVERSATIONS in writing (faxes or email) - with the commerce and foreign investment division of the embassy in your country. Then, go to Cuba and deal with it directly. It's a total pain man. Cheers, Terry Poster #4: The condos you're referring to were taken off the market quite some time ago. The government figured out they could make more money leasing them out themselves, rather than selling them outright. There are also many exceptions to the rule about foreigners not being allowed to purchase property in Cuba, especially commercial property. The only real rule is that the rules are "flexible" and changing even as we speak...
Anonymous [Wed 19 Sep, 05:21] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	7. Castro is king. Castro owes all businesses in Cuba. He is king, queen and everything else. Nobody can own anything in a communist dictatorship. Even when some of the liberaloid commies tell you the opposite. Sad, but it's the truth.

Anonymous [Wed 19 Sep, 09:53] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	8. Setting up a business in Cuba Hey, I've got an even better business for you here in Brooklyn, a terrific real estate deal involving the purchase of the Brookly Bridge. Whatever amount you have in your bank account, that just happens to be the purchase price!
Gordon Robinson [Wed 19 Sep, 10:48] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	9. Business in Cuba Cuba recently changed the rules again. Try this web page <www.embacuba.ca>
CheersTerry [Wed 19 Sep, 10:50] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	10. You are wrong... Poster #7: You are wrong. Business in Cuba is complicated, but possible. Stay safe in your Miami basement apartment, reading the propaganda pumped out by the ant-travel/pro-embargo nutbars. (Say hi to Gracie, Alipin and Susan.) Cheers, Terry
Anonymous [Sat 22 Sep, 19:15] PST (Gumly Gumly -17)	11. To Cheers Terry You've become a real pain in the ass. I've never responded to one of your posts before, but it seems that anytime you disagree with anyone, or what anyone says, you want to call him/her a Miamian, antiCuba, a trol, Gracie, etc. Do you really believe every post which points out something negative about Cuba is posted by someone from Miami? I'm beginning to question your mentality! Give it up for God's sakes!