Receiving money in Cuba — a guide for recipients
Your family abroad sends you money with Fonmoney — and you want to know what arrives, when, and what you need. Here's everything: bank transfer, USD cash at your door, an MLC card, or a Tropical card.
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How receive money in Cuba works from abroad
Most searches for how to receive money in Cuba come from the island itself — from someone waiting on a remittance from family in the UK, elsewhere in Europe, or Canada. The process always starts abroad: your relative opens an account with Fonmoney, a service regulated in the EU, picks a method, and enters your details. You don't register or pay anything — your part is to pass on the right details and, depending on the method, keep your account or card ready or be home when the cash arrives.
The 4 ways to receive money in Cuba
What your relative chooses when sending determines how you receive it:
USD cash delivered to your door
You receive US dollars in cash at home, within 2–5 business days. Covers most municipalities across Cuba.
You need: to be at the given address and show your ID card.
How your relative sends it →Transfer to your bank account
The money arrives in your MLC account at BPA, BANDEC, or Banco Metropolitano within 5–7 business days.
You need: an active MLC account and your relative's exact details.
How your relative sends it →Top-up for your MLC card
Your MLC card from BANDEC, BPA, or Metropolitano gets topped up directly from abroad.
You need: an MLC card already issued — just the card number.
How your relative sends it →BANDEC Tropical card
A prepaid card in US dollars. Top-ups arrive within 5–7 business days and the card is valid for 5 years.
You need: no ID to receive it — the simplest way to receive dollars in Cuba without a bank account.
How your relative sends it →What details to give your relative
The most common cause of delays is incomplete recipient details. Before your relative sends anything, pass on exactly this:
- ✓ Your full name, exactly as it appears on your ID card
- ✓ Your ID card number
- ✓ For bank transfers: the bank name and your MLC account number
- ✓ For card top-ups: the complete card number
- ✓ For cash delivery: your exact address, including municipality and province
When the money arrives
You get the full amount — there's no fee to pay on the Cuban side. How much arrives, and in which currency, depends on the method; the details are in Exchange rate: how much arrives in Cuba →.
If the stated timeframe has passed, ask your relative to check the transfer status in their Fonmoney account first — every step is visible there. Power cuts and public holidays in Cuba can cause occasional delays.
Can I send money from Cuba to another country?
No. Fonmoney operates under a European licence and only handles transfers to Cuba, never from Cuba abroad. If your family elsewhere needs money, the route runs the other way: someone abroad sends, you receive. The fastest way to show them is the green button above — it opens WhatsApp with a ready-made message and the link.
See how transfers to Cuba work step by step at how money transfers to Cuba work →, real customer experiences at Fonmoney reviews →, or every method with prices at send money to Cuba →.
Frequently asked questions — receiving money in Cuba
▸ How can I receive money in Cuba?
There are four ways: USD cash delivered to your door, a transfer to your MLC account at BPA, BANDEC, or Banco Metropolitano, a top-up of your MLC card, or a top-up of a BANDEC Tropical card. The transfer is made by your relative abroad using Fonmoney.
▸ Do I have to pay or register to receive money?
No. You pay no fee in Cuba and you don't need an account. Only the sender registers with Fonmoney.
▸ What do I need to receive a bank transfer?
An active MLC account at BPA, BANDEC, or Banco Metropolitano. Give your relative your full name, your ID card number, the bank name, and the account number.
▸ Can I receive dollars without a bank account?
Yes, in two ways: USD cash delivery to your home (you only need your ID card), or the BANDEC Tropical card, a prepaid dollar card you can receive without any ID.
▸ Can I send money from Cuba to another country?
No. Fonmoney only handles transfers to Cuba. Sending money from Cuba abroad isn't possible with the service, because Cuba isn't among the sending countries covered by the European licence.
▸ How long does the money take to arrive?
Cash delivery takes 2–5 business days; bank transfers and Tropical card top-ups take 5–7 business days. Power cuts or public holidays in Cuba can cause occasional delays.
Everything about sending and receiving with Fonmoney
Useful links for you and for whoever is sending you money: