Do I need to declare my digital camera with GPS on it?

Question: Do I need to declare before/upon arrival to Cuba that my digital camera (a Panasonic Lumix ZS7) has GPS on it? I don’t know if it includes Cuba in its built-in map list.

Answer: Earlier this year (2010), Aduana General de la República de Cuba (General Customs of the Republic of Cuba) updated their website. Known as AduaCuba and located at www.aduana.co.cu, it is available in both Spanish and English, although the English section is not as comprehensive.

According to the website, prior authorization and a permit are required from the Oficina Nacional de Hidrografía y Geodesia (ONHG or Hydrographical and Geodesic National Office) to bring into the country a Global Positioning System (GPS) of any type. There is no mention if cameras with a GPS capacity are included in the list or not. In the English version it only says “GPS of any type”, whereas in Spanish it says “GPS used for the determination of geographical coordinates on a point for hydrographical and geodesic ends”.

To obtain clarification on any regulation of Cuban Customs, or solicit a consultation, or even lodge a complaint or claim, you can do so via three channels.

From within the country:

• Contact their Oficinas de Atención Público (Public Service Offices) at any Customs Unit
• Call Cuban Customs at (537) 883-7575 or (537) 883-8282

From outside the country:

• Send an email to [email protected]

The following is the contact information for the Oficina Nacional de Hidrografia y Geodesia (ONHG):

Oficina Nacional de Hidrografia y Geodesia (ONHG)
Avenida 47 # 2829

e/ 28 y 34,
Reparto Kholy, Playa
Ciudad de La Habana CP 11300 Cuba
Telephone (537) 209 0926
FAX (537) 203 0967
E-mail: [email protected]