General Cuba Tourist Information - Real Havana: Explore Cuba Like a Local and Save Money - page 62

These rules are often more stringent. For example, residents of the United States
traveling to Cuba may not bring back any cigars or other goods from their visit.
Canadians are limited to 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 1.14 liters of hard alcohol
before extra duties and taxes must be paid.
Exporting Cuban Paintings and Art (Patrimonies)
Art is a very common thing for tourists to buy in Cuba. Usually it is in the form of
paintings. They are sold throughout Cuba, not only in street fairs or bazaars, but
also in private galleries and sometimes directly from an artist's home. While it is
completely legal to buy art in Cuba and to take it out of the country, there are reg-
ulations.
Cuban artists who make a living selling art must be registered with the govern-
ment. All articles that they sell must include a government export stamp, proving
that the art is authentic and the artist is legally recognized. If you purchase art, al-
ways make certain that this stamp is included and clearly visible on the pack-
aging. If the artist is registered with the proper authorities, then this stamp will
only cost him or her a few pesos (MN) to obtain, and the price of the stamp can
usually be negotiated into the total price of the artwork.
The only artists who will not want to provide you with a government export stamp
are those who operate without an official license. It is still legal to buy from these
vendors; however, you might be required to pay export duties on the art when you
take it out of Cuba. These duties can cost anywhere from 10 to 40 CUC, or some-
times more, per piece of art.
The best way to avoid hassles is to either be absolutely sure that your art includes
all the proper export stamps, or to always pack your art purchase in your checked
luggage , rather than bringing it as a carry-on item, on your plane ride out of the
country. If you are openly carrying a piece of art when arriving at an airport cus-
toms declaration point, you will always be directed to a special art duties area
(Patrimonies Processing). Here you will have to either show the official govern-
ment export stamp, or be required to pay export duties on the piece. Packing the
art in your checked luggage would eliminate this hassle and expense in almost all
cases.