The Legal Landscape in 2023 The embargo historically made Cuban cigars illegal for most U.S. consumers. Although Cuban cigar brands continue to be of great fascination, cigar connoisseurs are still unable to purchase Cuban cigars online from within the United States.

In 2023 (and continuing into 2026), Cuban cigars are illegal to import into the United States for commercial or personal use. While the Obama administration briefly eased these rules, the regulations were tightened again in September 2020. Under current U.S. law, travelers are prohibited from bringing Cuban-origin tobacco or alcohol products back to the U.S., even if they were purchased in a third country (like Canada, Mexico, or the UK) or at a duty-free shop. If you are caught with them at U.S. Customs, the cigars will be confiscated, and you could face significant fines. However, it is perfectly legal for U.S. citizens to purchase and consume Cuban cigars while they are abroad in countries where they are legal. The illegality only applies to the act of bringing them into U.S. territory. In most of the rest of the world, including Europe and Asia, Cuban cigars are legal products and widely available at licensed tobacconists.