Panama Entry Requirements

When entering the country, you must show the following documents to the Inspector of the National Office of Immigration and Naturalization:

• Passport (with visa if required), valid for at least 6 months
• International boarding card, properly completed
• Tourism Card or Visa, as applicable
• Return or onward ticket to your home country or next destination
• Proof of financial solvency of at least B/.500.00 (US$500) or equivalent (credit card, bank reference, employment letter, or traveler’s checks), plus any additional amount required by nationality (Resolution 1017 bis of March 22, 2000). Requirements vary by nationality and may change; check with a Panamanian Consulate/Embassy or your airline for the latest information.

Countries That Do Not Require a Stamped Visa

The following countries were classified (as of January 9, 2013) as not requiring a stamped visa to enter Panama:

Antigua and Barbuda, Germany, Angola, Andorra, Argentina, Saudi Arabia, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Bolivia, Bahamas, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei, Belarus, Bulgaria, Botswana, Belize, Cape Verde, Canada, Cambodia, Colombia, Costa Rica, South Korea, Chile, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Spain, United States of America (USA), Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Estonia, France, Fiji, Finland, Guatemala, Georgia, Gabon, Grenada, Guyana, Honduras, Hungary, Israel, Marshall Islands, Comoros Islands, Solomon Islands, Italy, Iceland, Ireland, Japan, Jamaica, Kuwait, Kenya, Kiribati, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Moldova, Maldives, Malta, Mongolia, Montenegro, Micronesia, Madagascar, Namibia, Nicaragua, Nauru, Norway, The Netherlands, Paraguay, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Taiwan, Sahrawi Republic, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Greece, Romania, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, The Vatican, Seychelles, Serbia, Switzerland, Singapore, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sweden, South Africa, Samoa, San Marino, Trinidad and Tobago, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vanuatu, Vietnam, and Panamanian citizens residing abroad.

Tourist Visa (If Your Country Is Not on the List Above)

If your country is not listed above, you can obtain a 90-day tourist visa at a Panamanian consulate by meeting the following requirements:

• Complete the visa application form
• Provide original and full copy of passport/travel document with at least 3 months’ validity
• Submit airline itinerary with onward journey
• Provide a copy of your ID or residence permit for your country of domicile
• Provide three (3) photographs when applying outside Panama (not required for tourist visas filed with the National Migration Service in Panama)
• Pay US$50.00 visa fee to the National Immigration Service
• Provide proof of sufficient funds for your stay (not less than US$500.00)
• Provide a copy of your last permit approved by Panamanian immigration authorities, if applicable
• Submit confirmed hotel reservation, if applicable
• Submit letter of invitation, if applicable, and proof of the inviter’s financial solvency:
  • Bank certificate
  • Affidavit
  • Work letter and Social Security documentation (if the inviter is a Panamanian citizen)

Countries That Require a Stamped Visa

Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Bangladesh, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Djibouti, Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Myanmar, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Nepal, Oman, Palestine, Pakistan, North Korea, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, People’s Republic of China, Eswatini (Swaziland), Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Tanzania, Tunisia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Uzbekistan, Zambia, Yemen.

Additional Countries Requiring a Stamped Visa

Cameroon, Dominican Republic, Ghana, Haiti, Malawi, Russian Federation, Philippines, Central African Republic, Togo, Zimbabwe.

Length of Stay and Extensions

The tourist card is valid for 30 days. To stay longer, request an extension at least 7 days before expiration at a migration office. For information, visit: www.migracion.gob.pa. If you plan to extend your stay up to 90 days, visit the immigration office in Panama City, David, or Chitré at least two weeks before your initial 30 days expire, allowing time to gather required documents.

Contact

If your country is not listed above, contact your nearest Panamanian Consulate or Embassy, or the Panamanian Immigration office Tel: +507 507-1800, Fax: +507 507-1941.

More Information

For information on Pensioner and other residence visas or second passports, please click here.

Customs Notes

You may enter Panama with 200 cigarettes and 3 bottles of liquor tax-free. Do not attempt to leave Panama with items made from endangered species; severe penalties apply.

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