Visa policy of Panama explained

Visitors to Panama require a visa unless they are eligible for Third-Country visa exemptions for stays up to 30 days by either possessing a valid visitor (used at least once for entry) or resident visa for any of the following nations: UK, USA, Canada, the EU, Australia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea; or if they are citizens of one of the eligible countries who do not require a visa for stays up to 90 days; up to 180 days for visitors who are citizens of the United States or Canada. All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 3 months before expiry date.^[1]

On December 28, 2016, President Juan Carlos Varela decreed that the immigration authorities of the National Immigration Service will issue tourist visas valid for a term not greater than 90 days (three months);^[2] however, it was later clarified that did not change the situation for those who can enter visa-free for 180 days.^{[3] [4]}

However, on September 1, 2021, the Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá informed that foreign citizens visiting Panamá are now allowed a maximum stay of ninety (90) days for those who can enter visa-free per Res. 22068,^[5] however citizens of the United States or Canada are still allowed a maximum stay of one hundred eighty (180) days visa-free per Res. 22706^[6] published on September 10, 2021, citing reciprocity.

Visa exemption

Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Panama:^[7]

180 days Canada 90 days All European Union member states Andorra Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Bahamas Barbados Belarus Belize Bhutan Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Cambodia Chile Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Dominica Ecuador valign=top El Salvador Fiji Grenada Guatemala Guyana Honduras Iceland Israel Jamaica Japan Kiribati Kuwait Liechtenstein Madagascar Malaysia Maldives Marshall Islands Mauritius Mexico Monaco valign=top Mongolia Montenegro Namibia Nauru New Zealand Nicaragua Norway Palau Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Qatar Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Saudi Arabia Serbia valign=top Seychelles Singapore Solomon Islands South Africa Switzerland Thailand Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Turkey Tuvalu Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Vanuatu 30 days Hong Kong

Notes:

1. Including holders of U.S. Re-entry Permit (form I-327) and Employment Authorization Card (form I-766) with the remark "Valid for re-entry to the U.S." or "Serves as I-512 advance parole"
2. Nations qualified for simplified permanent residency program.

Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports of China (including passport for public affairs holders), Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Philippines do not require a visa.

In addition, all passengers with a national ID card or a birth certificate issued by Panama do not need a visa, regardless of passports they use to travel.

Third-country visas or residence documents

As per Executive Decree 521, signed by President Varela on 6 August 2018, nationalities who normally need to apply for a Panamanian visa will be allowed visa-free entry for thirty (30) days^[13] if they hold a multiple-entry visa valid for at least 6 months at the time of entry, or permanent residency documents issued by any of the following countries:^[14]

Australia Canada Japan

valign=top

Singapore United Kingdom United States

Panama Friendly Nations Visa

In 2012, the Government of Panama launched the Friendly Nations Visa. The visa is open to the citizens of fifty countries deemed to have positive diplomatic and economic ties to Panama. To qualify, the citizens of those countries must present professional or economic ties to Panama.^[15] Once the applicant demonstrates those ties, they are eligible for permanent residency and a work permit in Panama. After three to five years, holders of this visa can apply for Panamanian citizenship.

Transit without a Visa

Nationals of Cuba and Haiti require a visa at all times, including for transit. Other countries may transit in Panama without a visa for 12 hours if they have a confirmed onward ticket.^{[16] [17]}

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to Panama via Tocumen International Airport were from the following countries of nationality:^{[18] [19]}

style=background:#0072C6	Country	style=background:#0072C6	2016	style=background:#0072C6	2015	style=background:#0072C6	2014
	309,358	338,590	269,965
	281,540	260,145	187,776
	267,188	288,569	281,775
	79,758	88,348	81,950
	68,646	80,637	68,340
	78,246	79,461	61,596
	63,548	75,196	56,775
	70,712	74,043	71,919
	68,088	70,089	60,040
	46,076	50,275	34,844
Total	1,857,268	1,941,106	1,609,937

See also

• Visa requirements for Panamanian citizens
• List of diplomatic missions of Panama

Notes and References

1. Web site: Immigration and Visas . www.embassyofpanama.org . 9 October 2023.
2. Web site: News . laestrella.com.pa . PDF.
3. Web site: Javier Carrillo: "Venezolanos pueden permanecer seis meses como turistas en Panamá" - El Venezolano de Panamá. 16 January 2017. elvenezolano.com.pa. 9 April 2018.
4. Web site: Janine Sullivan. www.facebook.com. 9 April 2018.
5. Web site: Resolución 22068 "Extranjeros pueden permanecer noventa días como turistas en Panamá" - Kraemer Kraemer Law. 2 September 2021. kraemerlaw.com. 17 February 2022.
6. Web site: Resolución 22706 "Extranjeros estadounidenses o canadienses pueden permanecer ciento ochenta días como turistas en Panamá" - Kraemer Kraemer Law. 11 September 2021. kraemerlaw.com. 17 February 2022.
7. Web site: IMMIGRATION AND VISAS.
8. Web site: monstate.book . 2019-04-03.
9. Web site: Monthly statement . 2006 . treaties.un.org .
10. Web site: Decreto Ejecutivo No. 326 (de 8 de mayo de 2012) . Executive Decree 326 (of 8 of May of 2012) . es . National Migration Service of Panama.
11. Web site: Info . www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa .
12. Web site: Panamá solicitará visa a ciudadanos venezolanos. tvn-2.com. 22 August 2017 . 9 April 2018.
13. Web site: Visas - Embassy of Panama in Washington DC. www.embassyofpanama.org. 17 February 2022.
14. Web site: Decreto 521 . www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa .
15. Web site: Arias . Fábrega . Holness . Fábrega-Vivian . A general introduction to immigration law and policy in Panama . 2020-11-29 . www.lexology.com . 28 May 2020 . en.
16. Web site: As Panama tightens visa rules, Cubans brace for tough journeys .
17. Web site: Cubans protest Panama's decision to impose visa requirement . 13 June 2023 .
18. Web site: atp. atp.gob.pa. 9 April 2018.
19. Web site: Estadísticas de Turismo en Panamá. atp.gob.pa. 9 April 2018.