Visa policy of Panama

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 policy map

Visa policy of Panama

  Panama

  Visa not required - 180 days

  Visa not required - 90 days

  Visa not required - 30 days

  Visa required

Visa exemption

Holders of passports of the following jurisdictions do not require a visa to visit Panama:^[7][8]

180 days  Canada2  United States1 2 90 days All European Union member states2  Andorra2  Antigua and Barbuda  Argentina2  Armenia  Australia2  Bahamas  Barbados  Belarus  Belize  Bhutan  Bolivia  Bosnia and Herzegovina  Botswana  Brazil2  Brunei  Cambodia  Chile2  Colombia  Comoros  Costa Rica  Dominica  Ecuador  El Salvador  Fiji  Grenada  Guatemala  Guyana  Honduras  Iceland1  Israel2  Jamaica  Japan2  Kiribati  Kuwait  Liechtenstein2  Madagascar  Malaysia  Maldives  Marshall Islands  Mauritius  Mexico  Micronesia  Moldova  Monaco2  Mongolia  Montenegro2  Namibia  Nauru  New Zealand2  Nicaragua  North Macedonia  Norway2  Palau  Papua New Guinea  Paraguay  Peru  Qatar  Russia  Saint Kitts and Nevis  Saint Lucia  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines  Samoa  San Marino  São Tomé and Príncipe  Saudi Arabia  Serbia2  Seychelles  Singapore2  Solomon Islands  South Africa2  South Korea2   Switzerland 2  Taiwan2  Thailand  Tonga  Trinidad and Tobago  Turkey  Tuvalu  Ukraine  United Arab Emirates  United Kingdom2  Uruguay2  Vanuatu  Vatican City  Vietnam 30 days  Hong Kong

Date of visa changes

14 July 1997: Israel[9] 9 August 2001: South Korea[10] 8 May 2012: Angola3, Armenia, Belarus, Bhutan, Botswana, Cambodia, Cape Verde3, Comoros, Croatia, Fiji, Gabon3, Georgia3, Kenya3, Kiribati, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nauru, Namibia, North Macedonia (as Macedonia), Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, São Tomé and Príncipe, Serbia, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Ukraine, Vanuatu, Vietnam[11] 14 April 2014: Russia[12] 10 February 2019: Hong Kong[13] Cancelled: 1 October 2017: Venezuela [14] 2023: Angola, Cape Verde, Gabon, Georgia, Kenya

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^[15] 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:^[16]

Australia  Canada  European Union  Japan

Singapore  South Korea  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.^[17] 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.^[18][19][20]

Visitor statistics

Most visitors arriving to Panama via Tocumen International Airport were from the following countries of nationality:^[21][22]

Country	2016	2015	2014
United States	309,358	338,590	269,965
Venezuela	281,540	260,145	187,776
Colombia	267,188	288,569	281,775
Brazil	79,758	88,348	81,950
Mexico	68,646	80,637	68,340
Spain	78,246	79,461	61,596
Costa Rica	63,548	75,196	56,775
Ecuador	70,712	74,043	71,919
Argentina	68,088	70,089	60,040
Peru	46,076	50,275	34,844
Total	1,857,268	1,941,106	1,609,937

See also

• Panama portal

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