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Visas for Panama

Do I need a visa to enter Panama?

In this page we try to answer the following questions:

We do our best to keep the Panamanian Visa information up to date as possible. If we know about any change we will publish it here as soon as we know about it. If you read it here, you can be sure of it 99% of the time. But we are not omniscient and there could by some change that we are not aware of. If there is something that we should know so that we can let all of our Spanish students know. We recommend double checking with a Panamanian Consulate, Embassy or ticketing agent for airlines that fly to Panama to obtain the most updated and accurate information. You can also visit the National Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization of Panama's website.

What are the requirements to enter Panama?

ALL VISITORS require a VALID PASPORT and an ONWARD/RETURN TICKET.

Additional requirements vary according to nationality and are subject to change. Citizens from certain countries need a tourist card, others need an authorized visa and others do not need anything. To know if you require a visa depending on your nationality please carry on reading or click here. You are recommended to check with a Panamanian Consulate, Embassy or ticketing agents for airlines that fly to Panama to obtain the most updated and accurate information.

In practice, the ticket requirement is mainly for those who enter Panama by bus or by boat.

If you are flying into Panama the most probable scenario is that you will not be asked to show a return ticket and in case you are, be sure to at least have a return ticket valid within 1 year of entering the country. If you plan to be in Panama for more than 90 days, then it is likely that you will be applying for some type of visa after entering the country and the authorities may have a few questions about your intentions. In this case you should be able to explain your plans and then allowed to enter the country after correctly informing the authorities about what you want to do.

If you enter Panama by bus or by boat you will have to purchase a return ticket by land or by water because the authorities may ask for it and if you do not have it you will run into unnecessary trouble and you will end up buying it anyways. If you expect to leave the country in a different way then the way that you plan to enter Panama and you still do not have that return ticket, then our advice is that you purchase any return ticket. For example, if you enter Panama through Costa Rica by bus, but plan to leave by plane and you still have not bought that ticket, then just buy the cheap bus ticket: it will only cost you $10 and you will avoid any unpleasant situation.

Do I need a Visa to enter Panama?

It depends on your nationality. Citizens from the following countries DO NOT need a visa to enter Panama because their countries hold treaties with Panama that entitle their citizens to visit for up to 90 days without a visa: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Cyprus, El Salvador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and Uruguay.

Citizens from these countries can apply for an extension for up to another 30, 60 or 90 days. Petitions are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Immigration recommends you apply at least a week before your time is up. For more information about extending your stay in Panama please read on or click here.

Citizens from all other nationalities either need a Tourist Card or some other type of Visa.

Do I need a Tourist Card to enter Panama?

If you can enter the country without a visa, you certainly do not need a Tourist Card. A tourist card is basically a piece of paper or a simple form that you fill out and purchase for only $5. No worries, if you are entitled to a tourist card no one will say no unless you are a wanted criminal!

Nationals from the following countries DO REQUIRE a tourist card (US $5), available from Panamanian embassies and consulates, airlines serving Panama, border crossings, or at the international airport: Antigua, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Denmark, Granada, Greece, Guyana, Iceland, Ireland, Jamaica, Japan, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Netherlands, New Zealand, San Marino, South Korea, Suriname, Taiwan, Tobago, Trinidad, USA, Venezuela. In other words, if you are on this list, do not bother going to a consulate or embassy to get a tourist card: once you are on your flight you will probably be given one and if not, when you land on Tocumen Airport you will be able to purchase one before going through immigration.

Nationals from Chad, Ecuador, Egypt, Philippines, Perú, Dominican Republic and Thailand require tourist visas and should contact an embassy or consulate before coming to Panama.

The law reducing the term of the tourist card to 30 days is still on the books BUT the immigration authority enforcement division has informed us that the policy since 1/1/08 is to allow citizens from U.S.A. and Canada a 90 days Tourist Card just like before, in other words, the same amount of time as those citizens who do not require a visa or a tourist card. Citizens from all other countries that enter Panama with a tourist card are only entitled to stay for a maximum of 30 days unless they request an extension.

Citizens from these countries can apply for an extension for up to another 30, 60 or 90 days. Petitions are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis. Immigration recommends you apply at least a week before your time is up. For more information about extending your stay in Panama please read on or click here.

How can I stay for longer in Panama?

Once you are in Panama, anyone can apply for an extension. There is an immigration office in David, Chiriqui, where citizens of certain countries, including the U.S. and Canada, can apply for extensions. Citizens of Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia, among others, must travel to Panama City to request tourist visa extensions, as the tourist visa they are granted upon entering Panama is classified as "restricted".

In order to have a tourist visa extension (up to an additional 90 days more), you need to do and know the following:

  1. Show your passport to the Migration Department. They need to see your passport stamped.
    Habla Ya will help you out by taking you to the migration department in David. You will have to pay for the transportation.
  2. The request for extension is subject to the approval of the director office.
    If everything in your passport is O.K. (for example your tourist card is still not expired or just about to expire) and there isn't any strange reason for them not to grant the extension to you (if you haven't committed a crime in Panama or your country doesn't want you back), then they will give it to you. Please remember that you have to have a valid return ticket within those 30, 60 or 90 days and your extension will be given until the date of your return flight. To the date none of our students has been refused an extension.
  3. Request for extension of tourist visa duly completed & the letter of responsibility.
    At Habla Ya you will be able to fill out that form. Habla Ya is the responsible of the student so we take care of the letter of responsibility.
  4. The guarantor must be Panamanian or resident of Panama.
    That will be Carlos, the Director of Customer Experience at Habla Ya.
  5. The letter must include copy of identity of guarantor.
  6. Copy of return ticket (valid for 1 year, within the dates that you want the extension for).
    At Habla Ya you will be able to make that copy.
  7. Copy of passport data and last entry or tourist card.
    You make this copy in our school as well.
  8. The visa extension card will cost $ 15.00.
    Student will also pay for transportation to and back from David.
  9. The tourist extension process takes 4 working days upon presentation at the window.

Is very important for you to know that we always help out our students in these and other matters.

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