Traveling to Panama? Find Out If You Need A Visa To Enter
Panama is a beautiful country nestling on the isthmus linking Central and South America. The country is well-known for the Panama Canal, a shipping route cutting through its center. However, due to its biodiversity and rich coastlines, it is also a popular destination for nature and adventure lovers and culture and history buffs. While tourists from more than 100 countries can enter Panama without a visa, certain travelers do need to apply for a visa. Read on to find out if people from your home country require a visa to visit.
Who can travel to Panama without a visa?
As part of a visa waiver program, many travelers do not require a visa to enter Panama. For instance, those travelers who hold valid passports from Australia, Canada, Japan, most European countries, Singapore, South Korea and the US can travel visa-free.
For those who do require a visa, like many countries the general duration is 90 days. This was reduced from a duration of six consecutive months by a policy amendment in October 2021. In fact, now only citizens of the US and Canada can still stay as tourists for 180 days.
In order to qualify for a tourist stamp on entry to Panama, travelers must hold a passport that is valid for at least six months, with several blank pages. Moreover, they must provide proof of economic solvency of no less than US$500. The solvency can be proved as cash, a recent bank or credit card statement, or traveler’s checks.
Meanwhile, travelers will also need to provide proof of onward travel and Panama is notoriously strict over this requirement. In fact, you might not be allowed to board a flight to Panama without this.
About visas to visit Panama
Two visa types are available to travelers who need one: stamped visas and authorized visas. For instance, travelers from Cameroon, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Dominican Republic, Ghana, India, Malawi, and Zimbabwe fall in the category of needing a stamped visa. Travelers from these countries can obtain a visa by applying at the nearest Panamanian embassy or consulate and will normally be able to stay for 30 days each time.
However, citizens of many other African and Asian countries and many Middle Eastern nations require a more restrictive permit and an authorized visa to enter Panama. The countries are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Egypt, Haiti, Indonesia, Lebanon, Nigeria, Suriname, Syria, and Tunisia.
To apply for an authorized visa travelers will require a letter from a local Panamanian sponsor. That sponsor must provide a recent utility bill, a completed Panama visa application, a valid passport, two passport photos and a bank statement.
What do these visas cost?
Charges and requirements vary according to the embassy and applications are a longer process than getting a stamped visa. This is due to the fact that approval is needed from the Panamanian National Directory for Migration (NDM). Due to this early applications are recommended or at least 90 days prior to travel.
Can you extend a tourist visa while in Panama?
When visiting this beautiful country, time just zips by and travelers with a tourist stamp or visa valid for less than 90 days, can apply to extend their visit. Panama calls this prórroga de turista. Should a tourist wish to extend the visa, they must visit the immigration office in Tumba Muerto, Panama City before it expires.
Are there any vaccination requirements?
Currently, there are no requirements relating to COVID-19 vaccinations. However, those traveling to Panama from Brazil must be vaccinated against yellow fever and proof must be shown during check-in.
Find more information on visas for Panama on the country’s official website here.