Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Passports, Tourist Cards & Visas
Every visitor needs a valid passport and an onward ticket to enter Panama, but further re-
quirements vary by nationality and change occasionally. Anyone planning a trip to
Panama would be advised to check online to obtain the latest information on entry re-
quirements. Ticketing agents of airlines that fly to Panama and tour operators that send
groups there often can provide this information.
A valid passport is required to enter Panama, though additional requirements vary by
country. Note that US citizens can no longer enter Panama with just a driver's license and
a birth certificate.
Tourist cards are no longer obtained upon arrival, but are included in the price of your
air ticket. No matter where you are coming from, you will generally be given a 90-day
stamp in your passport when you enter Panama. This means you are allowed to remain in
Panama for 90 days without having to obtain further permission from the authorities. After
90 days, visas and tourist cards can be extended at
migración
(immigration) offices.
Travelers entering Panama overland will probably be asked to show an onward ticket
and proof of sufficient funds (US$500) or a credit card.
At the time of research, people holding passports from the following countries needed
to show only their passports to enter Panama: Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Colom-
bia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, England, El Salvador, Finland, France, Ger-
many, Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Honduras, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxem-
bourg, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
the UK and Uruguay.
People from the following countries need a passport and a tourist card: Antigua, Aus-
tralia, Bahamas, Barbados , Belize, Canada, Dominican Republic, Granada, Guyana, Ja-
maica, Japan, New Zealand, Taiwan, Thailand, Tobago, Trinidad, the USA and
Venezuela.
Citizens from countries not on this list will need to obtain a visa, available at Panamani-
an embassies or consulates. Contact the one nearest you or call Migración y Naturaliza-
ción in Panama City.
In the event that you lose your passport while in Panama, you'll need proof of when you
entered the country to be able to leave. That proof, strangely enough, does not come from
an immigration office but from the airline you flew in on. You need to go to the airline's
main office in Panama City and request a certification of your entry date
(certificación de
vuelo)
. There's no charge, but you'll likely be asked to come back the next day to pick it
up. When you leave the country, along with your new passport (obtained from your em-
bassy in Panama City), you'll present your
certificación de vuelo
to an immigration agent.
Visa Extensions
Visas and tourist cards are both good for 90 days. To extend your stay, you'll have to go
to an office of Migración y Naturalización in Panama City, David or Chitré. You must bring
