Visa policy of Panama
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Visitors to Panama must obtain a visa from one of the Panamanian diplomatic missions unless they are citizens from one of the visa-exempt countries.
All visitors must hold a passport valid for at least 3 months from the date of arrival.
Visa policy map
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Visa exemption
[edit]Ordinary passports
[edit]Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Panama without a visa for the following period:[1][2]
| Date of visa changes | ||
|---|---|---|
Cancelled:
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In addition, all passengers with a national ID card or a birth certificate issued by Panama may enter Panama without a visa, regardless of passports they use to travel.
Substitute visa
[edit]Citizens of other countries who would normally require visas may enter Panama for a maximum stay of 30 days if they are holding a valid multiple-entry visa or residence permit issued by the following countries. Residence permits and visas must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival.[1][9]
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1 - For holders of a permanent residence card (Green Card) only.
Non-ordinary passports
[edit]In addition to countries whose citizens are visa-exempt, holders of diplomatic passports of China, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Indonesia, Philippines and Venezuela may enter Panama without a visa.[1]
Panama Friendly Nations Visa
[edit]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.[10] 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
[edit]Citizens 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.[11][12]
Visitor statistics
[edit]Most visitors arriving in Panama via Tocumen International Airport were from the following countries of nationality:[13][14]
| 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
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References
[edit]- 1 2 3 "IMMIGRATION AND VISAS".
- ↑ "Visa and passport". Timatic. International Air Transport Association through Emirates. Retrieved 1 April 2017.
- ↑ "monstate.book" (PDF). Retrieved 2019-04-03.
- ↑ "Monthly statement" (PDF). treaties.un.org. 2006.
- ↑ "Decreto Ejecutivo No. 326 (de 8 de mayo de 2012)" [Executive Decree 326 (of 8 of May of 2012)] (PDF). National Migration Service of Panama (in Spanish).
- ↑ "Info" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa.
- ↑ "Mutual visa exemptions between Hong Kong SAR and Panama".
- ↑ "Panamá solicitará visa a ciudadanos venezolanos". tvn-2.com. 22 August 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ↑ "Decreto 521" (PDF). www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa.
- ↑ Arias; Fábrega; Holness, Fábrega-Vivian (28 May 2020). "A general introduction to immigration law and policy in Panama". www.lexology.com. Retrieved 2020-11-29.
- ↑ "As Panama tightens visa rules, Cubans brace for tough journeys".
- ↑ "Cubans protest Panama's decision to impose visa requirement". 13 June 2023.
- ↑ "atp" (PDF). atp.gob.pa. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
- ↑ "Estadísticas de Turismo en Panamá". atp.gob.pa. Retrieved 9 April 2018.