Byevisa » Panama Travel Visa

A visa may be required. We cannot assist in processing this document, but we provide instructions on how to apply.

All About the Panama Tourist Visa

Looking for lush rainforests, idyllic islands, long sandy beaches and a bustling capital city? Panama will tick all the boxes and more, not to mention the opportunity to see its impressive canal crossing the country and connecting the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.

Before you decide which national parks to visit and the best snorkelling spots to include on your trip, it’s a good idea to get clued-up on the requirements to enter the country. Which policies apply to you will, of course, depend on your nationality.

There are 3 different categories of visa for Panama:

  • Visa-free
  • Authorised
  • Stamped

A large number of countries including Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, the USA, plus all European countries, fall into the first category.

Meanwhile, some other nationalities like China, India, Nigeria and Pakistan will need to arrange for authorisation before travelling.

On this page, we will explore each travel pass in detail and explain the processes and requirements to get them, as well as everything you need to know if you are on the list of exempt countries.

What Is the Difference Between a Panama Authorisation vs the Stamp Visa?

The stamp and the authorised visas are very similar. Not only do they look the same, but the documents, terms and application process are the same as well.

The main difference between the 2 permits is that the authorised version, as the name implies, needs to be authorised by the National Directory for Migration (NDM).

The fact that it needs to be sent to the Directory for verification, as well as the standard embassy checks, means that the process takes much longer. Whereas the stamped entry doesn’t generally take more than 30 days, the authorised version can take up to 60 days.

Panama Visa Requirements and Eligibility

The first thing you need to ask yourself is ‘do you need a visa to go to Panama?’ Below you can find the list of nationalities that require each type of visa and those that don’t.

Panama Visa-Free Countries

A total of 118 nationalities can enter Panama without any sort of permit. You can stay for up to 180 days, with the exception of Colombia, Nicaragua and Peru nationals who can stay up to 90 days.

Here’s the full list:

Andorra
Angola
Antigua y Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Austria
Australia
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Bhutan
Bolivia
Bosnia
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Cabo Verde
Cambodia
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Comoros Islands
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
France
Gabon

Georgia
Germany
Granada
Greece
Guatemala
Guyana
Holy See
Honduras
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Kiribati
Kuwait
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Macedonia
Madagascar
Malaysia
Maldives
Malta
Mexico
Moldavia
Monaco
Mongolia
Montenegro
Nauru
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Norway
Papua New Guinea

Paraguay
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia Federation
Saharawi Republic
Salomon Islands
Samoa
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Serbia
Seychelles
Singapore
Slovak Republic
South Africa
Spain
St. Thomas & Prince
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Lucia
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uruguay
Vietnam

Authorisation Visa

Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Benin
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Chad
Djibouti
DPR Korea
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Guinea
Guinea Bissau
Equatorial Guinea
Haiti

Iran
Iraq
Ivory Coast
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liberia
Mali
Mauritania
Morocco
Mozambique
Myanmar
Niger
Nigeria
Oman

Pakistan
Palestine
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leona
Somalia
Sudan
Suriname
Syria
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Turkmenistan
Uganda
Uzbekistan
Yemen
Zambia

Stamp Visa

Cameroon
Central African Republic
China
Congo
Cuba
Dominican Republic

Ghana
India
Malawi
Maldives
Mauritius
Micronesia

The Philippines
Swaziland
Togo
Zimbabwe
Venezuela

Visa for Panama Application Process

Let’s take a look at the processes to get each type of visa.

Visa Waiver

Simply fill out the tourist card form on arrival and get stamped into the country. Easy!

Authorised

This permit is only available through a consulate or embassy in your country of residence. They also decide how many days you will be granted. It’s the most complex kind of entry permit because authorisation needs to be granted by the National Directory for Migration (NDM). Here are the steps to get yours:

  1. Apply in person or send by post
  2. Pay the processing fees
  3. Return to the embassy or consulate to receive a stamp

If your application is successful, you will need to visit the consulate or embassy to receive a stamp in your passport that will allow you to enter Panama.

It can take up to 60 days to process this kind of authorisation, so please make sure you apply with plenty of time.

Stamp

This process is a little more straightforward, as your travel pass isn’t checked by the NDM. That said, though, you still need to get a stamp from the embassy or consulate in your country of residence.

This pass is only if you are visiting as a tourist and they will decide how many days you will be granted, but it’s usually valid for 30 days.

The 3 main steps are the same as above, but the processing time is generally quicker as it goes through fewer checks. However, you should still allow 30 days to get it.

Panama Visa Application Form and Documents

Once you have checked the lists above, you will know which category your nationality falls under.

Below we tell you all about what exactly you need to provide to apply for an entry permit. Importantly, though, there is an exception to having to get one, granted you fulfil the following criteria:

  1.  Hold a valid residency permit or visa for the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Singapore, South Korea, Australia or European Union.
  2.  It’s a Multiple Entry permit valid for at least 6 months.
  3.  It must have been used at least once to visit the designated country.

If this applies to you, then you can visit Panama for 30 days without any sort of pre-authorisation.

Visa Waiver

No additional documents are required, but you must have the following:

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months.
  • Proof you have at least 500 USD (bank statement, credit card, cash).
  • Onward travel booking (flight, bus or boat out of Panama).
  • Fill out the information on the tourist card.

You can get the entry stamp before you travel from your embassy or consulate. However, it’s very easy to get it on arrival.

Authorised and Stamped Visas

Although the process is a little different, both the authorised and stamp visas require the same documents, so to apply for either you will need to provide the following:

  1. Completed and signed application form.
  2. 3 passport-size photographs.
  3. Copy of passport, including pages with exit and entry stamps (passport must be valid for at least 3 months).
  4. Copy of ID card of your country of residence.
  5. Return flights or onward travel bookings.
  6. Proof of funds to cover your trip (minimum 500 USD).
  7. A copy of any previous entry permits to Panama.
  8. Hotel reservations or letter from a sponsor in Panama.
  9. Proof of payment of the fees (see below for more details on this).
  10. Yellow fever vaccination booklet.

Application Form

The 8 pages of the application form can look a little daunting, but don’t worry, the information required is basic and several pages are taken up by footnotes. The main sections you will need to fill out are:

  • Personal information.
  • Passport details.
  • Contact details.
  • General information about your trip (dates, location, length of stay, etc.).
  • How you will support yourself financially.
  • Sign the last page.

Proof of Funds

There are several options to prove you have enough funds to cover your trip:

  • Bank statement.
  • Employment letter with your latest payslip.
  • Pension payments.

Panama to Visa Status Check

Currently there is no online process to obtain any kind of entry permit here, which means it isn’t possible to check your application once you have submitted it.

Once you have submitted your application with all the relevant documents, you will need to wait a few weeks for it to be processed. The embassy will be in touch when the application is approved and you will need to visit in person with your passport to get the stamp.

Therefore, if you would like to find out at what stage of the process your permission is or if you’re concerned because your departure date is approaching, you should contact the embassy or consulate directly via phone or email or you can visit in person if you prefer.

Likewise, you will be informed if for any reason your application form is not successful. It’s important that you make sure you enter your contact details correctly when you fill out the form, so the representative can reach out when necessary.

How Much Is a Panama Travel Visa?

Both the authorised and stamp visas currently cost 50 USD. The fee should be paid by bank transfer and a receipt of the payment needs to be included in your application for it to be accepted.

If you are applying in person, you may be able to pay in cash, but this will depend on your local embassy or consulate. Make sure you check beforehand if the option is available if you wish to pay in cash.

Please note that, if for any reason your application is not successful, the fee will not be refunded.

More Panama Visa Questions and Information

We hope you have found this page useful. In case you still have any doubts, we have included this section with our most frequently asked questions in relation to the requirements and processes to enter this country.

When you apply, you can request to stay between 1 and 3 months and the authorisation will reflect this period. If you’re from a country under the visa waiver program, you can stay for up to 6 months.
We always recommend applying well in advance of your departure date to ensure you have the visa when you need it. For the Authorised permit, you should apply at least 1 month in advance as the process takes longer.
On the official immigration site for Panama, you can find details about the requirements to enter the country. To make things easier for you, we have collected all the relevant information on this page.
There is no need to print anything as your travel document comes in the form of a stamp in your passport. Once it’s approved, you will have your passport stamped at the embassy or consulate and you’ll be ready to go.
Processing times can vary, but generally speaking, it takes around 2 months to get the authorised stamp and around 1 month to get the normal stamp. Always apply in advance to allow for extended processing time.
If you are denied entry into Panama, the best thing to do is to contact your nearest embassy to find out why. Often it’s because of incorrect information or missing documents, so you may be able to reapply.
You will need to check that you have at least 6 months validity on your passport before you travel. If you don’t, you will need to renew your passport before you apply for a stamp or before you travel.
Apply as described on this page. Just make sure you travel with the same passport you used for your application and use the same one throughout your trip.
American nationals don’t need pre-arranged authorisation to visit the country. Just like all visa-free countries, US citizens will receive a stamp on arrival into the country and can stay for up to 180 days.
If you are travelling on a British passport, you won’t need to get a travel document in advance. Instead, once you arrive in the country, you will be given an entry stamp in your passport that allows you to stay for up to 180 days.
Indian citizens need to obtain permission before travelling. Please see the sections above in regards to the application process and the documents required to get the stamp.
We have included below a picture of the stamp for your reference. Panama Visa Sample
If you would like to find out more, below you can find links to related pages. We update this section regularly with the latest information, so check back once in a while.
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