Entry/Exit Requirements

U.S. citizens traveling by air, road, or sea must present a valid passport that has a remaining validity of at least three months.  U.S. citizens attempting to enter without a valid passport will be returned to their point of departure in the U.S. on the next available flight.  Panamanian immigration strictly enforces this law.

Tourists must present a return trip ticket or fare back to their home country or next destination upon arrival.  Panama also requires a completed international boarding card which is provided by the airline and submitted by the traveler at the point of immigration.  In addition to this, no less than five-hundred balboas (USD$500) in cash or its equivalent must be presented as proof of financial solvency.  In addition to cash, travelers can show a credit card (with most recent credit card statement), bank reference, letter of employment, or traveler’s checks.  Travelers planning to enter/exit along the Panama-Costa Rica land border should be prepared to present all required documents to immigration officials. 

Travelers should be aware that Panamanian immigration law provides for the denial of entry or transit to any person who has a criminal conviction.  According to Panamanian law, it is irrelevant whether the crime was committed on Panamanian soil or in a foreign country.  Individuals denied entry or transit will be returned to their last point of embarkation.  For further information, contact the Government of Panama Migration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migracion); information is available on their website only in Spanish, with contact information listed under “Contactenos.”

U.S. tourists arriving by air or road may stay in Panama for 180 days without obtaining a formal visa.  U.S. citizens entering Panama by commercial flight as tourists are charged a USD$5 tourist fee when they purchase their travel ticket.  To obtain a multiple entry visa, if, for example, you plan to stay more than 180 days or plan to engage in non-tourism activities such as university study, please contact the Panamanian Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. before traveling.

U.S. citizens transiting the Panama Canal as vessel passengers do not need to obtain a visa or pay any fees if they are not disembarking.  If you are disembarking, the Servicio Nacional de Migracion will issue you an initial permit of twelve hours for a USD$5 fee.  This initial permit may be extended for 72 hours without an extra fee (you may want to consider requesting the 72 hours upon disembarking to avoid visiting the Servicio Nacional de Migracion if your visit extends past the initial 12-hour permit).  U.S. citizens arriving in Panama via private plane may obtain a pre-stamped visa from a Panamanian Embassy or Consulate in the U.S.

The Servicio Nacional de Migracion is currently enforcing an entry permit fee of USD$110 for sea travelers piloting their own boats or yachts and arriving as tourists. This fee permits entry into Panama for a period of three months, which can be extended for up to two years through an approved application with the immigration authorities in Panama.  U.S. citizens navigating private craft through the Canal should contact the Panama Canal Authority at (011) 507-272-4570 or consult the Panama Canal Authority web site to make an appointment.

U.S. citizens navigating Panamanian waters on private vessels should adhere to regulations established by the Government of Panama.  These include respecting the length of time the Government of Panama grants transiting crews to remain in country, and adhering to the Panamanian Government’s prohibition against operating unlicensed businesses from foreign vessels.  The Embassy has received reports of crews and vessels overstaying their legal time limit in Panama, particularly in the San Blas Islands area, and engaging in tourism-related businesses without proper permits.  Information on Panamanian Government regulations is available to arriving mariners at Panama’s Ports of Entry.  Registration fees may be required for the use of your boat in some coastal areas.

Further information on visas other than tourist visas may be obtained from the Embassy of Panama or its consulates in the United States.  The Panamanian Embassy is located at 2862 McGill Terrace NW, Washington, DC 20008, tel. (202) 483-1407.  For travelers who wish to remain in Panama beyond the 180 days permitted to tourists, a “change of migratory status visa” should be requested through a Panamanian lawyer before the expiration of the 180 days in country.  An initial fee of USD$250 must be paid for the “change of migratory status visa.” Please note that the approval of the change in migratory status is at the discretion of the Panamanian Immigration Office.

More information on visa types and the necessary steps to take in Panama is available at the Migration Service website or under the Consular Services tab of the Embassy of Panama website.

Issues affecting minor children: Minors (children under 18) who are citizens (including dual citizens) or legal residents of Panama are required to present both parents’ identification documents, birth certificates, and notarized consent from both parents (in Spanish) in order to exit the country if not accompanied by both parents. If a minor is traveling with both parents, authorities will request a birth certificate to confirm the relationship between parents and child. Any child born in Panama automatically obtains Panamanian citizenship.

This documentation is required at all sea and air ports as well as at all border crossing points.

Even if minors are not documented as Panamanian citizens but are documented as U.S. citizens, they may be denied departure without the consent letter and birth certificate.  Before being accepted at Panamanian immigration entry and departure points, consent documents notarized in the United States need to be authenticated in the U.S. with an Apostille by the designated authorities in each jurisdiction, generally the Secretary of State’s office.  Electronic scans of documents that have been e-mailed, or faxes of the documents, will not be accepted, only the original documents.  You must bring the original documents with you from the U.S. if your children are accompanying you to Panama.

 HIV/AIDS Restrictions: Visitors and foreign residents of Panama are subject to HIV/AIDS restrictions.  Panamanian immigration does not require an HIV/AIDS test, but Panamanian law does allow for deportation upon discovery by immigration.  The U.S. Embassy is not aware of any U.S. citizens who have been deported due to HIV/AIDS.  Should you have questions, you may wish to inquire directly with the Embassy of Panama before you travel.

Information about dual nationality or the prevention of international child abduction can be found on our website. For further information about customs regulations, please read our Customs Information page.

Social Security Benefits Information: If you receive benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) and you will be outside of the United States for more than three months, SSA policy mandates reporting your foreign address to the Federal Benefits Unit of the U.S. Embassy by completing a form SSA-21.  This change will not affect your payments.

If you wish to apply for Social Security benefits, you may do so at the Federal Benefits Unit of the U.S. Embassy in Panama City.

International Direct Deposit Program: If you receive benefits from a U.S. Government federal agency (VA, SSA, OPM, RRB), and you wish to receive your benefits in a Panamanian bank, you may enroll in this program.  International Direct Deposit is the mechanism by which your monthly benefit payment will be electronically transferred from the U.S. Federal Government to your bank account in Panama.