(The Panama Gringo) Getting a cell phone in Panama is relatively easy and inexpensive. Throughout the city you will see cell service provider stores where you can buy brand name phones like Nokia and Samsung for less than $30. These phones use SIM cards and a great number of cell phone users in Panama choose to buy them outright and purchase prepaid minutes for their phone as opposed to renting a phone and signing an annual contract.
Once you have bought a prepaid cell phone you will need to buy minutes. You’ll find minutes are for sale everywhere: from the service provider’s stores to supermarkets, malls, and even on the streets and bodegas. They typically come in values of $2, $5, $10, and $20. After you buy the card look on the back for the scratch off strip. Underneath it you will find a code that you need to enter into your phone. The instructions for entering the code into your phone are in Spanish, so if you are uncomfortable with the language you may need to get someone else to enter it for you. If you are at a service provider store or a grocery store the person who sold you the card will likely be happy to help. I wouldn’t trust one of the street vendors to enter the code in, even with a relatively inexpensive phone.
There are four cell phone companies that operate in Panama: Claro, MoviStar, Digicel and +Movil. You must buy the card that corresponds with your service providers. The providers frequently offer promotions in which you can double, triple or quadruple your minutes depending on when you buy or input the code on your phone. Texts from the company will notify you of such offers.
If you know you are permanently moving to Panama you might choose to sign a one-year contract and get a cell phone plan. Of course, this may require a lengthy wait at one of their offices. You may also be asked for proof of residency, or a copy of your passport and an electric bill, or be subjected to their version of a credit check. Claro and Digicel are the biggest companies with more offices throughout Panama City, but all of the companies are similar in terms of service and coverage, so research your plans and decide what best matches your needs.