(PanamaGringo) If you are thinking of visiting Panama, the first things you’ll need to look into are visa requirements. Consult with the nearest Panamanian embassy in your country of residence to find out if you need a visa or tourist card to enter the country. Panama visa requirements vary from country to country, and are constantly changing, so make sure the information you get is up to date.
Currently citizens of the US, Canada the European Union and some other countries can enter Panama with a valid passport and an onward ticket. Here is an excerpt from the Panama Travel.State.Gov page:
“Panamanian law requires that U.S. citizen travelers present a passport valid for at least three months. As of April 2010, U.S. tourists arriving by air or road are permitted to stay in Panama for 180 days, without obtaining a visa. U.S. citizens entering Panama by commercial flight as tourists will be charged a $5.00 tourist fee when they purchase their travel ticket.”
The official website of the Panama Immigration department says that the tourist visa is now good for only 90 days, a revision to the information found on the US government page.
If you come into the country on a tourist visa, you can extend it at the Oficina de Migración y Naturalización (Immigration and Naturalization Office) in Panama City, or at local offices in David, Changuinola, Santiago, and Chitré. To do so you will need to fill out a prórroga de turismo form (Spanish document). Bring your passport, two-passport size photos, and proof of onward travel. The extension costs $10.
Many expats in Panama simple continue extending their tourist visa for the 3 months the extension is valid, and then leaving the country for 72 hours. While this is technically not breaking any laws, it is a loophole in the system that may be cracked down on in the future. If you are residing in the country, we recommend you seek to obtain residency.