Panama Visa: Requirements, Types, Fees & How to Apply
Start your applicationIt depends on your passport. US citizens do not need a visa for Panama and can stay up to 180 days for tourism or business. Other nationalities may need a visa. A visa does not guarantee entry — border officials make the final determination at the port of entry.
Panama visa at a glance
- Government fee
- Varies by nationality — shown at cost, no markup — passed through at cost, no markup
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Embassy of Panama
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Visa types
- 3
Do you need a visa for Panama?
Visitors holding a valid visa or permanent residency from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, European Union, Singapore, Japan, or South Korea (used at least once) do not require a visa for a stay of up to 30 days. Check Panama's visa policy for your nationality.
Panama visa types
- Tourist visa
- Tourism, leisure, sightseeing — Varies
- Business visa
- Business meetings, conferences — Varies
- Transit visa
- Passing through Panama to a third country — Per transit rules
Who is eligible
Whether you need a visa for Panama depends on your nationality:
Your legal residence also matters. Apply through the embassy or visa authority responsible for your country of residence.
Visa-exempt nationalities (including US citizens) can enter Panama visa-free for up to 180 days.
Visa-required nationalities need a tourist, business, or transit visa.
Documents required for a Panama visa
What the consulate expects in your file. The controlling checklist is always the one published for your country of residence.
- Valid passportTourist/Business visa · 6+ months validity beyond intended stay.
- Completed and signed visa application formTourist/Business visa · Completed and signed visa application form.
- Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months)Tourist/Business visa · Recent passport photo (white background, taken within 6 months).
- Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation)Tourist/Business visa · Proof of travel itinerary (flight reservation).
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation)Tourist/Business visa · Proof of accommodation (hotel booking or invitation).
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stayTourist/Business visa · Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
- Valid passportTransit visa · 6+ months validity.
- Confirmed onward ticket to a third countryTransit visa · Confirmed onward ticket to a third country.
- Proof of sufficient funds for the transit periodTransit visa · Proof of sufficient funds for the transit period.
Panama visa fees and processing time
- Government fee
- Varies by nationality — shown at cost, no markup — passed through at cost, no markup
- Expedify processing fee
- Shown before you start
- Validity / stay
- Varies by visa type
- Official processing
- Varies — confirm with the Embassy of Panama
Government fees are passed through at cost. Processing times are the authority's official estimate, stated as a fact — not a delivery promise.
How to apply for a Panama visa
The official route, step by step.
Confirm you need a visa
Check the Panama visa-exemption list for your nationality. If you're exempt, you don't need this process.
Get the current form and checklist from the Embassy of Panama for your country. Requirements differ by country
use their list, not a generic one.
Gather your documents
see the checklist in Required documents for a Panama visa above (passport, form, photo, itinerary, accommodation, and proof of funds).
Submit your application
online where available, or in person at the embassy or authorized visa center. Pay the government visa fee.
Wait for processing
the official ETA is varies by nationality and embassy workload. Apply at least 7–10 days before travel. Don't book non-refundable flights until approved.
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued
Collect your passport when a decision is made and a visa is issued.
Applying yourself vs. with Expedify
The authority decides your visa either way. The difference is how much of the process you carry.
Research
- Apply yourself
- Check Panama's requirements yourself
- With Expedify
- We confirm what you need for your route
Document check
- Apply yourself
- Common errors cause refusals
- With Expedify
- Pre-reviewed before submission
Appointments
- Apply yourself
- You book and attend yourself
- With Expedify
- We prepare your application and guide you
Status tracking
- Apply yourself
- You check the embassy portal
- With Expedify
- We track and notify you at every step
Government fee
- Apply yourself
- Same
- With Expedify
- Same — passed through at cost, no markup
At the border: what to expect
A visa lets you present yourself for entry — it does not guarantee admission. Entry into Panama is decided by immigration officials at the port of entry.
Entry requirements
- Valid passport with your visa or exemption stamp.
- Return or onward travel ticket.
- Proof of accommodation and itinerary.
- Evidence of sufficient funds for your stay.
Conditions of stay
- Stay length is set by the officer at entry — it can be less than your visa's maximum.
- A tourist visa is not a work permit — no employment.
- No full-time study on a tourist visa.
- Depart before your permitted stay ends; overstaying is an immigration violation.
Common reasons a Panama visa is refused
Knowing these before you apply reduces your risk.
Incomplete or inconsistent documentation
documents that don't match your application form.
Insufficient financial means
evidence that doesn't clearly cover your trip.
Unclear travel purpose
an itinerary that doesn't explain where you're going and why.
Weak ties to your home country
limited evidence you'll return after your stay.
Frequently asked questions
Panama visa questions, answered.
More for your Panama trip
How we reviewed this page
Last verified Reviewed by Expedify Compliance Review
About this service
Expedify is a private application-assistance service, not a government agency, embassy, or consulate. Visas are granted solely by the destination country's authorities, and no third party can influence or guarantee a decision. Our agency fee covers preparation, review, and tracking of your application, and is separate from any consular fee. The information on this page is general guidance, not legal or immigration advice — requirements change and vary by nationality. Always confirm with the official embassy or consulate of the country you're visiting.