PanamaEntry and visas

Panama entry rules

Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Türkiye, Serbia and Australia do not need to arrange a visa for Panama in advance: the stay is up to 180 days. Citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia need a visa from a consulate before the trip.

Checked against official sources on 9 October 2026.

Entry rules by passport

For a tourist trip. Checked on 9 October 2026 against the official sources listed below the table.

Passport	Entry	Stay	Conditions
Russia	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Belarus	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Ukraine	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Kazakhstan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Uzbekistan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Kyrgyzstan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Tajikistan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Turkmenistan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Armenia	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Azerbaijan	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Georgia	Visa required	—	A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.Source: SNM visa table
Moldova	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Israel	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
EU countries	Visa-free	180 days	All 27 EU countries; the officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree.Source: SNM visa table
United Kingdom	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
United States	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Canada	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Turkey	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Serbia	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table
Australia	Visa-free	180 days	The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.Source: SNM visa table

RussiaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
BelarusVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
UkraineVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
KazakhstanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
UzbekistanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
KyrgyzstanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
TajikistanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
TurkmenistanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
ArmeniaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
AzerbaijanVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
GeorgiaVisa required
A visa from a Panamanian consulate is required; the consul decides whether it is a stamped visa or one pre-approved by SNM.
Source: SNM visa table
MoldovaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
IsraelVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
EU countriesVisa-free
180 days. All 27 EU countries; the officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree.
Source: SNM visa table
United KingdomVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
United StatesVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
CanadaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
TurkeyVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
SerbiaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table
AustraliaVisa-free
180 days. The officer sets the period: up to 6 months under SNM procedures, 90 days under the 2008 decree; you need at least $500 and an onward ticket.
Source: SNM visa table

Sources: Panama's National Migration Service (SNM) — who needs a visa, table by passport (October 2026)

What is checked at the border

A passport valid for at least 3 more months.
Funds for the trip — at least 500 balboas (≈ $500, the balboa is pegged to the dollar); not required for under-18s.
A confirmed ticket out of the country within the permitted stay.
An interview, biometric check and inspection of luggage and documents.
No unpaid fines or debts to the migration service.

How to extend your stay

If you were given less than 90 days on entry, you can apply to the migration service before it expires to extend up to 90 days in total. You need a passport valid for 3+ months, a paid ticket, at least 500 balboas and a reason.

Overstay penalties

The fine is 50 balboas (≈ $50) for each month or part of a month overstayed. Those who leave through voluntary return get a 2–5 year entry ban (except spouses and parents of Panamanian citizens).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Panama?

Citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Türkiye, Serbia and Australia enter without a visa. Citizens of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia get a visa from a consulate before the trip.

How long can I stay in Panama without a visa?

180 days for citizens of Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Armenia, Moldova, Israel, the EU, the UK, the US, Canada, Türkiye, Serbia and Australia.

Can the stay be extended?

What happens if I overstay?

The fine is 50 balboas (≈ $50) for each month or part of a month overstayed. Those who leave through voluntary return get a 2–5 year entry ban (except spouses and parents of Panamanian citizens).

What is checked on entry to Panama?

A passport valid for at least 3 more months. Funds for the trip — at least 500 balboas (≈ $500, the balboa is pegged to the dollar); not required for under-18s. A confirmed ticket out of the country within the permitted stay. An interview, biometric check and inspection of luggage and documents. No unpaid fines or debts to the migration service.

How can I stay in Panama longer?

A visa-free stay does not give the right to live in the country. A longer stay needs a long-term visa or a residence permit: permanent residence for nationals of "friendly nations" (Países Amigos), qualified Investor permanent residence (new rules — Decree 17 of 18 Sep 2026), retiree residence (Jubilado / Pensionado), short-stay remote worker visa — 9 months, extendable once, income of at least 36,000 balboas a year, residence by economic solvency: fixed-term deposit or real estate, permanent residence for researchers, scientists and exceptional talent (since 2026).

Sources

Checked on 9 October 2026. Entry rules change: check them on the consulate website before you travel.