Authorized Visa for Tourists of Restricted Countries
Panama requires citizens of certain countries to apply for an Authorized Tourist Visa before traveling, due to specific health or security regulations. Applicants must submit the request in advance through a Panamanian Embassy, Consulate, or with legal assistance in Panama, as each application is reviewed and decided by the National Council of Public Safety and the National Immigration Service.
Overview
Panama has visitor restrictions for citizens of certain countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, based on health or security concerns.
| Afghanistan | Albania | Algeria |
| Azerbaijan | Bahrain | Bangladesh |
| Benin | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Chad | Côte d’Ivoire | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Djibouti | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea |
| Eritrea | Ethiopia | Gambia |
| Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Haiti |
| India | Indonesia | Iran |
| Iraq | Jordan | Kazakhstan |
| North Korea | Kosovo | Kyrgyzstan |
| Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho |
| Liberia | Libya | Mali |
| Mauritania | Morocco | Mozambique |
| Myanmar | Nepal | Niger |
| Nigeria | Oman | Pakistan |
| Palestine, State of | People’s Republic of China | Rwanda |
| Senegal | Sierra Leone | Somalia |
| Sri Lanka | Sudan | Sudan, South |
| Suriname | Syria | Tajikistan |
| Tanzania | Tunisia | Turkmenistan |
| Uganda | Uzbekistan | Virgin Islands, U.S. |
| Yemen | Zambia |
| Afghanistan | Albania | Algeria | Azerbaijan |
| Bahrain | Bangladesh | Benin | Burkina Faso |
| Burundi | Chad | Côte d’Ivoire | Democratic Republic of the Congo |
| Djibouti | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
| Ethiopia | Gambia | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau |
| Haiti | India | Indonesia | Iran |
| Iraq | Jordan | Kazakhstan | North Korea |
| Kosovo | Kyrgyzstan | Laos | Lebanon |
| Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | Mali |
| Mauritania | Morocco | Mozambique | Myanmar |
| Nepal | Niger | Nigeria | Oman |
| Pakistan | Palestine, State of | People’s Republic of China | Rwanda |
| Senegal | Sierra Leone | Somalia | Sri Lanka |
| Sudan | Sudan, South | Suriname | Syria |
| Tajikistan | Tanzania | Tunisia | Turkmenistan |
| Uganda | Uzbekistan | Virgin Islands, U.S. | Yemen |
| Zambia |
Nationals from these countries may apply for an Authorized Tourist Visa through their closest Panamanian Embassy or Consulate, or with the help of a lawyer in Panama. If no Panamanian Consulate exists in the country, it is possible to use the online government site to submit the application and all required documentation.
The applicant must submit a request 60 days in advance, because it is the Panama National Council of Public Safety and National Defense who verifies the application and provides an answer.
This National Council, along with the National Immigration Service, have full discretion to decide whether to approve or not the Authorized Tourist Visa.
Requirements to apply for an Authorized Visa
All documentation must be translated to Spanish, and must be apostilled or notarized:
- Application form properly completed
- Power of attorney, if the visa is requested through a local lawyer
- Four color passport-sized photos
- Passport valid for at least 6 months
- Two Passport color photocopies including all pages, even blank pages
- Two color copies of the national ID or Residence Card
- Two color copies of a second identification
- Pre-Booked, round trip, airfare reservation
- Proof of economic solvency, demonstrating no less than USD $500
- Proof of economic income, such as employment letter, pension documents, or equivalent
- Copy of any previously approved immigration permits issued by Panama
- Hotel Reservation or Invitation Letter from the person / company responsible of the applicant’s visit
Invitation letter
The last requirement above mentions an Invitation Letter from the person or company responsible for the applicant’s visit to Panama. This is required when there is no Hotel Reservation. Natural persons (whether citizens or residents) or Companies (government or private) may issue this invitation letter.
A natural person who issues the invitation letter must provide other documentation such as:
- Copy of National ID, Residence Card, or Passport
- Copy of Utility Bill to verify the host’s address
- Bank Reference Letter
- Letter of employment, indicating salary
Likewise, a company who issues the invitation letter must also provide other documentation such as:
- Letter of responsibility from the entity’s legal representative
- Copy of Utility Bill to verify the company’s address
- Proof of financial solvency, whether by Bank Certification (not older than 3 months) or Income Tax Declaration, from those people within the company who are responsible of the applicant’s visit
- For private companies: Certificate from the Public Registry and Commercial License (Aviso de Operaciones)
Exceptions
First scenario:
Citizens of restricted countries are exempt from the Panamanian Authorized Tourist Visa if they meet these 4 criteria:
- Have a Residence or Tourist Visa issued by the US, Canada, UK, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Northern Ireland, Singapore, or European Union countries
- This Residence or Tourist Visa must be valid for at least 6 months
- This Residence or Tourist Visa must be for multiple entries
- This residence or Tourist visa must have been used at least once to visit the granting country
Second scenario:
If a citizen of a restricted country chooses to apply for the Panama Qualified Investor Visa (QIV), they are not required to apply for the Authorized Tourist Visa beforehand or separately.
When the QIV application is submitted, the procedure for obtaining entry permission is carried out at the same time as that for residence. Upon approval, the relevant authorities will send an official notice to the airline with which the applicant will be traveling. This notice allows the foreigner to take their flight to Panama without requiring a physical visa in their passport, thus expediting their arrival to complete the immigration procedure.
FAQs about Panama Authorized Visa
A: Yellow Fever vaccine is mandatory for travelers aged 1 year and older who are arriving from some African and American countries with a risk of transmission. You must get this vaccine at least 10 days before your trip and be ready to show your International Certificate of Vaccination or Profilaxis (ICVP) upon arrival.
A: To enter Panama, you need to show you have at least $500 USD available. This can be in cash, on a credit card, through bank statements, or other income documents accepted by immigration. Although the official requirement is $500, it is recommended to bring at least $1,000 USD, especially if you are coming for business purposes.
A: Foreign visitors are generally permitted to drive using their foreign license for a period of up to 90 days. However, once you initiate a residency application, you are no longer authorized to use your foreign license and will be required to obtain a Panamanian driver’s license.
Contact us
Contact Us to learn more or to start with your Authorized Tourist Visa process.