Authorized Visa for Tourists of Restricted Countries
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 |
| Azerbaijana | Bahrain | Bangladesh |
| Benin | Burkina Faso | Burundi |
| Chad | Côte d’Ivoire | Djibouti |
| Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea |
| Ethiopia | Gambia | Guinea |
| Guinea-Bissau | Haiti | 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 | 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 | Djibouti |
| Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia |
| Gambia | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Haiti |
| 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 |
| 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
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
Contact us
Contact Us to learn more or to start with your Authorized Tourist Visa process.