Panamanian Immigration Requirements

THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA IS THE HOST COUNTRY FOR THE SMITHSONIAN TROPICAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE (STRI). THE PANAMANIAN GOVERNMENT HAS GENEROUSLY CEDED CERTAIN SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS TO STRI THAT ALLOWS US TO FACILITATE YOUR VISIT TO OUR HOST COUNTRY.

THE PANAMA IMMIGRATION NATIONAL SERVICE HAS RECENTLY PUT IN EFFECT NEW REGULATIONS STIPULATED IN LAW #3, DATED AUGUST 2008. FOLLOWING THESE REGULATIONS, NEW VISA CATEGORIES HAVE BEEN IMPLEMENTED FOR TOURISTS/VISITORS COMING TO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

ALL VISITORS TO STRI MUST COMPLY WITH EXISTING REGULATIONS. THEREFORE, ALL VISITORS WHO NEED A VISA AND ARE COMING TO STRI FOR A PERIOD FROM ONE MONTH AND UP TO ONE YEAR, SHOULD APPLY FOR THE CORRESPONDING TYPE OF VISA (BELOW) BEFORE TRAVELING TO PANAMA AT YOUR NEAREST PANAMANIAN CONSULATE IF APPLICABLE.

CITIZENS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA, ECUADOR AND PERU COMMING TO STUDY OR DO RESEARCH AT STRI FOR MORE THAN 90 DAYS, MUST PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION WITH TIME NEEDED TO COMPLY WITH SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS.

THE VISA CATEGORY APPROPRIATE TO STRI’S MISSION IS THE SHORT TERM VISA AS RESEARCHER/SCIENTIST/STUDENT. SEE THE GENERAL VISA LIST BELOW AND INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE TRAVELING TO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

• Short Term Visa for Research - Visa Corta Estancia 2009 [ Download PDF ]
  See visa application form attached. Reference Points page 2 - # 19(d); page 5 - # 10
  

Required documents

• Yellow Fever vaccine - Mandatory for countries marked in red
• A Valid passport (for at least 6 months)
• A round trip ticket
• Sufficient funds for length of stay (minimum of $500.00 cash)
• Visas, as follows:
  

1. Do Not require a visa: Citizens of the following countries can travel to Panama for a stay only for 90 days or less without a visa nor a tourist card. See notes.
   
   

   Argentina	Austria	Belgium	Bolivia
   Brazil	Czech Rep.	Chile	Costa Rica
   Cyprus	Denmark	Finland	France
   Germany	Great Britain	Greece	Guatemala
   Holland	Honduras	Hungary	Israel
   Italy	Korea (South)	Lithuania	Luxembourg
   Nicaragua	Paraguay	Poland	Portugal
   El Salvador	Singapore	Spain	Switzerland
   Sweden	The Netherlands	Uruguay	Vatican

   
   
2. Tourist card- 30 days: Citizens of the following countries must have a tourist card, valid for a stay of 30 days and up to 90 days. If longer than 90 days, please see notes. The tourist card can be obtained at the airline or at Panama airport.
   
   

   Colombia	Bahamas	Belize	Bermuda
   Granada	Jamaica	Japan	New Zealand
   Venezuela

   
   
3. Tourist card- 90 days: Citizens of the following countries must have a tourist card, valid for a stay of 90 days only. This card can be obtained at the airline or at Panama airport. See notes for more info.
   
   

   Canada	USA	Australia	Japan
   Thailand	Taiwan	Mexico

   
   
4. Short Term Visa as Researcher/Scientist: Citizens of the following countries must obtain a short Term visa as Researcher/Scientist stamped on the passport, valid for one month and/or up to 9 months, before arriving to Panama. See notes.
   
   

   Cameroon	Dominican Republic	Ecuador	Peru
   Ghana	Papua New Guinea	Russia	Ucrania

   
   
5. Short Term Visa as Researcher/Scientist - pre authorized: Citizens of the following countries must obtain a short term visa stamped on passport for the period of time invited by STRI, before arriving to Panama. See notes.
   
   

   Cuba	China	India	Korea (North)
   Congo Dem. Rep.	Nigeria	Philippines	Egypt
   Sri Lanka	Turkey

   
   
6. And other nations of Africa, Asia, Middle East and Oceania not listed in # 4 or 5 above. See notes.
   

Important Notes

• VISAS - REF. Above 4,5,6
  "People from any nationality carrying a valid stamped visa on their passports from the United States of America, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom and member countries of the European Union, will be able to enter the territory of the Republic of Panama... Upon presentation of the visa issued from the above mentioned countries, the carrier or customs office will deliver a Tourism Card". (Executive Decree 248 dated July 21, 2009, national Immigration Service).
  TOURIST CARD CAN BE BOUGHT AT THE PORT OF EXIT (Airline Counter) FLIGHT ATTENDANT OR UPON ARRIVAL TO PANAMA AIRPORT. VALID BETWEEN $5.00 OR $30.00
  
• Any Research Visa application should be made at your nearest Panamanian Embassy/Consulate, two months in advance of your intended arrival.
• If it is necessary, STRI can assist citizens of countries where there is no Panamanian consulate representation with the visa application from our headquarters in Panama, previous notification of at least two months in advance of your intended travel plans. Visa authorization will be sent to nearest consulate or country by you required.
• Any further extension of your stay in Panama is subject to approval from the Immigration National Service or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whenever applicable.
  

Additional Information

• Please register at the Visitors Services’s Office, STRI, Tupper Bldg., Ist. Floor, on the first business day upon arrival.
• Dependents, per Immigration regulations are only legal wife, legal husband, children.
• If your stay is for less than 90 days, no action is necessary for those citizens of countries that can stay up to 90 days. A penalty will have to be paid if you exceed your time before exiting Panama.
• If you plan to stay up to 90 days, and you have a tourist card valid for 30 days only, a regular extension for extra 60 days can be requested at Immigration through STRI in Panama. No further extension can be requested and a penalty will have to be paid if you exceed your time before exiting Panama.
• If you plan to stay more than 90 days and up 9 months, you must obtain a short Term visa as Researcher/Scientist stamped on the passport before arriving to Panama. This visa must be requested at your nearest Panamanian Embassy/Consulate.
• If you plan to stay in Panama beyond 9 months or more, and you are a citizen of any country mentioned in points #1 and #3 above, you may enter the Rep. of Panama as there in mentioned. STRI will assist you with the corresponding visa process, at STRI Panama headquarters, before your initial 90 days period expires.
• Immigration information is subject to change, therefore we recommend that you check your nearest Panamanian Consulate, travel agent, airline or call Panama Immigration National Service at (507) 507.1800 for updated information. Web site: http://www.migracion.gob.pa/
  
• AT STRI, for additional information, you may contact Ms.Celideth De Leon, Office of External Affairs, Tel. (507) 212.8050,Fax (507) 212.8150, E Mail DELEONC@SI.EDU.

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Rev. 10/09