Airport Arrival, Transportation, Visas and Immigration
US, Canadian and EU citizens only need a valid passport and a tourist card. The tourist card costs $5 and is usually sold to you by your airline when you check in. You can also purchase your card on your arrival in Panama from the immigration authorities.
Citizens of other countries should consult with the Panamanian consulate or embassy in their home country to obtain the latest information on entry requirements. In some cases, no tourist card is necessary and in other cases, you will need a visa.
The tourism card you buy upon entry into the country will give you 90 days in Panama. After 90 days, you can extend your stay for 30 days. Go to the Immigration office before your 90 days is over.
(See below on extending your visa).
Arriving in Panama
There is an official taxi stand in the exit area after you pass through customs. It costs $25 for the 20 minute taxi ride into Panama City. The taxis are safe and reliable.
Getting around Panama City
Taxis are inexpensive and easy to get. You can go just about anywhere in Panama City for $5 or less.
Private Taxi Service: If your Spanish is not great or you just want to relax and leave everything in capable hands, we recommend you contact Judy of Easy Travel Panama which specializes in “personalized” ground transportation and sight-seeing service by private taxi. From the minute you touch Panamanian soil, you will have a knowledgeable and English-speaking driver/guide at the Tocumen International airport to receive and assist you. Their rates are very reasonable- for example $15 an hour for your private taxi with an English speaking, knowledgeable guide. Easy Travel offers transportation throughout Panama City and other nearby popular destinations.
Contact Judy at:
E-mail: easytravel@cwpanama.net
Phone: (507) 6617-4122
Leaving Panama
Extending Your 90 Day Tourist Visa
Go to the Migracion offices on Avenida Cuba at Calle 29 Este (there are also offices in David, Chitre, Changuinola and Santiago). Checklist for what you'll need:
1. Your passport
2. $15
3. A photocopy of your passport page containing your personal information and the page showing the stamp of your most recent entry into Panamá
4. A letter from a friend or contact in Panama vouching responsibility for you, and a copy of their ID
5. A photocopy of your return ticket
6. A letter requesting the extension ( which they will give you and you can fill in on the spot.)
7. A passport photo.
In Panama City, when you arrive at Immigration, pull a number and when attended, ask for a "prorroga de turista" which is the form you have to fill out.
There is nearly always a wait of a least half an hour to be attended and the whole process often takes two hours.
You can get the photocopies done at immigration and the passport photos at the nearby Machetazo just a block from Immigration offices.
Your request for an extension will be reviewed and if approved you will have to come back in two days to pick up your new tourist identity card. You do not have to take a number, just talk directly to the person who attended you previously. Pay the $15 dollars and they'll snap your photo for your tourist identity visa extension card, and then hand it to you.