✈️ Immigration & residency · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
Entering Panama as a tourist and how long you can stay
Many people arrive as tourists to see neighbourhoods and look for a home before applying for residency. This is what Immigration asks at entry and the stay limits.
How to move to Panama step by step (Trámites Visa Panamá) → Free consultation
Who is it for?
Anyone visiting Panama, house-hunting or preparing a residency application.
Key facts · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
- Passport
- At least 3 months of validity
- Funds
- At least B/.500 (not required for under-18s)
- Onward travel
- Proof of onward or return travel
- General stay
- Up to 90 days (tourist visas up to 90 days; extensions only up to 90 in total)
- US and Canada
- Up to 180 days (Resolution 22706 of 2021)
- Overstay fine
- B/.50 per month or part of a month overstayed
General requirements
- If your nationality needs a visa you must have it; holders of a valid visa from the US, Canada, the European Union and other listed countries can enter without a Panamanian visa (Decree 521 of 2018, amended in 2024).
- Fill in the entry card and accept the interview and biometric check at the airport or border.
- Under the exemption for another country's visa, Panama's Embassy in the US states a maximum of 30 days.
- As a tourist you cannot work or get a Panamanian driving licence; you can drive with your own licence for up to 90 days.
- The exact number of days for your nationality: confirm it with the SNM or the consulate before travelling.
Next step
How to move to Panama step by step (Trámites Visa Panamá)
tramitesvisapanama.com →Residency for US citizens
tramitesvisapanama.com →Venezuelans: visa and residency
tramitesvisapanama.com →Free consultation with Trámites Visa Panamá
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FAQ
How long can I stay in Panama as a tourist?
Generally up to 90 days. US and Canadian citizens can stay up to 180 days. Those entering under the exemption for another country's visa have a maximum of 30 days.
What happens if I overstay?
Immigration charges a B/.50 fine per month or part of a month overstayed, plus passport registration. It is best to apply for residency before your stay expires.
Can I apply for residency while here as a tourist?
Several residencies are filed while you are in Panama through a lawyer. Start early so you do not overstay.
Official sources (data checked on 28 Oct 2026): SNM – Preguntas frecuentes (requisitos de ingreso, multas) · Panamá Digital – Visa de turista (SNM) · Embajada de Panamá en EE. UU. – Visas
General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change: confirm them with the National Immigration Service or a lawyer before deciding. Where it says "ask", the authority does not publish that information and we do not make it up. TuHogar en Panamá is not a law firm or an immigration agency.