Do United Kingdom passport holders need a visa to visit PA?
UK ordinary passport holders do NOT need a visa to visit Panama for tourism. You can enter visa-free for up to 90 days (3 months) when arriving by air or land. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and have a blank page, and you should be ready to show an onward/return ticket and proof of funds (about USD 1,000 or a credit card). British citizens travelling on an ordinary UK passport enjoy visa-free entry to Panama for short tourist stays. Both the UK Foreign Office (GOV.UK) and the Panamanian authorities confirm a maximum stay of three months (commonly cited as 90 days) without a visa for arrivals by air or land. Panama is in Central America and is NOT part of the Schengen area, so the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply. At the border you must hold a passport valid for at least six months beyond your planned departure with at least one blank page, and you should be prepared to present a return or onward ticket plus proof of economic solvency (roughly USD 1,000 in funds or a valid credit/debit card). Panama is rolling out an electronic immigration and customs declaration (the Panama Traveler Declaration); paper forms are still accepted during the transition, but completing the digital form before travel is recommended. Note the rules differ for sea arrivals: passengers on non-cruise vessels need a visa, while cruise passengers and Panama Canal transit travellers do not need one unless staying over three months. There is also a USD 40 departure charge that is normally already included in the air ticket price. Because no visa is required, there is no application or government visa fee for a standard tourist trip.
VISA-FREETOURISMMULTIPLE ENTRYLast verified 2026-05-30
For guidance only — visa rules change with little notice. Always confirm directly with the destination's embassy or foreign ministry before booking non-refundable travel. Information here applies to ordinary (non-diplomatic) passports unless noted.
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