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🇬🇧UNITED KINGDOM
🏳PAGB-PA

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.
United Kingdom (ILR)Living in United Kingdom as a permanent resident? See PR-specific guidance
/01 — The numbers

Key facts

Last verified 2026-05-30
Visa type
Visa-free entry (visa exemption for tourism / short visit)
Maximum stay
Up to 90 days (3 months) per entry
per entry
Entries
Multiple entries permitted within the visa-free regime
from issue date
Visa fee
No visa fee (USD 0). Departure tax of approx. USD 40 normally included in air ticket
consular fee only
Processing time
None - entry granted on arrival at the border
standard track
Validity
Stay granted at the discretion of the immigration officer, up to 3 months; not normally extendable
from issue date
/02 — The process

How to apply

/01
Check your passport validity
Ensure your UK passport is valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from Panama and has at least one blank page for the entry stamp.
· 6 months validity· 1 blank page
/02
Book a return or onward ticket
Panamanian immigration can require proof you will leave the country. Have a confirmed return or onward ticket available to show, especially if arriving overland from Costa Rica.
· Onward/return ticket
/03
Prepare proof of funds
Be ready to demonstrate economic solvency - around USD 1,000 in cash or equivalent, or a valid credit/debit card.
· ~USD 1,000 or credit card
/04
Complete the Panama Traveler Declaration (digital entry/customs form)
Fill in the electronic immigration and customs declaration before you travel. Paper forms are still accepted during the transition, but the digital form is recommended to speed up arrival.
· Recommended pre-arrival· Free on official portal
/05
Arrive by air or land
Visa-free entry applies to air and land arrivals. (Sea arrivals on non-cruise vessels require a visa.) Present your passport, declaration, ticket and funds to the immigration officer.
· Air or land only
/06
Observe your permitted stay
You may stay up to 3 months. The stay is not normally extendable; leaving and re-entering to reset the clock can lead to problems with immigration.
· Max 3 months· No easy extension
/03 — The paperwork

Required materials

9 items
Personalized checklist
0 / 9 complete
UK passport valid 6+ months beyond departure date
required
At least one blank passport page
required
Confirmed return or onward ticket
required
Proof of funds (~USD 1,000) or a credit card
required
Panama Traveler Declaration / digital entry-customs form completed
recommended
Accommodation address and contact details
recommended
Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a transmission-risk country
situational
Travel insurance covering medical care
recommended
Awareness of ~USD 40 departure charge (usually in ticket price)
optional
Track your progress · save & email a copy
/04 — The cost

Fee breakdown

All-in estimate
Line itemAmountSource
Tourist visa feeUSD 0No visa required for UK ordinary passport holders for stays up to 3 months
Panama Traveler Declaration (official electronic form)USD 0Free on the official Migracion Panama portal; third-party sites may charge a service fee
Departure chargeUSD 40Normally already included in the price of your air ticket
Sea (non-cruise) arrival visaUSD 100 + USD 5 registrationOnly applies if arriving by private/non-cruise vessel - not for typical air tourists
Total estimate00incl. all
/05 — The wait

Processing time

Panama Traveler Declaration (digital form)
A few minutes online before travel
Complete the electronic immigration/customs declaration before departure to speed up arrival. Optional during the paper-form transition.
/06 — The risks

Common refusal reasons

by frequency
/01
Visa-waiver for UK nationals
Panama exempts British (UK ordinary) passport holders from tourist visas for short visits of up to 3 months.
High
/02
Confirmed by official UK and Panamanian sources
GOV.UK foreign travel advice and the Embassy of Panama both state no visa is required for stays up to 3 months by air or land.
High
/03
Not in Schengen area
Panama is in Central America; the Schengen 90/180 rule and ETIAS do not apply to entering Panama.
Medium
/04
Arrival method matters
Visa-free status applies to air and land; private (non-cruise) sea arrivals require a visa.
Low
/07 — On arrival

After you land

/01
Immigration
Keep your passport, visa or exemption proof, return ticket, and accommodation details ready for border inspection.
/02
Customs
Review the destination's customs rules before travel and declare restricted goods or large cash amounts when required.
/03
Connectivity
Check whether airport SIMs, eSIMs, or roaming are the best option for your route before arrival.
/08 — The history

Policy changelog

since 2024
2026-05-30
United Kingdom to Panama route verified
Confirmed visa-free entry for UK ordinary passport holders (up to 3 months) against GOV.UK travel advice and the Embassy of Panama; noted the electronic Panama Traveler Declaration and 6-month passport validity rule.
/09 — The questions

Frequently asked

Do UK citizens need a visa for Panama?
No. Holders of an ordinary UK passport can enter Panama visa-free for tourism for up to 3 months (commonly stated as 90 days) when arriving by air or land.
How long can I stay in Panama without a visa?+
How valid must my passport be?+
Do I need to fill in an online form before arriving?+
What proof do I need at the border?+
Is there a departure tax?+
/11 — Passport tools

Tools for the United Kingdom passport

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