United States passport → Panama

Panama visa for American citizens

Visa-free

180 days visa-free

American citizens can visit Panama without a visa for up to 180 days. Visa-free visitors usually get up to 90 days. Bring a passport valid at least 3 months, a booked exit from Panama and at least USD 500 (or a credit card).

Official details are shown in English.

Status
Visa-free
Max stay
180 days
Last checked
30 October 2026

What it means in practice

180 days is about six months. If you arrive on 1 November 2026, your last legal day is 29 April 2027, because the arrival day is day one. Use the stay calculator for your own dates.

That is long enough to rent a place for a season, but a visitor stay is not residence: it does not give you the right to work for a local employer.

How Panama counts your stay: Counted from the entry stamp. To start a new tourist stay you must be out of Panama for at least 30 days; short border runs can lead to refusal. Overstay fine: B/.50 per month or part of a month.

For United States passports: Resolution 22706: up to 180 days as a tourist.

Before you go

Official details are shown in English.

  • Booked exit from Panama — Before departure; Price of the ticket. Immigration asks for a confirmed reservation leaving Panama within your permitted stay. Official site
  • Proof of funds — Have it ready on arrival; At least B/.500 (USD 500), matching the length of stay; or a credit card. Minors under 18 do not need to show funds. Official site

At the border

Official details are shown in English.

  • Passport valid for at least 3 months
  • Confirmed exit reservation within the permitted stay
  • At least USD 500 or a credit card
  • Entry/exit card (Tarjeta de Ingreso y Egreso) provided by the carrier
  • Yellow fever vaccination certificate if arriving from a country with yellow fever risk

How to avoid overstaying

  • Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
  • Plan to leave a day or two early. With 180 days, book your exit before the last legal day so a cancelled flight doesn't push you over.
  • Extend before you run out. A tourist stay shorter than 90 days can be extended up to 90 days with approval of the Director General of the National Migration Service; apply before it expires. For longer stays, apply for a residence permit.
  • What overstaying costs. Overstay fine: B/.50 per month or part of a month.

Good to know

Official details are shown in English.

  • Minors leaving Panama with one parent or alone need a notarised travel authorisation and birth certificate; if a parent is abroad, the authorisation must be apostilled or certified by a Panamanian consulate.

Staying longer

Visa-free days are for visits. For months or years in Panama, these are the long-stay routes in Bordr's guide (checked against official sources):

Official details are shown in English.

Costs, income thresholds and how to apply are in the Bordr guide.

Questions

Do American citizens need a visa for Panama?

American citizens can visit Panama without a visa for up to 180 days.

How long can American citizens stay in Panama?

Up to 180 days, according to Bordr's data. Counted from the entry stamp. To start a new tourist stay you must be out of Panama for at least 30 days; short border runs can lead to refusal. Overstay fine: B/.50 per month or part of a month.

Can I extend my stay in Panama?

A tourist stay shorter than 90 days can be extended up to 90 days with approval of the Director General of the National Migration Service; apply before it expires. For longer stays, apply for a residence permit.

What do I need at the border in Panama?

Passport valid for at least 3 months; Confirmed exit reservation within the permitted stay; At least USD 500 or a credit card.

When was this checked?

Bordr last checked the entry rules for Panama against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.

Sources and last check

Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.

This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.

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