Travel Summary
- Travel to the Darien province should be conducted only with an organised group, and to recognised tourist destinations protected by the Panamanian police. See the Local Travel section of this advice for more details.
- There is a possibility of earthquakes in Panama. The last major one struck the north of Panama on 4 July 2009, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. There was no major damage caused.
- If you transit the United States on your way to or from Panama, you must have a machine-readable passport or a valid US non-immigrant visa. Additionally if you travel to or via the USA you need to apply for travel authorisation from the US authorities prior to travel. (see below for further details).
- There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
- In 2008 14,350 British nationals visited Panama (Source: Panamanian Immigration Department). Most visits are trouble-free. 7 British nationals required consular assistance in Panama in the period 01 April 2008 – 31 March 2009 for the following types of incident; deaths (1 cases); hospitalisations (1 cases); and arrests, for a variety of offences (4 cases). During this period assistance was also requested with regard to lost or stolen passports (14 cases).
- We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You are advised to check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. See the General (Insurance) section of this advice and Travel Insurance for more details.
Safety and security
Terrorism
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
There is a low threat from terrorism. But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be in public areas, including those frequented by expatriates and foreign travellers.
For more general information see Terrorism Abroad.
Crime
There is a risk of street crime. In the last year, the official crime statistics have shown increased levels of robberies, murders and assault. The majority of these crimes are amongst members of rival drug gangs. Nevertheless, travellers should take sensible precautions.
You should not carry large sums of cash or valuables in public. Deposit them in hotel safes wherever possible. Be vigilant when using ATM cash machines installed in public places, usually outside banks. There have been cases of people being attacked after drawing cash from these machines. There have also been instances of devices being inserted in ATMs, which allow cards to be cloned. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times.
You should not carry large sums of cash or valuables in public. Deposit them in hotel safes wherever possible. Be vigilant when using ATM cash machines installed in public places, usually outside banks. There have been cases of people being attacked after drawing cash from these machines. There have also been instances of devices being inserted in ATMs, which allow cards to be cloned. Ensure that your personal belongings, passports and other travel documents are secure at all times.
Beware of pickpockets in busy thoroughfares, on buses and at bus stations. Be alert for muggers particularly in the main shopping areas especially Via Espana and Avenida Central, the area of Caledonia, as well as in the old town (Casco Viejo) in Panama City, and in the old Panama ruins (Panama Viejo), the Madden Dam area - off the main Panama to Colon road, and the city of Colon, where unemployment, street crime and drug usage are high.
Occasional armed hold-ups occur in restaurants in Panama City, Colon and elsewhere. There have also been recent attacks on individuals at gunpoint in broad daylight. Local police report that other high crime areas around Panama City are San Miguelito, Rio Abajo, El Chorillo, Ancon, Curundu, Vera Cruz Beach, and Parque Soberania.
You should use registered taxi companies, and whenever possible call a taxi company rather than hail a taxi in the street. It is advisable to travel accompanied by someone you know and not to sit in the front seat of a taxi. Ensure that you do not get in a taxi with unknown passengers and instruct the driver not to stop and pick up any additional passengers.
Burglaries have been committed by organised criminal gangs. It is reported that the perpetrators use ruses, such as door-to-door sales and household cleaning suppliers, to gain the trust of the victims and gain access to their homes. The criminals then gather information about the victim’s movements and routines. In some instances, the criminals are suspected of using various symbols or drawings marked on perimeter walls or fences to communicate with other gang members. An organised robbery with several other gang members is then committed. You are advised to be cautious if approached by visitors seeking access to your property. If you are in doubt about the motives of any visitors, you should alert the police.
For more general information see Victims of Crime Abroad.
Political Situation
Political demonstrations occur occasionally in Panama City, mainly around Panama University, and the main road known as the Transisthmica. Demonstrations can be more of an annoyance than a major cause for concern, as demonstrators may block roads and cause inconvenience through major triffic jams. Some demonstrations by construction workers and students have turned violent in the past. You should monitor media and avoid all demonstratioins, and try to leave the area immediately should you get caught up in one.
Local Travel
If travelling to the Darien province, you should do so by air, and only with an organised group to recognised tourist destinations protected by the Panamanian Police. Please contact the British Embassy in Panama City for details. You should not stray from the immediate vicinity of the protected resort area. Expedition companies based in Panama also sometimes organise expeditions to Darien. Check carefully that police protection is included.
The border area with Colombia is particularly dangerous (beyond a line drawn from Punta Carreto in the Comarca de San Blas on the Atlantic coast, through Yaviza in the eastern Darien province, to Punta Pina on the Pacific coast). Political and criminal violence in Colombia can spill over into Panama. There are regular incursions by Colombian guerrillas and other armed groups. Foreign nationals and Panamanian citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, kidnapping and murder in this area.
Road Travel
Standards of driving and traffic management are both poor. Panama has a reasonably good road system, except in Darien Province where there is hardly any paved road at all. Road maintenance throughout the country is variable and drivers need to take precautions to avoid unseen holes or unfinished repairs. Most of the central Inter-American Highway is still only one lane each way and it is not well lit at night. There is often night construction on this road with few signs alerting drivers to such construction. Drink driving is not strictly enforced and road accidents are a frequent occurrence.
By law seat belts must be worn by drivers and front seat passengers, and children under five must travel in the back in fitted child seats. You are warned that motor insurance is not compulsory in Panama, even for third party damage and injury, and many Panamanians drive without it. If you are involved in a car accident, Panamanian law requires that you should wait with the vehicle until the traffic police (Transito) arrive.
Buses and taxis are generally in poor condition; there have been numerous accidents involving both due to poor maintenance and driving standards.
Buses and taxis are generally in poor condition; there have been numerous accidents involving both due to poor maintenance and driving standards.
For more general information see Driving Abroad.
Sea Travel
You should be extremely careful when wading or swimming on Pacific and Caribbean beaches as in some locations there are strong currents and undertows. These beaches seldom have signs warning of the dangers. Drownings occur every year. Do not bathe in the Bay of Panama. It is polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste.
For more general information see River and Sea Safety.
Local laws and customs
Do not become involved with drugs of any kind or in any way. Possession of even very small quantities can lead to heavy terms of imprisonment (up to 15 years). The judicial process is slow and conditions in Panamanian prisons are harsh and not comparable to those in the UK. You must be aware that simply being in the company of someone who is using drugs is sufficient grounds for arrest. From the time of arrest, it can take upwards of 12-24 months before you even appear before a judge.
For more general information for different types of travellers see Your Trip.
Entry requirements
Visas
As a British national you do not require a visa to visit Panama but you are required, on arrival, to have a return or onward ticket and have the equivalent of US$500 or a credit card. An initial stay of 90 days is granted upon entry. Extensions are not normally granted unless the visitor applies to change their immigration status within the 90 days. (i.e. for business purposes, marriage etc). For further information on entry requirements, you are advised to check with the Embassy of the Republic of Panama in London.
When transiting the Panama Canal, if you disembark the ship your passport will be stamped by the immigration authorities. You do not require a visa unless staying for more than 90 days. Immigration officials do not board transiting cruise ships to check passports.
When transiting the Panama Canal, if you disembark the ship your passport will be stamped by the immigration authorities. You do not require a visa unless staying for more than 90 days. Immigration officials do not board transiting cruise ships to check passports.
Passport validity
Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the date of your expected departure from the country and that it has a plentiful supply of unused pages.
Yellow Fever
A certificate of Yellow Fever vaccination is not required for entry to Panama.
Travelling with children
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries required documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country. For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Panamanian Embassy in London.
Health
Panama City has some good private hospitals and clinics but medical facilities outside the capital are limited.
Malaria and dengue fever are common to parts of Panama, including in some outlying areas of Panama City. Dengue fever can occur throughout the year, andthere is no vaccine or treatment. You should take normal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in the provinces of Darien, San Blas, or east Panama. This does not include Panama City and the Canal Zone. Visitors should seek specialist advice about the need to receive Yellow Fever vaccine if travelling to these areas. Travellers planning to visit these provinces should obtain a yellow fever vaccine ten days prior to travel.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 19,000 adults aged 15 or over in Panama were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.0% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV/AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Panama and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. You should take all precautions to avoid mosquito bites at all times of the day or night. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel For more general information on how to do this see or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
Malaria and dengue fever are common to parts of Panama, including in some outlying areas of Panama City. Dengue fever can occur throughout the year, andthere is no vaccine or treatment. You should take normal precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in the provinces of Darien, San Blas, or east Panama. This does not include Panama City and the Canal Zone. Visitors should seek specialist advice about the need to receive Yellow Fever vaccine if travelling to these areas. Travellers planning to visit these provinces should obtain a yellow fever vaccine ten days prior to travel.
In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 19,000 adults aged 15 or over in Panama were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.0% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%. You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV/AIDS.
You should seek medical advice before travelling to Panama and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. You should take all precautions to avoid mosquito bites at all times of the day or night. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel For more general information on how to do this see or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.
A (H1N1) - Swine Flu
There have been confirmed human cases of the Influenza A (H1N1) virus (Swine Flu) in Panama, including a number of deaths. You can check for updates on the number of cases and their locations through the World Health Organisation (WHO) (whose Pandemic Threat Alert Phase has been raised to Level 6). The WHO website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html has further details. A dedicated Swine Flu page can be found on the FCO website. Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/index.htm.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
For more general health information see Travel Health.
Natural disasters
There is a possibility of earthquakes in Panama. The last major one struck the north of Panama on 4 July 2009, measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale. There was no major damage caused. Prior to this, there was an earthquake near to the border between Panama and Costa Rica on 19 November 2008, which also measured 6.3 on the Richter scale. In December 2003, there was a tremor in the same area measuring 6.5. Neither of these caused any major damage.
During the rainy season (April to December) occasional flooding and land slides occur in rural areas and some city streets become temporarily impassable due to flooding. October and November normally have the heaviest months of rainfall. You should monitor regional weather forecasts and take local advice, and plan accordingly.
General
Insurance
We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake. For more general information see Travel Insurance.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.
Registration
Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency. More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.
Passports
From 2 November 2009 applications for British passports should be sent to the UK Passport Service for the Americas & Caribbean in the British Embassy, Washington. Processing may take up to 15 working days.
From early 2010, the British Embassy in Panama will continue to issue Emergency Travel Documents for people who need to travel urgently. We regret that this facility is not currently available for technical reasons. When these documents are issued applicants are responsible for gaining any relevant entry visas or residency stamps for their onward journeys.
Trips via the US
Since many trips to Panama are made via the United States, it is important to note that all passport holders who wish to enter the US or transit the US to onward destinations under the Visa Waiver Programme (see entry requirements in the travel advice for United States) must present an individual machine-readable passport. All travellers need to apply online to the US authorities a minimum of 48 hours before travel, whether if travelling to or via the USA. In the event of losing your standard passport, and you need to apply for an emergency passport, you will need to re-register with the US authorities prior to travel. If you do not have a machine-readable passport you must obtain a non-immigrant visa from the nearest US Embassy prior to travel (see also above for British passports). For further details, in particular concerning children travelling on a parent's passport, please contact the US Embassy in London.
Airport tax
A US$20 airport tax (payable only in cash) is charged upon departure but this is sometimes included in the airline ticket fare. You should check with your carrier.
Money
Ensure you have enough money for your stay and return. Bank transfers are difficult, expensive and can take several days, although Western Union offers a quicker service. Foreign cheques cannot be cashed in Panama. Travellers cheques are difficult to exchange and rates of commission are very high, so these are best avoided.
ATM machines are widely available in banks, shopping malls, drive-thru’s etc, and they accept most major British credit and debit cards. The daily withdrawal limit varies between banks, as does the commission or fees charged for its use.
Credit/debit cards are also widely used for payment in establishments. Many restaurants, hotels and shops will only accept US$20 notes or require identification for use of larger value notes because of problems with counterfeit $50 and $100 notes.
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