Entering Panama on a US passport: visitor stays and overstays

US citizens do not need a visa to visit Panama as tourists, and the entry requirements are short. The length of stay is where things get less tidy. For years Americans were told they could stay 180 days, and many guides still say so. Panama's own published resolutions tell a more complicated story, and the overstay fine is set out in plain figures by the immigration service. This guide sticks to what the official Panamanian and US sources actually say.

Who sets the rules

Entry and stay in Panama are controlled by the Servicio Nacional de Migración (SNM), the National Migration Service, under the Ministry of Public Security. The legal base is Decree Law 3 of February 22, 2008, which created the SNM, and Executive Decree 320 of 2008, which regulates it. On top of those, the SNM issues resolutions that adjust the rules, and it publishes them on its website by year.

What you need at the border

The SNM's frequently asked questions page lists the entry requirements for visitors:

1. An original passport or travel document with at least 3 months of validity.
2. Proof of financial means to support yourself for the stay you declare, never less than B/.500 (the balboa is at par with the US dollar). Children under 18 do not need to show funds.
3. A confirmed reservation to leave the country within the authorized period.
4. A visa only if your nationality requires one. US citizens do not.

Bank statements, a credit card statement or similar proof of funds, plus a printed or saved onward ticket, cover points 2 and 3.

How long can a US citizen stay?

This is the part to read carefully.

The base rule is in Article 16 of Decree Law 3 of 2008 and Article 16 of Executive Decree 320. Tourists may be admitted for a term of no more than 90 days, "without prejudice" to international agreements ratified by Panama and the principle of reciprocity. The government's Panamá Digital portal repeats the 90-day wording of the regulation.

Over time the SNM used resolutions to change that picture:

• Resolution 22068 of September 1, 2021 restored a tourist stay of no more than three months for foreign tourists from October 1, 2021.
• Resolution 22706 of September 10, 2021 exempted citizens of the United States and Canada from that limit and allowed them a 180-day tourist stay. This is the origin of the 180-day figure.
• Resolution 40546 of August 12, 2024 is listed by the SNM, in its 2024 decrees page and in the Ministry of Public Security's six-month report on the SNM, as having revoked the resolution that let Americans and Canadians stay 180 days as tourists.
• Resolution 41029 of August 19, 2024, published in the Gaceta Oficial on September 10, 2024, revoked Resolution 22068.

The SNM has not published a plain-language page that states the stay now granted to US citizens. Many travel guides still describe a 180-day tourist stay. Because the published record and common advice point different ways, the safe approach is simple:

• Look at the entry stamp or record you receive on arrival and treat that as your limit.
• Do not plan a long stay around 180 days without confirming the current rule with the SNM or the US Embassy in Panama before you travel.
• If you intend to live in Panama, apply for the residence category that fits you instead of relying on tourist stays.

Can a tourist stay be extended?

Panama's base law offers one clear route. Article 17 of Decree Law 3 of 2008 lets a person who entered as a tourist apply for a change of immigration category, and allows an extension of up to 60 additional days to finish the paperwork for that change, if the requirements are met.

The 2021 resolution that allowed people given fewer than three months to request an extension up to three months has itself been revoked, so do not count on a simple tourist extension. If you need more time, speak to the SNM, or to a Panamanian lawyer for a residence application, before your authorized stay ends.

What an overstay costs

The SNM publishes its fine rules on the same FAQ page. An overstay is charged per month or part of a month:

• B/.50 for each month, or fraction of a month, past the authorized stay.
• B/.100 for each month, or fraction of a month, for a person married to a Panamanian or with Panamanian children. In that case you bring a marriage or birth certificate carrying B/.3 in fiscal stamps.

So an overstay of a single day counts as one month, and an overstay of one month and one day counts as two.

If it is your first time paying, the SNM lists these requirements:

1. Take a ticket with the letter "B" at reception.
2. Two ID-size photos. Sleeveless tops, low necklines, dark glasses, caps and hats are not allowed unless you are already registered in the RUEX foreigner register.
3. A copy of your passport data page.
4. A copy of your last entry stamp, clearly visible.
5. The passport registration fee of B/.5.
6. The online foreigner registration form, filled in on the SNM website.

If you are already registered in the SNM system, the FAQ says you only need to present your passport and pay the fine. The FAQ also notes a 7 working day window linked to leaving the country after the fine is processed, so plan the payment close to your departure and keep the receipt.

Overstays that end in voluntary return

The FAQ describes a separate procedure, voluntary return, for foreigners who leave through the SNM's process rather than simply paying a fine and flying out. It requires a letter to the Director General, the passport and last entry stamp, RUEX registration, and a confirmed ticket five to seven working days ahead. The SNM states that people who leave this way face an entry ban of two to five years, except those married to Panamanians or with Panamanian children, who receive an internal alert instead of a ban.

If you have overstayed, read the forms you are given carefully and ask what each one means before you sign. Paying the fine and leaving is a very different outcome from a voluntary return with a ban.

Working on a tourist stay

Article 16 of Decree Law 3 describes a tourist as someone who comes for recreation and the activities set out in the regulations, with no intention of settling in Panama and with their own means of support. Taking a job in Panama does not fit that status. If you plan to work, you need a permit in a category that allows it.

A short checklist

• Passport valid at least 3 months beyond your arrival date.
• Proof of at least B/.500 in funds, more for a longer stay.
• Ticket out of Panama within the stay you expect.
• Check your entry stamp and note the date it gives you.
• Confirm the current stay length with the SNM or the US Embassy before planning anything long.
• If you overstay, budget B/.50 per month or part month, plus B/.5 for registration if this is your first fine.

Where to check before you travel

The SNM publishes its decrees and resolutions by year at migracion.gob.pa, and the FAQ page holds the entry and fine rules quoted here. The US Embassy in Panama City runs services for US citizens and the STEP alert program. If the two disagree on stay length, ask the SNM directly before you plan around a number.

Common questions

Do US citizens need a visa to visit Panama? No. US citizens enter Panama without a visa. They need a passport valid for at least 3 months, proof of at least B/.500 in funds and a reservation to leave within the authorized stay.

Can Americans still stay 180 days in Panama? Not with certainty. The 2021 resolution that gave US citizens 180 days is listed by Panama's migration service as revoked by Resolution 40546 of August 12, 2024, while many guides still mention 180 days. Treat your entry stamp as your limit and confirm with the SNM before planning a long stay.

How much is the overstay fine in Panama? B/.50 for each month or fraction of a month past your authorized stay, or B/.100 per month for people married to a Panamanian or with Panamanian children. First-time payers also pay B/.5 for passport registration.

Can I extend a tourist stay in Panama? Decree Law 3 of 2008 allows up to 60 extra days for a tourist who is applying for a change of immigration category. A general tourist extension is not something to count on.