COVID-19 Precautionary Measures in Panama (13 April Update)

Can a resident enter the country?

• Yes

• Residents are allowed to enter.

Can a foreigner enter the country?

• Yes

• Foreigners are allowed to enter.

• People who have stayed or passed through South Africa or the United Kingdom in the last 20 days are prohibited from entering.

Is transit allowed through the country?

• Yes

• Transit through Panama is allowed. There is no requirement for a COVID-19 PCR test certificate.

Is a test required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Any travellers without a negative PCR or antigen test certificate issued no more than 48 hours before arrival must undergo a rapid test at their own expense prior to the airport migration registration.

• All incoming passengers arriving from South America are subject to an additional mandatory COVID-19 test upon arrival at Tocumen International Airport before customs at their own expense.

Test certificate allowed?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Test certificates issued outside of Panama must be issued in Spanish or English to be considered valid.

Test certificate required?

• Yes

• All arrivals are required to have a negative COVID-19 PCR test certificate issued within 48 hours prior to travel.

Is quarantine required on arrival?

• No, with exceptions

• Travellers who provide a negative COVID-19 test certificate issued either before or upon arrival, do not need to quarantine.

• Those without valid certificates will be tested on arrival. If the test result is positive, the Panamanian government will facilitate a hotel stay at no cost to the traveller for a mandatory 14-day quarantine.

• All incoming passengers arriving from South America are required to take a test upon arrival. Passengers with a positive result will be placed under a 14-day quarantine. Travellers with a negative result will be placed under a 5-day quarantine in a hotel designated by the Ministry of Health free of charge. At the end of the 5-day period, another test will be taken. If the result is negative, the quarantine period will be over, and for a positive result, the passenger will be placed under a 14-day quarantine.

Insurance required?

• No

• Health insurance is not required for entry but is highly recommended.

Recommended Border App

• No

• Use of “Protégete con Salud” application is optional for contact tracing.

Airline Restrictions

• Minimal

• Flight operations resumed at Tocumen International Airport.

Border Restrictions

• Moderate

• Borders are open.

Curfew Restrictions

• Significant

• The curfew hours will be from 23:00 until 04:00 (local time).

• In the district of Changuinola in Bocas del Toro, a weekend lockdown is in effect from 21:00 on Friday until 04:00 on Monday.

Social Distancing Restrictions

• Significant

• All kinds of mass gatherings or group walks are prohibited. Business meetings are allowed up to a maximum of 25 people.

Internal Travel Restrictions

• Minimal

• Public transportation is operating, and masks are required.

• Internal travel is restricted. Expect checkpoints in strategic locations such as Chepo; El Lago (Capira); La Chorrera; Divisa in Central Provinces; La Villa in Los Santos; Chagres in Colón and Viguí in Veraguas.

Non-essential shops open?

• Yes, with exceptions

• Non-essential services/shops are open.

• Retail stores and administrative and general services are open. Markets, supermarkets, drug stores, and gas stations are open.

Accommodations open?

• Yes

• Hotels, motels, and rural hostels are open.

Restaurants open?

• Yes

• Restaurants are allowed to open and can operate with a reservation system and social distancing norms.

Bars and cafes open?

• No

• Bars are closed.

Beaches and tourism sites open?

• No

• Beaches will be open until 18:00 (local time).

Museums and heritage sites open?

• No

• Museums and heritage sites are closed.

Personal care services open?

• Yes

• Barbershops and beauty parlours are allowed to reopen.

Places of worship open?

• Yes

• Religious sites and places of worship are open.

Events allowed?

• No

• Festivals, private parties or shows, sporting events, and public spaces and venues are banned.

Masks required in public?

• Yes

• Face coverings are mandatory in public places.

Other Restrictions

• In Panama and Panama Oeste, carwashes, tailor shops, shoe repair shops, and non-essential cultural industries (excluding movie theatres), massage parlours, gyms, spas, fishing centres, casinos, movie theatres, and sports fields are allowed to operate.

• Economic sectors (construction industries and related activities) are open, including in the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area, Colon Free Zone and free zones, private marinas, and sport fishing.

• Universities and schools are closed for in-person classes nationwide until further notice.

The COVID-19 epidemic is constantly changing worldwide. This information is subject to change as the situation evolves. Travel and border restrictions may change with little or no notice. Check with your airline, booking agent, or country's embassy for information on your specific travel plans.