New Entry Requirements to Panama (updated)

New entry requirements to Panama from August 30, 2021

1. Travelers with a fully vaccinated card (14 days after the last dose) will not be required to present a COVID-19 test.
2. Travelers who have not completed their vaccination schedule:
   1. Coming from low-risk countries:   Must present a negative COVID-19 test or take one at the point of entry.
   2. Coming from high-risk countries:   They must present a negative COVID-19 test or take one at the point of entry and comply with a 72-hour quarantine.
      • Residents and Nationals: At your home.
      • Tourists: In authorized hotel.

National, resident or foreign passengers under 12 years of age will be exempt from any type of COVID-19 test and 72-hour preventive quarantine if their parents, guardians or caregivers meet the requirements established according to the level of epidemiological risk of the country of origin.

Panama entry requirements as of July 23, 2021

Pursuant to Executive Decree No. 804 of July 22, 2021, starting at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, July 23, 2021, any person entering Panama by air, land, or sea, using commercial or private means, must present, prior to boarding at the airline, port of embarkation, or company providing transportation, the Digital Health Affidavit, duly registered physically and/or digitally on the website www.panamadigital.gob.pa , which includes a COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to leaving the country of origin.

FROM HIGH RISK COUNTRIES

Any national, resident or foreign person without immigration process coming from or who has stayed or transited through countries identified as high epidemiological risk, in the last 15 days, will be exempt from the three (3) day quarantine and the molecular test upon entry into the national territory, provided that they have registered, physically and/or digitally, the following documents:

1. Negative COVID-19 test result (PCR or antigen), valid up to 72 hours, performed by a certified laboratory, or performed at your expense, upon entering the air, sea or land port of entry.
2. Card or digital certification of a complete immunization schedule with vaccines endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA), equal to or greater than fourteen (14) days after the application of your last dose.

FROM COUNTRIES THAT ARE NOT HIGH RISK

Any person coming from countries that are not at high epidemiological risk, whether or not they have a vaccination card or an incomplete immunization schedule less than 14 days after the application of their last dose, who comply with the negative result of the COVID-19 test (PCR or antigen), up to 72 hours valid, carried out by a certified laboratory, or carried out at their cost upon entering the air, sea or land port of entry, with a negative result, will be exempt from the three (3) day preventive quarantine and the molecular test.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSENGERS WITHOUT A VACCINATION CARD

Toda persona proveniente o que haya permanecido o transitado por países identificados como de alto riesgo epidemiológico, en los últimos 15 días, que no cuente con tarjeta de vacunación o esquema incompleto de inmunización menor a catorce (14) días posteriores a la aplicación de su última dosis, deberá realizarse la prueba COVID-19 en el puerto de entrada y cumplir con cuarentena preventiva de 72 horas en su residencia si es nacional o residente, según criterio de la autoridad sanitaria; y si es extranjero sin proceso migratorio en el país, deberá ingresar a un hotel de vigilancia para viajeros no COVID-19 a costo del Estado, o bien, a un establecimiento hotelero, que haya sido destinado para este propósito por la autoridad sanitaria, cuyo costo será asumido por el viajero.

A partir del 9 de agosto de 2021, toda persona sin proceso migratorio en el país, proveniente o que haya permanecido o transitado por países de alto riesgo epidemiológico, en los últimos 15 días, que no cuente con tarjeta de vacunación o esquema incompleto de inmunización menor a catorce (14) días posteriores a la aplicación de su última dosis, deberá realizarse la prueba COVID-19 en el puerto de entrada y cumplir la cuarentena preventiva de 72 horas , en un establecimiento hotelero que haya sido autorizado por la autoridad sanitaria para este propósito, cuyo costo será asumido por el viajero.

Resultado Positivo

Si el resultado de la prueba es positivo debe cumplir con un aislamiento por catorce (14) días, los nacionales o residentes en sus residencias, según determine la autoridad sanitaria, y los extranjeros no residentes en hotel hospital para viajeros COVID-19, cuyo costo será asumido por el viajero, y efectuarse una prueba PCR-RT para tipificación y análisis efectuada por el Instituto Conmemorativo Gorgas de Estudios de la Salud (ICGES).

Las personas que deban cumplir cuarentena preventiva de 72 horas en establecimientos hoteleros autorizados por la autoridad sanitaria para este propósito, deberán presentar previo a su abordaje en la aerolínea, el puerto de embarque o la empresa que efectúa el transporte, su reserva completa para cumplir con esta medida.

Segunda prueba de COVID-19

Toda persona sin tarjeta de vacunación deberá repetir la prueba de antígeno en un laboratorio validado por el ICGES. De ser negativo el resultado, finalizará la cuarentena y, en caso de ser positivo, la persona deberá cumplir aislamiento de catorce (14) días, los nacionales o residentes en sus residencias, según determine la autoridad sanitaria, y los extranjeros no residentes en hotel hospital para viajeros COVID-19, cuyo costo será asumido por el viajero, y efectuarse una prueba PCR-RT para tipificación y análisis efectuada por el ICGES.

EXCEPCIONES

The following are exempt from the provisions contained in this Executive Decree: seafarers, technical crews, auxiliary crews, ship or boat mechanics, humanitarian personnel, as well as drivers and assistants in international land cargo transportation, who must present, every fifteen (15) days, prior to their registration with the national migration service, their PCR or antigen swab test with a negative result or not detected by SARS-Co V-2 (COVID 19) with a maximum validity of 72 hours prior to their entry into the country.

Surveillance Hotels authorized by the government to carry out the 3-day quarantine:

1. Westin Panama
2. Westin Playa Bonita
3. Hotel Bristol
4. Wyndham Panama Albrook Mall
5. Hotel Sortis
6. Hotel Santa Maria

*To date, Panama considers India, the United Kingdom, South Africa and South American countries to be high-risk countries.