GoPanama Visa Requirements

Visa Entry

According to the agreement between the governments of China and Pakistan, holders of diplomatic, official, and public service ordinary passports are exempt from visa requirements. Chinese personnel are allowed to enter the country without a visa for a maximum of 30 days at a time. If they need to stay for a longer period of time, with the approval of the Pakistani immigration bureau, the maximum stay is 90 days. On May 2, 2019, the Agreement between the Government of the People's Republic of China and the Government of the Republic of Panama on Arrangements for the Issuance of Multiple Valid Visa for Ordinary Passport Holders of Each Other came into effect. Ordinary passport holders from both countries can obtain a five-year multiple entry visa for business, tourism, and family visits to each other's countries, with each stay not exceeding 90 days. Chinese citizens traveling to Panama for personal purposes need to apply for a visa from the Consular Department of the Panamanian Embassy in China, which involves multiple procedures and a longer processing time. If you hold a valid visa issued by the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the European Union, or a residence card from the aforementioned countries and regions, you can enter Panama visa free for a maximum stay of 30 days. However, it should be noted that in practice, individuals holding visas from the aforementioned countries still face the risk of being denied entry to Pakistan. It is recommended that Chinese citizens planning to come to Panama give priority to applying for the corresponding types of Panamanian visas to increase their chances of being granted entry.

According to Panama's regulations, passengers who take connecting flights during the transit period in Panama and do not need to check in their luggage again without leaving the airport can transfer for 12 hours without a visa at the Panama airport. If the relevant conditions are not met, passengers need to apply for visas in advance and cannot apply for landing visas.

For specific matters, please consult the Consular Department of the Embassy of Panama in China at 010-65325981 (from China) or 0086-10-65325981 (from abroad).

The immigration department of Pakistan sometimes has strict screening for some passengers, and the screened passengers need to wait for a long time for verification before being released. When there is no problem with passport and visa, but there are doubts about the purpose of visiting Pakistan, the Pakistani immigration department sometimes adopts the practice of releasing the passport while temporarily withholding it, issuing a green entry card to the person concerned, and requiring them to go to the immigration headquarters to collect the passport within the prescribed time.

Customs epidemic prevention and control

Panama Customs stipulates that each passenger is allowed to carry tax-free items with a value not exceeding $2000, and if the value exceeds $2000, customs duties must be paid. Each passenger is allowed to carry cash or equivalent securities of less than $10000 with them, otherwise they must declare and indicate the source. Failure to declare or false declaration may result in confiscation and other severe penalties. Ba Customs is extremely strict in inspecting animals and plants, and be careful not to bring any food. When entering the country, passengers need to fill out the "Passenger Carrying Item Declaration Form", which includes not only personal information but also the planned length of stay in Pakistan, residential address and contact information in Pakistan, travel purpose, and whether they carry fruits, plants, food, meat, live animals, etc.

Panama belongs to the yellow fever region, and generally does not require a valid yellow fever vaccination certificate when entering Panama airports. However, if transferring to other countries through Panama, according to the policy requirements of the destination country, the original valid yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required to be presented when checking in at Panama airports.

Individuals from or transiting through countries or regions with yellow fever can consult relevant information with local or domestic entry-exit inspection and quarantine agencies and their international travel health centers, or log in to the website of the State Administration for Market Regulation（ http://www.samr.saic.cn ）Search for relevant information in the health quarantine column.

It is recommended that travelers to Pakistan thoroughly understand and strictly comply with relevant entry laws and regulations before traveling to avoid inconvenience to themselves.

Residency and Naturalization

According to the laws of Pakistan, after obtaining the legal residence status in Panama, foreigners need to stay in Pakistan for more than five consecutive years before they can apply for Panamanian citizenship. In certain circumstances, such as marrying a Panamanian citizen or having children in Panama, one can generally apply for citizenship after living continuously for at least 3 years. When naturalizing, a test on general knowledge of Panama is required, and only those who pass the test are eligible.

Panama recognizes dual citizenship. Anyone born in Panama can become a citizen of Panama. Those who meet the relevant conditions can become "Panamanian citizens born abroad". To apply for residency or citizenship, it is generally necessary to submit the application through a lawyer.

In 2018, the Panamanian government issued preferential laws for Chinese citizens applying for long-term residence, and those who meet the conditions can apply for relevant residence permits. Specific application requirements and procedures can be consulted with the Panama Immigration Department.

Panama's risk level is blue (low risk)

public security

The majority of social crimes in Pakistan are robbery and drug trafficking, while malignant crimes such as kidnapping are on the rise. Due to language difficulties and fear of retaliation among some Chinese citizens after the case occurred, they were unwilling to report to the police and cooperate, resulting in criminals going unpunished. Therefore, incidents of robbery of overseas Chinese have occurred from time to time. It is recommended that everyone actively protect their legitimate rights and interests through legal means.

At the same time, it is recommended to reduce walking alone at night and preferably travel in groups or by reliable transportation and self driving.

natural disaster

There is a dormant volcano within the territory of Pakistan. The last strong earthquake occurred in the 1880s, with small-scale earthquakes occurring along the border with Colombia and Costa Rica. The rainy season is from April to December every year, and floods often occur in inland provinces.

It is recommended to learn about the local weather conditions in advance when traveling to neighboring provinces.

FDA

The overall hygiene situation of Ba's food is good. But due to the hot weather, be careful of food spoilage.

Urgent Help

Police: 104. Emergency: 911. Fire alarm: 103.

Insurance hotline: 00507-66779301 (for urgent consular protection matters only)

air traffic

The air transportation industry in Pakistan is well-developed, with over 240 airports and aprons of various sizes across the country. The Capital Tocumen International Airport is the largest airport in Central America, operated by over 30 airlines, providing convenient air connections with various countries in the Americas.

In 2018, Air China launched direct flights from Beijing to Houston and Panama City. Affected by the COVID-19, the route was temporarily grounded in February 2020, and the missed approach time was not determined.

The taxi fare from the airport to the city center is about $25 to $30, which can be shared with others and the cost can be shared.

land transport

There are 11384.41 kilometers of highways in Pakistan, and buses are mainly used as public transportation between cities and towns. The railway section only runs freight and tourist trains from Panama City to Cologne City. The streets in the urban area are narrow and mostly single lane, with serious traffic congestion during commuting hours on important sections. Drive the vehicle to the right. Local people drive recklessly at red lights, change lanes arbitrarily, and do not turn on direction lights, and accidents occur from time to time. Be particularly careful when driving, especially when taxis and buses are running amok.

water communication

Due to the convenient location of the canal, Ba has become a transportation hub between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, as well as a transit center in Central and South America. The maritime industry is one of the economic lifelines of the country. The Pakistani government has also started developing cruise tourism to increase tourism revenue. But locals use waterway transportation less frequently for daily travel.

Urban transportation

There are few bus trips, the service quality is average, and there are many pickpockets on the bus. When taking the bus, be careful of your belongings. There is a subway line in Bacheng, and there are taxis in the city area, but the condition of the cars is poor and there is no meter. The price needs to be negotiated in advance, and there are often irregular charges and parking. Occasionally, taxi drivers carry passengers to the outskirts for robbery or even murder. It is recommended to only ride in the city center. In addition, Panama City has Uber ride hailing services.

major city

1、 Panama City. The capital of Panama, the largest city in the country, and also the capital of Panama Province.

2、 Cologne city. The second largest city in Panama, the capital of Cologne Province, and the location of the Cologne Free Trade Zone.

3、 David City. The capital of Chiriqui Province, a major agricultural province, and the largest city in western Panama.

4、 San Diego City. The capital of Veraguas Province and the largest city in central China.

Commodity prices

The locally produced beef, seafood, tropical fruits, and other products in Panama have good quality and moderate prices. But the manufacturing industry is underdeveloped, the market is dominated by imported goods, and the overall price level is relatively high.

Panama circulates the US dollar, and the local currency Balboa only issues minor currency, which is equivalent to the US dollar. Shopping in Panama can be paid with cash or credit card, with a 7% value-added tax on goods. It is recommended to use credit cards only in large shopping centers and legitimate merchants to prevent theft.

Panama City is a gathering place for banks from various countries, and financial services such as foreign exchange settlement, credit cards, etc. are quite comprehensive. In addition to banks, there are also large, small, niche, and multiple exchange points. Bank of China has a branch in Pakistan. The UnionPay card has entered Panama and can be used by merchants with the UnionPay logo.

Insurance Medical

Common diseases include malaria, hemorrhagic dengue fever, conjunctivitis and other infectious diseases, which require early vaccination and mosquito prevention measures. Due to the hot climate, adults are prone to skin diseases such as eczema.

The hygiene and medical standards in Panama City are still acceptable. Except for emergency treatment, general appointments are required, waiting times are long, and diagnosis and treatment costs are high. The registration fee for private hospitals is 40-80 US dollars. Generally, hospitals do not sell drugs and must purchase them at pharmacies with a diagnosis issued by a doctor. Those who have formal jobs in the local area can join the social insurance system of Pakistan, which has a large preferential space. Foreigners are not covered by the social insurance system.

Customs taboos

85% of Panamanian residents practice Catholicism, 4.7% practice Protestantism, 4.5% practice Islam, and approximately 3000 Jews practice Judaism. Overseas Chinese respectively believe in Buddhism and Christianity.

Drinking alcohol is prohibited on Martyrs' Day (January 9th), Easter (April), and Day of the Dead (November 2nd) every year. Red meat is also prohibited during Easter.

It is not advisable to make loud noises in public places. Dress neatly. Do not sell tobacco and alcohol to minors. Do not eat dog meat and other wild animals.

Communications Power

The Panama power socket is a two-phase flat type with a voltage of 110 volts.

Mobile phones can use GSM 850, and Chinese phones need to support this frequency band and have the number enabled global roaming function in order to use it in Pakistan. Ba Communication is relatively developed. Buying a $5 phone card can make 100 minutes of domestic calls, and you can also chat online for free through the internet. The monthly cost for a 2-megapixel bandwidth is about $20.

contact information