Shopping tourism in Panama extends far beyond touring shopping malls for globally recognized consumer brands at regional benchmark prices; our primary objective is enabling you to buy wholesale to supply your business with the most efficient dispatch and transit times to Latin America and the Caribbean. In Panama, you have direct access to the Colon Free Trade Zone, a duty-free commercial hub housing authorized master distributors of premier international brands as well as proprietary private labels.
What Is a Tourist Visa?
A tourist visa is an entry permit granted to foreign nationals to enter the Republic of Panama as non-residents for a designated period (not exceeding 90 days), required under national immigration policy. It requires prior approval from the National Immigration Service of Panama (Servicio Nacional de Migración) before travel.
How to Obtain the Shopping Tourist Visa?
Registered companies in the Panama Free Trade Zone provide a formal commercial letter of invitation, which you submit alongside mandatory immigration requirements established by the Panamanian Government. Applications are processed through the Panamanian consulate in your country of origin or legal representation based in Panama. Once approved by immigration authorities, notification is transmitted to the relevant Panamanian Consulate so the visa can be affixed to your passport, allowing you to travel to Panama for wholesale sourcing.
Requirements for the Shopping Tourist Visa
- Completed visa application form
- Original and complete copy of passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three (3) months
- Copy of national ID document or residence card from country of domicile
- Three (3) passport-sized photographs
- Copy of the most recent permit approved by Panamanian immigration authorities (if applicable)
- Letter of invitation issued by a registered user company of the Colon Free Zone
- Bank reference letter of the inviting Free Zone user company.
- Good Standing Certificate (Paz y Salvo) issued by the Colon Free Zone to the inviting company.
- Certificate of Operational Establishment in the Colon Free Zone issued to the inviting company.
- Proof of financial solvency for maintenance and living expenses during stay, which for this visa category must not be less than fifteen hundred balboas (B/.1,500.00 / USD)
- Payment of immigration processing fees of fifty balboas (B/.50.00) upon submission to the National Immigration Service
- Payment of Colon Free Zone administrative processing fees of twenty-five balboas (B/.25.00)
- Copy of Self-Employed Worker ID (Carné de Cuentapropista – applicable only to Cuban citizens)
- Copy of MSME Registry ID (Carné Mipymes – applicable only to Dominican Republic citizens)
Standard Tourist Visa Requirements
- Completed visa application form
- Original and complete copy of passport or travel document with a minimum validity of three (3) months
- Confirmed flight itinerary with round-trip reservation or onward travel ticket
- Copy of national ID document or residence card from country of domicile
- Three (3) passport-sized photographs
- Payment of immigration processing fees of fifty balboas (B/.50.00) upon submission to the National Immigration Service
- Proof of financial solvency for stay, which must not be less than five hundred balboas (B/.500.00 / USD), demonstrated through accepted banking options
- Documentation supporting occupational activity
- Copy of the most recent permit approved by Panamanian immigration authorities (if applicable)
- Confirmed hotel reservation (if applicable)
- Notarized Sworn Declaration of Responsibility from inviting party (if applicable), fulfilling legal sponsorship guidelines
- Inviting individuals/entities (excluding state bodies) must verify economic solvency through certified documentation
- Visa applications for minors must be submitted by parents or legally accredited guardians
- For minors: completed application form accompanied by authenticated birth certificates
- Employment certificate with latest pay stub or proof of independent professional registration
- Retirement or pension verification with recent payment voucher (if applicable)
- Bank references for commercial business owners
- Affidavit of support, relationship certificate, and proof of sponsor solvency for dependents
- Article 17-A: State institutions extending invitations must provide an official institutional letter of invitation
Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Panama?
Depending on your nationality, specific visa categories and requirements apply. We recommend verifying entry terms with the nearest Panamanian Consulate or authorized international carrier prior to travel.
List of Countries Requiring a Visa to Enter Panama
Latin America & The Caribbean
Authorized Visa: Cuba, Haiti, Suriname.
Stamped Visa: Dominican Republic.
Stamped Visa or Tourist Card: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, United States, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela.
Europe
Authorized Visa: Albania.
Asia
Authorized Visa: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, People’s Republic of China, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Laos, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Syria, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
Oceania
Stamped Visa: Fiji, Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Western Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu.
Stamped Visa or Tourist Card: Australia, New Zealand.
Africa
Authorized Visa: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sahrawi Republic, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia.
Stamped Visa: Angola, Botswana, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Comoros, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe, Seychelles, Eswatini (Swaziland), Togo, Zimbabwe.
List of Countries That Do NOT Require a Visa to Enter Panama
Latin America & The Caribbean
Visa Exemption: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay.
Europe:
Visa Exemption: Germany, Andorra, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Belgium, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, San Marino, Serbia, Montenegro, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, Vatican City.
Asia
Visa Exemption: Saudi Arabia, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Qatar, Republic of China (Taiwan), Republic of Korea (South Korea), Singapore, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam.
Types of Entry Visas for Traveling to Panama
Authorized Visas (VA-1):
Required for nationals of countries that, due to immigration policy regulations, require prior approval directly from the National Immigration Service in Panama. Applications can be initiated through the Panamanian Consulate in their home country or through a legal sponsor residing in Panama. Once approved, notification is transmitted to the relevant consulate to stamp the visa. Applicants must specify whether they are seeking entry as tourists or immigrants.
Stamped Visas (VE-2):
This category does not require prior approval from the central Immigration Directorate in Panama, but must be requested before a Panamanian consular officer abroad. Consular officers assess documentation, determine authorized duration, and stamp the visa directly into the traveler’s passport.
Shopping Tourist Visa:
Operates under the Tourist Visa classification and is designed specifically for foreign non-resident merchants and entrepreneurs visiting the Colon Free Zone for commercial procurement, pursuant to Article 16 (Item 1) of Decree Law 3 of 2008.
Tourist Card (TT-3):
Eligible travelers can purchase a tourist card (B/. 5.00) directly from commercial airlines or upon arrival at immigration checkpoints, presenting it alongside their valid passport without filing an advance consular visa application.
Visa Waiver Agreements (ASV-4):
Applies to countries that have ratified bilateral reciprocal visa abolition treaties with Panama.
Visa Exemption (EV-5):
Unilateral visa exemptions established by the State of Panama for designated nationalities.
Where to Stay Near the Free Zone?
Save money on your hotel booking! Through our partnership with booking.com, visitors access exclusive corporate rates on hotels near the Colon Free Zone and in Panama City. The platform offers diverse accommodation styles—from full-service hotels to corporate apartments—equipped with transparent pricing, location maps, verified reviews, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Step-by-Step Shopping Tourist Visa Application Process
Applying for your visa is straightforward when submitting complete documentation. Standard processing typically takes up to 10 business days.