The Panamanian government has published a new standard informing about the transit visa for Cuban nationals.
Executive Decree No. 104 of June 28, 2023 provides that “the State may continue to take care of the situation of Cubans who need to travel to Cuba or other countries via Panama.”
Also, those who are permanent residents and have visas stamped in their passports from “Panama-recognized countries of high standards”, or are holders of entry visas for the final destination country, and even those who have proven work permits in the destination country “.
In this way, the validity of Executive Decree No. 162 of December 19, 2022, which establishes the visa for passengers or crew members in transit as a requirement for citizens of Cuban nationality traveling in transit, is extended until December 31, 2023. Transit through the Republic of Panama.
This decree, modified by a later decree of March 2023, eliminates the transit visa requirement for Cubans who:
- They travel to Cuba.
- Hold a valid Panama tourist or resident visa.
- You must have a current resident visa or a multiple-entry visa previously used in the territory of the granting state, valid for less than six months at the time of transit and duly issued by Canada, the United States, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the United Kingdom Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Singapore and all countries that make up the European Union.
- You have your permanent residence in third countries and are traveling back there.
- You have a valid entry visa of the final destination country.
- Show that they have an employment contract in their destination country, bearing the registration stamps of the competent authority in that country and duly apostille or legalized.
Article 3 of the same decree was also worded as follows:
“The visa must be applied for in person by the prospective applicant at the Panamanian consulate of the country they are in or through a legal representative at the headquarters of the National Immigration Service. It must be requested at least thirty working days before the travel date.
