Do British passport holders need a visa for Panama?
Covers 11 passports and 80 destinations. Rules older than 30 days are flagged for re-check.
How this tool works
We read the official notice for each pair and record the date. Nothing here is generated; a pair with no written check is not shown.
How we checkNo visa. British passport holders can visit Panama for up to 3 months if they arrive by land or air.
GOV.UK says you can visit Panama for up to 3 months without a visa if you arrive by land or air, and that you cannot normally extend your stay. Arriving on a private vessel other than a cruise ship needs a visa. The same page says to expect questions about your accommodation, a return or onward ticket and your funds.
Source: GOV.UK, Foreign travel advice (FCDO). Checked Oct 2, 2026See the source
- Maximum stay
- Up to 3 months
- You cannot normally extend your stay unless you apply to change your immigration status within the 3 months.
- Passport validity
- 6 months after you leave
- GOV.UK asks for an expiry date "at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave Panama" and one blank page. Panama's immigration service itself lists 3 months, so the UK figure is the safer one.
- Proof of funds
- USD 1,000 or a credit card
- You may need to "prove you have at least 1000 US dollars (or the same amount in other currencies) or a credit card".
- Onward ticket
- May be asked
- Show a return or onward ticket, particularly if you arrive by land from Costa Rica and are not a legal resident of Costa Rica.
- Yellow fever
- Certificate from risk countries
- A certificate is required if you are coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.