Member Article

In this Informative Guide you will find important information about the following: tourist stays, visas and residence permits, work permits, traveling, and mobility inside the country including curfews, circulation permits (Salvoconductos), and driver’s licenses.

Tourist stays

Panamanian authorities have informed that tourist who have expired stays from 13 March 2020, as a consequence of the Covid-19, will not be fined. And they will be able to circulate.

Residence permits

By Resolution No. 6518 of 1 April 2020, the validity of residence permits that expire from 13 March 2020 is extended until 30 April 2020.

This measure applies for:

• Temporary ID cards issued for 6 months
• Provisional Residence ID cards
• Non-resident Visas ID cards
• Judicial Stay ID cards
• Immigration Regulatization (Crisol de Razas) ID cards.
  
  

Attention to the public

By Resolution No. 6518 of 1 April 2020, the attention to the public and processes, are suspended from 16 March 2020 until 30 April 2020.

This measure applies to:

• The National Immigration Authority (main office)
• All the Regional Offices of the National Immigration Authority.
  
  

Work permits

By Resolution No. DM-149-2020 of 30 March 2020, the validity of work permits that expire from 12 March 2020 is extended until 30 April 2020.

This measure applies to:

• The Department of Labor Migration of Ministry of Labor and Workforce Development (MITRADEL)
• All the Regional Offices of MITRADEL.
  
  

Traveling

By Executive Decree No. 244 of 19 March 2020, starting at 11:59 p.m. of 22 March 2020, all international flights were suspended. This measure applies until 22 April 2020.

Mobility inside the country

Curfew:

By Executive Decree No. 507 of 24 March 2020, currently we have a 24-hour curfew nationwide that initiated at 5:01 a.m. on 25 March 2020. This measure will remain indefinitely while the National State of Emergency lasts.

Circulation days:

• Women: Monday, Wednesday, Friday.
• Men: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday.
• Sunday: all at home

The mobilization of persons will be allowed in accordance with the “Protect Yourself Panama Plan” (Plan Protégete Panamá in Spanish), Executive Decree No. 507 of 24 March 2020, and other instructions issued by the Health Authority.

Foreigners: can purchase in supermarkets and drugstores in the hours of circulation determined by the last number of their passport and gender.

Note: The Immigration Authority established that all foreigners will use their passport, regardless of whether they have temporary, provisional or permanent residency and even if they have a permanent resident ID card issued by the Electoral Tribunal.

Circulation permits (Salvoconductos)

By Executive Decree No. 499 of 19 March 2020, needed by any person who requires mobilization, based on any of the exceptions established in the Executive Decrees. It must be requested at http://salvoconducto.innovacion.gob.pa

Any person with a Circulation Permit (Salvoconducto), must also carry the following:

• Passport
• Work ID card
• Public utility bill (water or electricity).
  
  

Driver´s licenses

By Notice issued by the Transit and Land Transportation Authority (ATTT) of 27 March 2020, expired driver’s licenses will be valid until 30 June 2020.

Applies to: Licenses expiring in March, April and May 2020.