Panama
By virtue of its thriving trading and financial firms Panama has strong and stable connections to European businesses. Commercial bonds are than sided by many political, cultural and diplomatic partnerships that created a bridge between the Schengen Area Countries and Panama itself.
ETIAS Basics for Citizens of Panama
Panama Nationals confirmed to be required an ETIAS starting from 2025 for short-terms visits to European Union and Schengen Area Countries except Ireland
ETIAS applicants must hold a valid passport issued by the Republic Panama
ETIAS application to be forwarded through online channels only
ETIAS can be used for business, leisure, transit and medical care trips to the 34 ETIAS Member Countries
Duration of stay in the ETIAS Area must not exceed 90 days within 6 months.
Links between Panama and Europe
By virtue of its thriving trading and financial firms Panama has strong and stable connections to European businesses. Commercial bonds are than sided by many political, cultural and diplomatic partnerships that created a bridge between the Schengen Area Countries and Panama itself.
According to EU Official plan these far-reaching connections are soon to be made even stronger and more stable since Panama has been confirmed will keep holding Visa Waiver rights to the European Union for the upcoming years.
As a matter of fact, beginning from 2025, Panama citizens will be needed to obtain an ETIAS Visa Waiver in order to commence their journeys towards EU/Schengen Area for short term trips whose purpose is tourism, business, transit or medical care.
Such provision and connected rights are strictly linked to the visitors’ nationality of passport, therefore, holders of Panama temporary or permanent Residence Permit must still check whether their Passport Nationality is among those eligible to apply for an ETIAS Visa Waiver.
Those who hold a passport of a country that is not included in the EU Visa Waiver program will still be required to apply for a Schengen Visa even though in possession of a valid Panama residence permit.ETIAS application, obligations and exceptions
An ETIAS will be required to Panama citizens travelling to the ETIAS area regardless of the nation they will be arriving from and whether they reach Europe via land, air or sea; although no Visa Waiver will be required to the Panama citizens who already possess a valid Schengen Visas or Residence Permit issued by one of the Schengen current and de facto Member Countries (therefore excluding national Visas and Permits of Stay issued by Bulgaria, Cyprus and Romania). For a detailed overview on ETIAS full conditions of use click here.
The ETIAS application process is electronic exclusively and was outlined to be easy to handle and should not require more than 10 minutes for each candidate to input their data.The required data for ETIAS application include:
- Full name and surname
- Surname at birth
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Birth country
- Passport number
- Passport’s authority and place of issue
- Passport’s issue and expiry date
- Contact details including a valid e-mail address
- Planned arrival date in ETIAS Area
- First country of intended stay in ETIAS Area
- Background and general eligibility questions
When the ETIAS request is sent through the EU authorities and Security Databases will be controlling all the relevant information and provide an outcome, that will be exclusively sent via e-mail, to each applicant in usually no longer than 72 hours.
Using one’s ETIAS
Once issued ETIAS to Panama citizens is valid for multiple travels and for an overall validity of maximum 3 years or until passport expiry date.
Still, it is important to highlight that the passport itself must always have a minimum of 3 months left of validity throughout the entire stay in the ETIAS Area and that such provision applies to every single journey taken on an ETIAS.
Since the Visa Waiver is digitally linked to the candidate’s passport it will not be required, but only advised, to carry a hard copy of the grant notice upon travelling.
ETIAS holding Panamanian visitors heading towards any of the ETIAS Destinations might always be required, upon arrival in the Schengen Area from abroad, to present supplementary credentials and proof to allow an assessment on the genuine purpose and duration of their trips such as:- return ticket to origin country
- onwards ticket to a non-ETIAS Member Country
- proof of sufficient funds to support their stay in the ETIAS Area
In order to avoid problems while at the EU Border Control it is absolutely recommended that all data inputted in the ETIAS Application form by all candidates are complete, correct and truthful.
EtiasEU will bear no responsibility in case of false or non-correct input data.