ETIAS FOR PANAMANIAN CITIZENS

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Panamanian citizens do not need a visa to travel to any of the Schengen countries.

Visa-exempt citizens from more than 50 countries, including Panama, will be able to register online for an ETIAS beginning in November 2023. Because ETIAS is not a visa, Panamanians will continue to be able to travel to Europe without a visa, but they will need to obtain travel authorization.

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System, or ETIAS, will be required for visa-free travellers. The new electronic system will pre-screen foreign travellers, including Panamanians, to improve external Schengen border management and security.

It will be simple to apply for the required European visa waiver. The application is entirely online and will only take a few minutes to complete.

HOW ETIAS IMPROVES SECURITY IN EUROPE FOR PANAMANIAN NATIONALS

The ETIAS is still in the works. The systems required for it to function are being developed in such a way that they will integrate seamlessly with existing immigration and security databases.

When fully implemented, ETIAS will provide a streamlined screening and entry process for Panamanians visiting any Schengen member country.

By prescreening all visitors from visa-free countries, including Panama, the ETIAS will help increase security within European Union borders. Individuals who may pose a threat to member countries will be denied visa-free entry.

This online registration will provide authorities with a better understanding of people travelling to the Schengen Area without a visa for leisure, business, or transit. It will make travel to Schengen countries safer for residents and visitors alike.

WHAT COUNTRIES CAN PANAMANIAN ETIAS HOLDERS ENTER?

ETIAS holders from the Republic of Panama will be able to visit any of the Schengen countries for up to 90 days in a 180-day period.

Some of these countries are members of the EU, but not all. Citizens can apply for ETIAS to travel to the following countries beginning in November 2023.

ETIAS Required

Currently, there are 22 European countries that form part of the Schengen Area:

  • EU Schengen
  • Non-EU Schengen States
  • Non-Schengen EU States
ETIAS Required

Non-EU Member States:

Micro-States de facto part of Schengen Area:

ETIAS Required

Non-Schengen EU States

EUROPE VISA WAIVER REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENS OF PANAMA

Panamanians who want to visit Europe for a short period of time do not need to apply for a Schengen visa. Citizens of Panama must present a valid Panamanian passport upon arrival in order to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days.

Panamanians travelling to EU Schengen member countries will soon be required to fill out an online ETIAS application before boarding a flight or ship bound for a member country. ETIAS is an electronic travel authorization, also known as a visa waiver, similar to the ESTA in the United States.

ETIAS is valid for Panamanians for tourism, business, and transit. Panamanians who do not meet the ETIAS requirements for visa-free travel must apply for a visa.

DOCUMENTS TO APPLY FOR ETIAS FROM PANAMA

The ETIAS visa waiver application for Panamanians is available online and is simple to complete. Panamanians will need the following items to begin their application:

  • Panamanian passport valid for the entire stay
  • Valid debit or credit card to pay for the ETIAS visa waiver fee
  • Current email address where the approved ETIAS will be sent

All foreign visitors to Europe, including Panamanians, must carry their passports when travelling within the Schengen Area.

PANAMIANS AND THE ETIAS APPLICATION

During the ETIAS application process, Panamanian citizens must provide the following information:

  • Personal information, including first name, family name, date and place of birth
  • Passport details, including date and country of issuance, expiration date, and passport number
  • Contact data, including telephone number and email address

There are also questions about health and security. Applicants from Panama should carefully review the ETIAS form before submitting their request. All information must exactly match the applicant’s passport. Any errors or missing information may cause processing delays.

Travelers pay the ETIAS processing fee securely online from Panama to complete the application. Credit and debit cards of all major brands are accepted.

ETIAS PROCESSING TIMES FROM PANAMA

ETIAS processing will be quick, and the majority of applications will be approved after automatic processing. On rare occasions, manual processing by ETIAS National Units may be required.

TRAVEL TO EUROPE FROM PANAMA WITH AN ETIAS

The ETIAS visa waiver is valid for three years, as long as the passport used to apply remains valid. An ETIAS travel authorization that has been approved is electronically linked to a single passport and cannot be transferred to another.

If the Panamanian passport expires during the three-year validity period of their ETIAS, the travel authorization will expire and the traveller will need to apply for a new visa waiver. The individual’s new passport should be used for the new application.

Panamanians with dual nationality will need to choose a single passport for their trip to Europe. These travellers must use the same passport they used to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver.

An ETIAS allows Panamanian citizens multiple short entries into the Schengen Area. The maximum stay per 180-day period is 90 days.

Panamanians of all ages will be required to take the ETIAS. Minors should also apply for an ETIAS to travel to Europe. Parents or legal guardians may apply for an ETIAS visa waiver from Panama by providing personal and passport information for the underage traveller on the travel authorization form.

When the Panamanian passport is scanned at an external Schengen border, the ETIAS visa waiver will be verified. The same travel authorization is valid for travel to all Schengen countries. Panamanians do not require a separate visa for each country they visit.

ETIAS FOR PANAMANIANS – FAQ

ETIAS visa waiver holders from any country, including Panama, are not permitted to work in the Schengen zone with an ETIAS. Aside from leisure and transit, the ETIAS allows holders to stay in Europe for short periods of time for business purposes.

ETIAS holders from Panama are permitted to conduct business in Europe during their stay but are not permitted to seek employment or work in any member country.

Panamanian passport holders who wish to work in the EU must visit the embassy or consulate of the country in which they wish to reside. Citizens will be informed of the documents required to work and reside in the country by diplomatic personnel.

With this visa waiver, Panamanian ETIAS holders are not permitted to attend university or school. However, if a Panamanian citizen with a valid ETIAS wishes to participate in very brief workshops or classes during their stay, whether for leisure or business, they may do so.

Students from Panama who wish to continue their studies or obtain a degree in Europe should first obtain an admission letter from the university or school they intend to attend. The letter should then be presented by Panamanian citizens at the embassy or consulate of the country where the university is located.

The staff at the embassy or consulate will explain how to obtain a European student visa from Panama, as well as the documents needed, processing time, and validity.

Travellers from Panama visiting the European Union as well as the non-EU Schengen member countries may spend up to 90 consecutive days there with an ETIAS visa waiver.

This maximum of 90 days is counted within a 180-day period, after which, the citizen will be allowed another 90 days that they may spend in any and all of the member nations.

The ETIAS visa waiver allows holders multiple entries in the Schengen Area. This means that a traveller may enter any member country and visit all of the other nations that comprise the Schengen Territory several times as long as they do not exceed the 90-day limit.

The visa waiver lasts for 3 years as long as the associated passport remains valid and the holder still complies with the Schengen entry requirements.