Panama visa requirements for Rwandans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Rwandans visiting Panama

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Panamanian Visa.

  • A Rwandan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (35 x 45 mm) taken in white background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical Insurance.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.

Panama Visa for Rwandans

Facts about Panama

Panama is a country popularly known for its beaches, mountains, modern cities, and historic ruins. There are a lot of activities to do while they are in the country, Tourists can visit any of the beaches to relax and surf. Other activities that can be engaged in by foreigners include whitewater rafting, hiking through any of the numerous national parks and enjoy the sights of over 960 species of birds. Horses are a way of life in Panama, this makes horseback riding a popular tourist attraction.
 
In 2013, over 1.5 million foreigners visited Panama. The number of tourist visits has steadily been on the rise since the turn of the decade, the country was even named as the best place to visit by The New York Times Magazine. The number of tourist visits is expected to increase for years to come.
 
Foreigners are required to declare currency of up to $10,000 on entry and exit from the country. There are strict laws regarding the import into and export from Panama of items such as firearms, ammunition, wildlife species, biological material, and food products.
 
Citizens of the following country can enter Panama for up to 180 days without a visa: Andorra, Angola,  Antigua y Barbuda, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Paraguay, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

Types of Panama Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Tourist visa 15 days 30 days
Business visa 15 days 30 days

General Requirements for Panama Visa

  • A Rwandan passport valid for at least 6 months from the intended arrival date and must have 2 blank pages for visa stamp.
  • Duly completed and signed visa application form.
  • If the applicant is a minor, the parents/legal guardians have to sign the form.
  • Passport-size photographs (35 x 45 mm) taken in white background.
  • Travel document.
  • Proof of financial support.
  • Proof of accommodation.
  • Copy of return flight ticket.
  • Documentation showing applicant’s ties to home country, e.g. verification from applicant’s employer.
  • A police report showing the traveler does not have a criminal record.
  • Medical Insurance.
  • Documentation confirming the purpose of travel.
  • Copy of travel itinerary.
Panama Tourist visa Panama Business visa

Panama Tourist Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Panamanian tourist visa is for Rwandans visiting Panama for tourism purposes.
  • This visa is valid for 30 days. Although it is extendable to 90 days.
  • In case you want to stay longer in Panama than the duration granted in your visa, you will have to apply for an extension at the nearest immigration office in Panama. This tourist extension is known as a prórroga de turista. 
  • You have to pay a visa extension fee of USD 15.
  • You must provide proof of your financial ability so as to support yourself monetarily during your stay in Panama and for your return transportation. Panama requires visitors to have at least USD 500 (INR 31,853.31) in cash or its equivalent as proof of financial solvency.
  • Currency restriction for entry into Panama is $10,000. Any amount higher than that has to be declared in writing.
  • You are required to show proof of a clean criminal record.  Panamanian immigration reserves the right to deny entry to any person with a criminal conviction.
  • Travelers not bearing identification may be held and will be penalized by the Panamanian authorities. You should always carry your passport that contains the Panama entry stamp in case it is requested by Panamanian authorities.
  • A child born in Panama may automatically obtain Panamanian citizenship. Non-resident foreign minors are excluded from these provisions. 

Panama Business Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Panamanian business visa is for Rwandans intending to visit Panama for business purposes.
  • Another type of business visa is the Panama business investor visa.
  • Foreigners desiring to invest in a Panama business, with a minimum capital stock of One Hundred Sixty Thousand dollars ($160,000) per applicant will be able to request for the Panama Business Investor Visa, as shareholders or officers of said business.
  • If the intending business investor has dependents, the Panama business investment must increase by Two Thousand dollars ($2,000) for each dependent. 
  • The following documents are required from investor applicants:
    • Certificate of original legal status from the Public Registry
    • Certification by the Secretary or Treasurer of the Panama business attesting that the minimum value of $160,000 exists. The certification must be in writing signed before a notary.
    • Copy of the business plan for the company.
    • Receipt of advance payment of the capital gains tax in case the applicant has acquired an existing company of a third party and copy of the Panama business purchase contract.
    • For a recently started Panama business, the Unique Registration of the Taxpayer (RUC) identity number.
    • Statement signed by the applicant before a Notary Public, indicating the total of the minimum required capital invested, the role of the applicant in the company, as well as, detailing the Panama business activities of the company.
    • The following documents are required from applicants traveling for just a business meeting:
      • An original passport valid for six months from the date of travel.
      • Cover letter.
      • Return Ticket.
      • Invitation letter.
      • Letter from Chamber of Commerce.
      • Approval from Panama Immigration Department.

    Panama Visa Fees

    Visa Type

    Sub Types

    Visa Fees

    Tourist visa

    160.00 (USD)

    Business visa

    160.00 (USD)

    Panama Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Rwanda

    Location

    Address

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    Panama currently does not maintain an embassy in Rwanda. Citizens of Rwanda are advised to use embassies/consulates in Egypt for their applications.

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    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the official language of Panama?

    The main and official language of Panama is Spanish, which is widely spoken by the majority of people in the country. Apart from Spanish, another popular language in Panama is English, which is spoken by around 14% of the population.

    What do I need to travel to Panama?

    Kenya citizens must have a valid Kenyan passport to enter Panama. Panamanian law requires that the passport be valid for at least three months after the traveler's intended exit date from the country.

    What currency is used in Panama?

    The official currency of Panama is the Balboa, named after Spanish explorer Vasco Núñez de Balboa, who discovered the Pacific Ocean in 1513. Since one Balboa equals one US Dollar, the US Dollar has legally circulated in Panama. In other words, in practice, the currency used day-to-day in Panama is the US dollar, which is also legal tender.

    What is the best time of the year to visit Panama?

    The best time to visit Panama is during the short dry season, which falls between December and March.

    Please kindly send me an email to enable me process a visa with a Rwandan passport to panama . My email is : crossbreedinvest@gmail.com?
    I am Rwandan nationality and stay in Rwanda I need a transit visa to panama ,please i need your guidance on this while in our country there's no Panama embassy.?