Okay, so here’s the deal. I was planning this trip, right? And it involved a layover in Panama City. Immediately, my brain went into overdrive: “Do i need a transit visa in panama?” The stress was real, y’all.
First things first, I hit up Google. Typed in those exact words: “do i need a transit visa in panama?” Saw a bunch of confusing government websites and forum posts. Some said yes, some said no, and others were like, “it depends!” Ugh, the worst.
So, I dug a little deeper. Checked the official Panama Immigration website. Navigated through a maze of menus (seriously, who designs these things?!). Finally found a page with a list of countries that do need visas. My country wasn’t on the list! But, the page was last updated like, two years ago. Not exactly reassuring.
Next, I called the Panama embassy in my country. Waited on hold for what felt like an eternity. Finally got through to someone who sounded super busy. I asked my question, and they said, “If you are remaining in the airport transit area and your connecting flight is within 12 hours, you should not require a visa.” “Should not!” That ‘should not’ was still bugging me.
To be absolutely sure, I decided to contact the airline I was flying with. Sent them an email detailing my itinerary and asking specifically about the transit visa requirements in Panama. Took them about 48 hours to reply, but they confirmed that, based on my nationality and the length of my layover, a transit visa was NOT required.
Alright, email from the airline in hand, I felt a little bit better. Still, I printed out the email, just in case. You never know!
Fast forward to the actual trip. Landed in Panama City, found my connecting gate, and showed my passport and boarding pass. The agent didn’t even bat an eye. No visa questions, no problems whatsoever. Smooth sailing!
Here’s what I learned:
- Always check the official immigration website, but don’t rely solely on it, especially if it’s outdated.
- Calling the embassy is a good step, but sometimes they aren’t the most definitive.
- Contacting the airline directly is your best bet for accurate and up-to-date information.
- Print out any confirmation you receive, just in case.
So, did I need a transit visa in Panama? Nope! But man, the whole process was a bit of a headache. Hope my experience helps someone else avoid the same stress!
