DEFINITIONS AND IMMIGRATION CATEGORIES

• Tourists
• Transients
• Travelers in transit
• Travelers in direct transit
• Immigrants

Law 16 from June 30, 1960
It defines the various immigration categories, which regulate the status of all foreigners who enter the Territory of the Republic of Panama, as follows:

“Foreigners who enter Panama shall be classified as Tourists, Transients, Travelers in Transit, Travelers in Direct Transit or Immigrants.”

Tourists
Those passengers who enter Panama exclusively for recreational, observational or study purposes for a 90-day period, which may be extended up to 90 more days.

Transients
Those passengers who sojourn in Panama with the purpose of continuing their journey to another country or who intend to return to their place of origin within the term of a maximum 3 months.

Travelers in Transit
All those who enter Panama, but who continue travel to another country within forty-eight hours after having arrived.

Travelers in Direct Transit
All those who enter Panama with the purpose of continuing travel to another country within a maximum 9 hours.

Immigrants
Those who enter Panama with the intention to reside here indefinitely, whether as Investors with their own capital or in order to establish commercial, financial or industrial activities, among others.