The National Migration Service (SNM) of Panama has launched an online "Pre Appointment" system for the Panamanian Consulate in Havana, accessible from the official Migration Online portal, aiming to streamline the visa application process for Cuban citizens.
The tool arrives after years of interruptions, changes in requirements, and reports of scams that have complicated the process for thousands of Cubans who use Tocumen Airport as a connecting point to third countries.
How does the new system work?
To access, the applicant must go to the portal migracion.gob.pa, select "Requests" within Online Immigration, and choose the flag of Cuba.
However, the SNM clearly warns that obtaining a pre-appointment does not equate to a confirmed appointment.
“The pre-appointment is not a confirmed appointment”, the official portal explicitly states: the applicant remains on a waiting list and must await a subsequent notification indicating whether the appointment is granted or not, along with the assigned date.
To check the status of the application, the user must enter their passport number on the portal; the system generates a PDF with the appointment details.
The accredited lawyer, mandatory channel
A key aspect is that the procedure at the Panamá Consulate in Havana must be handled by a duly accredited lawyer -known as “idóneo”- in Panama.
The consulate was emphatic about this in June 2025 when it issued an alert regarding the proliferation of fraud: "There are no travel agencies or authorized agents" to issue or manage visa appointments.
The institution specified that "the only valid way to schedule an appointment with the National Migration Service of Panama is through a duly accredited lawyer."
To verify the legitimacy of a lawyer, the consulate recommends checking their eligibility status on the platform of the Judicial Authority of Panama and requesting their official card.
New payment requirement starting August 2026
The complexity of the process is compounded by a change that will come into effect on August 1, 2026: all visa payments and consular services must be made through a bank account in Panama.
According to El Nuevo Herald, "all payments related to consular services" must be made through that method, and it will be mandatory to present proof of payment on the day of the appointment.
This requirement adds a significant barrier for Cubans on the island, who have very limited access to international banking services.
Background: interruptions and vulnerabilities
The appointment system has faced multiple setbacks since Panama imposed the transit visa requirement for Cuban citizens through Executive Decree No. 162 in December 2022.
In July 2024, the SNM disabled the online processing for Stamped Visa appointments, citing "vulnerabilities" in the computer system, forcing applicants to submit documentation in person at a physical location in Panama City.
The latest extension of the transit requirement, signed by President José Raúl Mulino through Executive Decree No. 22 and published in the Official Gazette on August 25, 2025, extended the obligation until July 31, 2026.
Consulate contact information
The Consulate of Panama in Havana is located at 5th Avenue No. 2207, Corner 24, Miramar, Playa Municipality. The contact numbers are +53 7204 0858, +53 7206 9660, and +53 7214 4858, with hours of operation from Monday to Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
With the new banking payment requirement effective from August 1, 2026, Cubans who need to apply for a transit visa should plan in advance for both the procedure with an accredited lawyer and the availability of a Panamanian bank account to complete the process.
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