The National Migration Service (SNM) of Panama has enabled an online "Pre-Appointment" system for the Consulate of Panama in Havana, accessible from the official Online Migration portal, aimed at streamlining the visa application process for Cuban citizens.
The tool arrives after years of interruptions, changing requirements, and reports of scams that have complicated the process for thousands of Cubans using Tocumen Airport as a connection point to third countries.
How does the new system work?
To access, the applicant must enter the portal migracion.gob.pa, select "Applications" within Online Migration, and choose the Cuban flag.
However, the SNM clearly warns that obtaining the pre-appointment does not equate to a confirmed appointment.
“The pre-appointment is not a confirmed appointment”, the official portal clearly states: the applicant remains on a waiting list and must wait for a subsequent notification indicating whether the appointment is granted or not and 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 details of the appointment.
The accredited lawyer, mandatory channel
A key aspect is that the process at the Panama Consulate in Havana must be handled through a duly accredited lawyer -referred to as "idóneo"- in Panama.
The consulate was emphatic about this in June 2025 when it issued an alert regarding the proliferation of scams: "There are no travel agencies or authorized agents" for issuing or managing visa appointments.
The institution specified that "the only valid way to schedule an appointment with the National Immigration Service of Panama is through a properly accredited lawyer."
To verify a lawyer's legitimacy, the consulate recommends checking their suitability on the platform of the Judicial Branch of Panama and requesting their official ID.
New payment requirement starting from August 2026
To the complexity of the process is added a change that will take 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 corresponding 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 application for stamped visa appointments, citing "vulnerabilities" in the computer system, forcing applicants to submit documentation in person at a physical office 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 5ta Avenida No. 2207, Corner of 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, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
With the new bank payment requirement in effect from August 1, 2026, Cubans who need to apply for a transit visa should anticipate both the process with an accredited lawyer and the availability of a Panamanian bank account to complete the procedure.
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