The government of Panama extended until June 30, 2029, the transit visa requirement that certain Cuban citizens must obtain to stop in the isthmus country on their way to other destinations, according to the Official Gazette of Panama.
The measure was formalized on August 14 through an executive decree signed by President José Raúl Mulino and the Minister of Public Security, Frank Ábrego, and has been in effect since its promulgation.
The decree extends the regime originally established in December 2022 and renewed several times since then. The previous extension, set to last until August 2025, was scheduled to expire on July 31, 2026, so the new text prevents a regulatory gap. This latest extension is the longest to date—almost three years—indicating a consolidation of the requirement as a stable migration policy.
The transit visa allows travelers to stay for up to 24 hours in the international transit area of the Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, solely for the purpose of continuing to their final destination or returning to Cuba.
However, the regulation includes several exceptions. Cubans returning to the island, those holding a valid tourist or Panamanian residency visa, and those with permanent residency in a third country traveling back there are exempt from the requirement.
Those who hold a valid entry visa for the final destination country are also exempt from this obligation, as are those with residency or multiple visas issued by countries that Panama recognizes for their immigration control standards: the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, Singapore, and the member states of the European Union. Additionally, those who can prove a work condition in the destination country with the required documentation are also exempt.
For those who are subject to the procedure, the application must be submitted to the Panamanian consulate in the country where the applicant is located, or through a legal representative before the National Migration Service. The process must begin at least 30 business days in advance of the travel date.
The Panamanian government has justified the continuation of the regulation by the need to maintain immigration control over passengers transiting through the country.
The process has become more complicated in recent months for Cubans residing on the island. In July 2026, the Consulate of Panama in Havana launched a new online pre-appointment system through the portal migracion.gob.pa, although the system itself warns that the pre-appointment does not guarantee a confirmed appointment. Additionally, as of August 1, 2026, visa and consular service payments must be made through a bank account in Panama.
Tocumen is one of the main air travel hubs in Latin America and a regular layover point for Cubans traveling to the United States, Spain, and other destinations. Panama has also implemented a double security check for passengers coming from Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Haiti at this airport.
In the regional context, other countries such as Ecuador have also imposed transit visas on Cuban citizens in response to the migratory pressure generated by the massive exodus that has turned several Latin American countries into corridors for passage to the north.
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