National University of Medical Sciences students who wish to
attend the two weeks practical osteopathy technique classes in Panama City
should ensure they have appropriate tourist visa. Most of our students may not
need visa. However some do. The article below gives you information about the
visa requirements.
It’s not difficult for NUMSS students to enter Panama,
especially those coming on flights from USA, Europe and Canada. All NUMSS students
need a passport that is valid for at least six months from the date of entry.
They must also be able to prove that they have at least $500 (US) cash, a bank
statement, travelers checks, or a credit card usually works. Finally, all NUMSS
students entering Panama must have a return or onward ticket out of the
country.
Panama divides tourists into two groups – those that need a
tourist visa, and those that only need a passport.
NUMSS students who are citizens of these countries only need
a passport to enter Panama: Canada, USA, Argentina, Australia, Austria,
Belgium, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark,
Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden,
Switzerland, Singapore, and Taiwan.
There are two types of visas for Panama, stamped visas and
authorized visas.
The stamped visas let some travelers enter Panama several
times throughout the year. This type of visa is only available through a
Panamanian embassy or consulate, and the Panamanian authorities decide the
length of the stay, which is usually 30 days per visit. Anyone who is eligible
to visit Panama on a tourist card can apply for a stamped visa instead,
although citizens of some countries are required to have a stamped visa.
NUMSS students from these countries must apply for stamped visas: the Dominican
Republic, Ecuador, Georgia, Peru, Russia, Ukraine, Vietnam, and Zimbabwe.
NUMSS student from these countries require authorized visas
from a Panamanian consulate or embassy: the majority of countries in the Middle
East, Asia, Africa, or eastern Europe such as Iran, Bangladesh, Cuba, Haiti,
India, Pakistan, China, and South Africa. It’s recommended for NUMSS students to
begin the application process at least a month before the travel date.
National University of Medical Sciences students who wish to
apply for Panamanian authorized visas will need to present the following
documents:
- A
completed application form
- A
valid passport
- A
copy of the passport (including the pages that show entry and exit stamps)
- A
letter from a local Panamanian sponsor. The sponsor must also present a
recent bank statement and utility bill. NUMSS can provide this letter.
- A
copy of your ID or residence card from your home country
- A
copy of your most recent Panama visa, if applicable
- Two
passport-size photographs
Some consulates will require you to have proof of a
round-trip as well. Considering this, it’s recommended to have a refundable
ticket in case the application is declined.
Most visitors get to Panama by air. Panama’s main
international airport is the Tocumen International Airport which is 25 kilometers east of Panama City.
The airport recently underwent a multimillion-dollar expansion that has made it
pleasant, modern and easy to navigate. It has good restaurants and a nice
scattering of stores for shopping. Its airport code is PTY.
