Travelling to Panama for NUMSS Practical Classes

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.