North and Central America and Caribbean

Insurance

 

We recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.  For more general information see Travel Insurance.

If things do go wrong when you are oversees then this is How We Can Help.

Registration

Register with our LOCATE service to tell us when and where you are travelling abroad or where you live abroad so our consular and crisis staff can provide better assistance to you in an emergency.  More information about registering with LOCATE can be found here.

 

Passports

The British Embassy in Panama can assist with Temporary or Emergency Passports but only in emergencies.   However, the British Embassy in Panama does not issue standard passports.  These applications are sent to the British Embassy in Costa Rica for processing.  Processing can take up to 15 working days.  If a courier is used, you will have to bear the cost. The service will normally take 6 working days.  Further guidance can be obtained from the British Embassy in Panama.

 

Trips via the US

 

Since many trips to Panama are made via the United States, it is important to note that all passport holders who wish to enter the US or transit the US to onward destinations under the Visa Waiver Programme (see entry requirements in the travel advice for United States) must present an individual machine-readable passport. All travellers need to apply online to the US authorities a minimum of 48 hours before travel, whether if travelling to or via the USA.  In the event of losing your standard passport, and you need to apply for an emergency passport, you will need to re-register with the US authorities prior to travel.  If you do not have a machine-readable passport you must obtain a non-immigrant visa from the nearest US Embassy prior to travel (see also above for British passports).  For further details, in particular concerning children travelling on a parent's passport, please contact the US Embassy in London.

 

Airport tax

 

A US$20 airport tax (payable only in cash) is charged upon departure but this is sometimes included in the airline ticket fare.  You should check with your carrier.

 
Money

Ensure you have enough money for your stay and return.  Bank transfers are difficult, expensive and can take several days, although Western Union offers a quicker service.   Foreign cheques cannot be cashed in Panama.  Travellers cheques are difficult to exchange and rates of commission are very high, so these are best avoided.