Panama: travel laws for tourists, topic by topic
Stay alert
Overall verdict for Panama: Stay alert. Below, the risk level of each of the 23 topics that get travellers fined or arrested. The exact rule, thresholds and penalties are in the LawsTravels app.
Panama: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
🎁 Free, no account: Drugs, Jail risk, Medicines
The 23 topics at a glance
Banned or serious riskAllowed, with limitsRelaxed
💊Drugs🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
💉Medicines🎁 FreeAllowed, with limits
🛡️Theft & scamsAllowed, with limits
🐾AnimalsRelaxed
🚬SmokingRelaxed
🍺AlcoholRelaxed
❤️Sex & datingAllowed, with limits
👕Dress codeRelaxed
🕌ReligionRelaxed
🚗DrivingAllowed, with limits
📷Photo & videoAllowed, with limits
🔪WeaponsAllowed, with limits
💶FinesAllowed, with limits
🛂Visa & customsRelaxed
🤝BehaviorRelaxed
⛓️Jail risk🎁 FreeBanned or serious risk
⚖️ExtraditionAllowed, with limits
📡Internet & VPNRelaxed
🚁DronesAllowed, with limits
💵Cash & currencyRelaxed
🩺Vaccines & healthAllowed, with limits
💻Remote workAllowed, with limits
🗣️Politics & protestAllowed, with limits
Get the exact rules for your trip
This page gives you the level. The app gives you the rule, the numbers and the penalties for Panama, offline, in 23 languages.
Panama: read the 3 riskiest rules free →
How Panama compares
With 2 of 23 topics flagged red, Panama is more relaxed than 14 of the 22 other countries in The Americas (regional average: 3.3). Worldwide, Panama ranks #103 of 148 for strictness (tied with 28 other countries).
What sets it apart
- Smoking: relaxed here, while 95 of 148 countries restrict or ban it.
What to watch most in Panama
- You have the right to contact your consulate. Ask immediately, and repeat the request until it happens.
- A consulate cannot get you out, but it can find a lawyer, notify your family and monitor conditions.
- Never sign a statement you cannot read. Demand an interpreter, in writing if possible.
- Almost every country separates use, possession and trafficking — and the line between them is a weight, not an intention.
- Being caught with several bags, a scale or cash next to the drug will usually reclassify "use" into "dealing".
- Carrying for a friend counts as your possession. There is no shared-responsibility defence.
Panama at a glance
CapitalPanama City
CurrencyPanamanian Balboa (PAB) / US Dollar (USD)
LanguageSpanish
Emergency number911
Driving sideRight
Mains voltage110 V
Calling code+507
Plug typesA · B
Frequently asked questions
Is Panama strict with tourists?
Overall verdict: Stay alert. 2 of 23 topics are flagged as banned or a serious risk (Drugs, Jail risk), 12 require caution.
What can get me fined or arrested in Panama?
The strictest topics for travellers in Panama are: Drugs, Jail risk. Each has specific thresholds and penalties, detailed in the app.
Where do I find the exact rules for Panama?
In LawsTravels: open Panama, each topic shows the level, the rule, the thresholds and what to do at customs, offline. 3 topics are free on every country; the other 20 unlock for the price of a coffee.
What is the emergency number in Panama?
In Panama, dial 911. Capital: Panama City. Currency: Panamanian Balboa (PAB) / US Dollar (USD). Main language: Spanish.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Panama?
In Panama, traffic drives on the right. Mains voltage: 110 V. Calling code: +507. Plug types: A · B.
Countries with the closest profile
Levels summarise publicly available legal information for travellers and are not legal advice. Laws change and enforcement varies: confirm with the embassy or consulate of your destination.
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