Qurexa Logo
Qurexa

Trust. Care. Deliver.

Back to Blog & Insights
Travel

A curfew you did not know about, and $1,000 you may be asked to prove

Qurexa Editorial Team8 October 20266 min read 0 0
A curfew you did not know about, and $1,000 you may be asked to prove

What happened

On 7 October 2026 the FCDO updated its Panama travel advice with new information about border control checks and curfews, on the Entry requirements and Safety and security pages. Neither is a dramatic warning. Both are the kind of detail that is annoying to discover on arrival rather than at home. On curfews, the advice explains that local authorities in Panama occasionally impose night-time curfews. These can apply to adults, to unaccompanied under-18s, or both. They are usually in place for several weeks at a time, with limited exceptions, and they are part of government efforts to tackle criminal groups and organised crime. People who do not comply face arrest by the police. The reassuring part: the FCDO says curfews are not usually applied in tourist areas. The sensible part: it advises seeking local advice if a curfew is introduced where you are staying. On entry, the advice sets out what Panamanian border officials may ask for - and the list includes things many travellers would not think to have ready.

Why this matters

Panama is a growing destination for British travellers, and a major transit point. Plenty of people pass through on cruises, on the way to or from Costa Rica, or on longer Central and South America trips. The entry requirements matter because they are enforced at the discretion of officials, and the British Embassy cannot intervene in decisions made by Panama's immigration officials. That is stated directly in the advice. If you are refused entry, there is no appeal to your own government. The curfew point matters for a different reason. A curfew is not a security alert, so it may not make the news at home, and your hotel may not mention it if you are in a tourist area. But if your itinerary takes you outside tourist areas, or you have teenagers with you, the rules can apply to you without warning. It is also worth noting what the advice does not say. It does not advise against travel to Panama generally. It does not report a terrorism history - although it says attacks cannot be ruled out. This is a destination where the risks are mostly ordinary ones, managed with ordinary preparation.

What the evidence actually says

On border checks, the advice is specific about what you may need at Panamanian border control. You may be asked to give the address of your accommodation and a contact telephone number. You may be asked to show a return or onward ticket - particularly if you arrive by land from Costa Rica and are not a legal resident of Costa Rica. And you may be asked to prove you have at least 1,000 US dollars, or the equivalent in other currencies, or a credit card. You must also make sure immigration officials stamp your passport with the date you arrived. You will be denied entry without a valid travel document, or if you try to use a passport reported lost or stolen. On visas, you can visit Panama for up to three months without a visa if you arrive by land or air. You cannot normally extend your stay unless you apply to change your immigration status within the three months, for example for business or marriage. The advice warns that if you try to extend your stay by visiting a neighbouring country and returning, immigration officials may detain you. Sea arrivals are different. If you arrive on a vessel that is not a cruise ship, you must have a visa, and pay a fee of 100 US dollars plus a 5 dollar registration charge. On curfews: occasional, night-time, often several weeks long, may cover adults and unaccompanied minors under 18, limited exceptions, not usually applied in tourist areas, non-compliance can mean arrest. Two other laws in the advice catch visitors out. Smoking in public places is illegal, with fines of 25 to 100 US dollars, and e-cigarettes are also banned in public places. As a foreign national you must carry ID such as a passport, though police will usually accept a printed copy. The advice is blunt about drugs: prison sentences are possible for even small quantities, the judicial process is slow with sentencing taking up to two years during which you are likely to be detained, and prison conditions are often harsh and overcrowded with limited access to healthcare.

Practical advice

A short checklist covers most of this. Before you fly, print your accommodation address and a contact phone number, and have your onward or return ticket accessible rather than buried in an email. Take a credit card, or be able to show access to at least 1,000 US dollars. This is the requirement people are least likely to have thought about. Check your passport is stamped on arrival, with the correct date. Carry ID when out. A printed copy of your passport is usually accepted and is safer than carrying the original everywhere. Ask your accommodation on arrival whether any curfew is in force locally, especially if you are travelling with under-18s or heading outside tourist areas. It is a normal question and takes seconds. Do not smoke or vape in public places. The fine is small but the embarrassment is not. Do not plan to extend a three-month stay by hopping to a neighbouring country and coming back. The advice specifically warns you may be detained. If arriving by private vessel rather than a cruise ship, sort your visa in advance and budget the 105 US dollars in fees. And get travel insurance that matches your itinerary and planned activities, including any emergency medical costs. If you take regular medication, carry it in its original packaging with the dispensing label, keep it in your hand luggage, and take a copy of your prescription.

What to know

The FCDO updated its Panama travel advice on 7 October 2026 with new information on border control checks and curfews. At Panamanian border control you may be asked for your accommodation address and a contact number, a return or onward ticket - particularly arriving by land from Costa Rica - and proof of at least 1,000 US dollars or a credit card. Get your passport stamped on arrival. You can visit for up to three months without a visa by land or air, but cannot normally extend, and attempting to reset your stay by briefly leaving may lead to detention. Non-cruise sea arrivals need a visa plus 100 US dollars and a 5 dollar registration fee. Local authorities occasionally impose night-time curfews lasting several weeks, which may cover adults and unaccompanied under-18s; non-compliance can mean arrest, though curfews are not usually applied in tourist areas. Smoking and vaping in public places are illegal, with fines of 25 to 100 US dollars. The British Embassy cannot intervene in Panamanian immigration decisions. Sources: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, "Panama travel advice", updated 7 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/panama ; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, "Panama travel advice: Entry requirements", updated 7 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/panama/entry-requirements ; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, "Panama travel advice: Safety and security", updated 7 October 2026, https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/panama/safety-and-security This article is for general information and does not replace advice from a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified healthcare professional.

#Panama#travel advice#FCDO#entry requirements#Central America#travel insurance

Related articles