16open jobs
4organisations hiring
0violent events in 3 months
To prepare a mission or a new post: the essential context, region by region. This briefing does not replace your organisation's security briefing on arrival.
presidential republic
Mestizo (mixed Indigenous and White) 65%, Indigenous 12.3% (Ngabe 7.6%, Kuna 2.4%, Embera 0.9%, Bugle 0.8%, other 0.4%, unspecified 0.2%), Black or African descent 9.2%, Mulatto 6.8%, White 6.7% (2010 est.)
Spanish (official), Indigenous languages (including Ngabere (Guaymi), Buglere, Kuna, Embera, Wounaan, Naso (Teribe), and Bri Bri), Panamanian English Creole (a mixture of English and Spanish with elements of Ngabere, also known as Guari Guari and Colon Creole), English, Chinese (Yue and Hakka), Arabic, French Creole, other (Yiddish, Hebrew, Korean, Japanese)
Evangelical 55%, Roman Catholic 33.4%, none 10.1%, unspecified 1.5% (2023 est.)
Country profiles: The World Factbook (CIA), public domain, last edition (2025-2026).
upper middle-income Central American economy; increasing Chinese trade; US dollar user; canal expansion fueling broader infrastructure investment; services sector dominates economy; historic money-laundering and illegal drug hub
4.6 MPopulation2025
66.2 %Urban population2025
$19,790GDP per capita2025
4.4 %GDP growth2025
-0.2 %Inflation2025
3.1 %Extreme poverty (international line)2024
8.4 %Unemployment2025
96.2 %Adult literacy2024
72.8 %Internet users2024
96 %Access to electricity2024
2,694refugees hosted2025
4,129asylum seekers2025
3,368refugees and asylum seekers from the country2025
942stateless people2025
Indicators: World Bank (CC BY 4.0); refugees and displaced people: UNHCR Refugee Data Finder. Latest available year for each figure.
no regular military forcesMinistry of Public Security: National Police (Policía Nacional, PN), National Aeronaval Service (Servicio Nacional Aeronaval, SENAN), National Border Service (Servicio Nacional de Fronteras, SENAFRONT) (2025)
Tren de Aragua (TdA)
Informative list, to be complemented by your organisation's security analysis and NGO security forums.
UK government (FCDO) travel advice. Some guidance is aimed at British nationals; always follow your organisation's instructions.
On 9 October 2026, a strong earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.6 struck Panama. According to the Instituto de Geociencias de la Universidad de Panamá, the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 39 kilometres west of Tonosí. The tremor was felt across much of the country and authorities are assessing damage.
If you are affected and need assistance from the UK government, call:
• From Panama: +507 297 6550
• From the UK: +44 (0) 20 7008 5000
Initial tsunami warnings have been lifted. Individuals in coastal areas should remain vigilant, follow instructions from local authorities, and move away from the shoreline if advised to do so.
Be aware of the possibility of aftershocks and continue to follow local safety advice. We are monitoring the situation closely and will update this message as more information becomes available.
No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to:
If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice.
Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated.
Follow FCDO:
Organised violence events recorded by UCDP, July – September 2026.
No organised violence event recorded in the country over this period.
There is a high threat of terrorist attack globally affecting UK interests and British nationals, including from groups and individuals who view the UK and British nationals as targets. Stay aware of your surroundings at all times.
UK Counter Terrorism Policing has information and advice on staying safe and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack. Find out how to reduce your risk from terrorism while abroad.
Although there is no recent history of terrorism in Panama, attacks cannot be ruled out.
Protests can be unpredictable, occur at short notice and escalate quickly. Avoid protests and demonstrations, monitor local media and follow advice from local authorities. Avoid travelling around protest-affected areas at night. Protests may be particularly large in Colón City.
Protests often involve informal road blocks and can affect access to the border crossing into Costa Rica at Paso Canoas and international airports. Check your route and alternatives before travelling. If you are unable to reach an airport for a planned flight, contact your airline to make alternative arrangements.
If you are the victim of a crime in Panama and want to report the incident, do so before you leave the country, otherwise the police may not investigate.
Street crime can happen anywhere, but these areas of Panama City have higher levels of crime:
There is a risk of pickpocketing in busy areas, on buses and at bus stations. You can take steps to protect yourself and your belongings, including:
People have been attacked after withdrawing cash from ATMs. Where possible, use an ATM inside a bank or shopping centre.
Take sensible precautions to avoid mugging, particularly in main shopping areas and tourist sites, including:
Be wary if visitors approach you to get access to your accommodation. Criminal gangs have used this method to commit burglaries. If you’re in any doubt, call the police.
There have been violent attacks, including sexual assault, in tourist destinations in Panama City and across the country. Use the same level of caution you would in the UK when travelling at night. Avoid poorly lit areas and do not walk on your own.
See advice for women travelling abroad.
There have been incidents of targeted gang assassinations, some in tourist areas. Most of these crimes are between members of rival drug gangs.
As a foreign national, you must carry ID such as a passport. The police will usually accept a printed copy.
Local authorities occasionally impose night-time curfews for adults and/or unaccompanied minors under the age of 18. These are usually in place for several weeks and limited exceptions apply. This is part of government efforts to tackle criminal groups and organised crime.
Those who do not comply with the curfew face arrest by the police. They are not usually applied in tourist areas, but seek local advice if a curfew is introduced in an area you are visiting.
It is illegal to smoke in public places. You could be fined 25 to 100 US dollars if you are caught smoking where it’s not allowed. The use of e-cigarettes is also banned in public places.
Do not become involved with drugs of any kind. You can get a prison sentence for possessing even a small quantity of drugs.
The judicial process is slow and sentencing may take up to 2 years, during which you are likely to be detained. Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Panama are often harsh. Most facilities are overcrowded with limited access to healthcare. There have been recent cases of riots resulting in prisoner deaths.
Same-sex civil unions are illegal, but same-sex relationships are legal in Panama. Most Panamanians are generally tolerant of LGBT+ travellers. However, Panamanian law does not ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. There have been incidents of police officers detaining LGBT+ couples on the grounds of public indecency. Showing affection in public can lead to unwanted attention. Casco Viejo is considered a safe place for LGBT+ travellers.
Read more advice for LGBT+ travellers.
Take care when wading, swimming or taking part in water sports on Pacific and Caribbean beaches. Some beaches have strong currents and undertows and there are rarely warning signs. People drown every year.
Do not swim in the Bay of Panama as it is highly polluted with untreated sewage and industrial waste.
See advice on safe swimming from ABTA and holiday water safety from the Royal Life Saving Society.
If hiking in Panama you should consider going with an experienced guide. Trails may not be well marked, and mobile phone coverage is unreliable. Tourists have gone missing and died hiking without a guide. Seek local advice before setting out.
If you are planning on driving in Panama, see information on driving abroad.
You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Panama for up to 3 months. The Panamanian authorities will not accept a paper licence – you can update it to a photocard licence. Carry a copy of your passport with the dated entry stamp as proof you’re still within the 3 months permitted.
Drivers and front-seat passengers must wear seatbelts. Children aged 4 and under must travel in the back in fitted child seats.
Drink-driving is a serious offence in Panama. If you are tested and found to have any alcohol in your system, you may get a fine, have your licence revoked and your car impounded.
Driving standards can be poor. Traffic accidents are common. Roads are often poorly lit and can have potholes and unfinished repairs. Darien Province and other remote rural areas may have very few surfaced roads.
Traffic can be heavy in populated areas especially in and close to Panama City.
Repair work and construction sites are common in these areas.
If you are involved in a traffic accident with another driver, wait inside your vehicle for your insurance representative and the traffic police to arrive. Avoid any type of confrontation with other drivers or passers-by.
Taxis can be in poor condition and accidents, due to poor maintenance and driving standards, are common. To reduce your risk, use ride-hailing apps or hotel-arranged transport only.
See extreme weather and natural hazards for information about how to prepare, and how to react if there is a warning.
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November. Hurricanes do not directly affect Panama but often cause heavy rain. There may be flash floods and landslides. October and November have the heaviest rainfall.
Monitor local news, check World Meteorological Association weather reports for Panama and follow local advice.
Earthquakes are a risk in Panama. The US Federal Emergency Management Agency website has advice about what to do before, during and after an earthquake or tsunami.
This section has safety advice for regions of Panama. It only covers regions where FCDO has specific advice.
You should also read FCDO’s overall travel advice and safety and security advice.
There is a risk of violence near the Colombia border in an area east of a line drawn between:
You should only travel to the east of this line in an organised group, and make sure local police and security authorities are aware of your visit. Follow local security advice and do not stray from your group.
Colombian criminal violence can spill over into the region of Panama bordering Colombia where there is a threat from Colombian and other armed groups. Foreign nationals and Panamanian citizens have been the victims of violent crimes, kidnapping and murder in this area.
79.8yearsLife expectancy2024
15.3per 1,000 live birthsUnder-5 mortality2024
37per 100,000 live birthsMaternal mortality2023
3.5per 1,000 people at riskMalaria (new cases)2024
1.63per 1,000 peoplePhysicians2022
95.3 %Basic drinking water access2024
Before you travel check that:
This is particularly important if you have a health condition or are pregnant.
Call 103 and ask for an ambulance.
Call 911 for emergencies.
Contact your insurance company quickly if you’re referred to a medical facility for treatment.
At least 8 weeks before your trip:
See what health risks you’ll face in Panama, including:
Tap water is safe to drink in most of the country. Follow local recommendations in rural and island areas, where there can be a risk of contaminated water.
Altitude sickness is a risk in parts of Panama. Read more about altitude sickness on TravelHealthPro.
The legal status and regulation of some medicines prescribed or bought in the UK can be different in other countries.
Read best practice when travelling with medicines on TravelHealthPro.
Panama City has some good private hospitals and clinics, but medical facilities outside the capital are limited.
FCDO has a list of medical providers in Panama where some staff will speak English.
Read FCDO guidance on travel and mental health. There is also mental health guidance on TravelHealthPro.
Passport Index Data (passportindex.org), MIT licence. Indicative, for a tourist stay; always check with the embassy or consulate. (17 February 2026)
This information is for people travelling on a full ‘British citizen’ passport from the UK. It is based on the UK government’s understanding of Panama’s current rules for the most common types of travel.
The authorities in Panama set and enforce entry rules. If you’re not sure how these requirements apply to you, contact the Embassy and Consulate of Panama in the UK.
If you are visiting Panama, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you plan to leave Panama.
If you live in Panama, your passport must have an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the day you arrive.
Your passport must have at least one blank page.
Check with your travel provider that your passport and other travel documents meet requirements. Renew your passport if you need to.
You will be denied entry if you do not have a valid travel document or try to use a passport that has been reported lost or stolen.
When returning to the UK, British citizens must carry a valid British passport or certificate of entitlement. See Dual citizenship.
Make sure you get your passport stamped.
Make sure immigration officials stamp your passport with the date you arrived in the country.
At Panamanian border control, you may need to:
You can visit Panama for up to 3 months without a visa if you arrive by land or air. There are different visa requirements for sea arrivals.
You cannot normally extend your stay, unless you apply to change your immigration status (for example, for business purposes or marriage) within the 3 months.
If you try to extend your stay by visiting a neighbouring country and returning to Panama, immigration officials may detain you. The British Embassy cannot intervene in decisions made by Panama’s immigration officials.
If you arrive on a vessel that is not a cruise ship, you must have a visa to enter Panama. You must pay a fee of 100 US dollars, plus 5 US dollars registration, for each passenger or crew member. There may be other fees, for example for cruising permits. Check in advance what permits you will need and how to get them.
If you arrive on a cruise ship or are travelling through the Panama Canal, you do not need a visa unless you are staying in Panama for more than 3 months. Immigration authorities will stamp your passport if you leave the ship. They do not board cruise ships travelling through the Canal to check passports.
If you need a visa, apply through the Embassy and Consulate of Panama in the UK. They can give you more information on entry requirements.
For information on extending your stay, check with the Panama National Migration Service (in Spanish).
There is a charge of 40 US dollars on departure. This is usually included in the price of your ticket. Check with your airline.
To enter Panama, you must have a certificate to prove you’ve had a yellow fever vaccination if you’re coming from a country listed as a transmission risk.
For full details about medical entry requirements and recommended vaccinations, see TravelHealthPro’s Panama guide.
There are strict rules about goods you can take into or out of Panama. You must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
Before you arrive, register with the coordination bodies: they share alerts, cluster meetings and useful contacts.
Clusters: health, nutrition, protection, WASH, food security, shelter, education, logistics, emergency telecommunications and CCCM. OCHA publishes their meetings and contacts in each country where they are activated.
Organisations hiring in the country, based on open jobs on the site:
Violence over the last 3 months, jobs and passages of official advice that mention the region.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
On 9 October 2026, a strong earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.6 struck Panama. According to the Instituto de Geociencias de la Universidad de Panamá, the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 10 kilometres, approximately 39 kilometres west of Tonosí. The tremor was felt across much of the country and authorities are assessing damage.
• From Panama: +507 297 6550 • From the UK: +44 (0) 20 7008 5000
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Protests can be unpredictable, occur at short notice and escalate quickly. Avoid protests and demonstrations, monitor local media and follow advice from local authorities. Avoid travelling around protest-affected areas at night. Protests may be particularly large in Colón City.
the Madden Dam area – off the main Panama to Colón road
No organised violence recorded over the period.
Driving standards can be poor. Traffic accidents are common. Roads are often poorly lit and can have potholes and unfinished repairs. Darien Province and other remote rural areas may have very few surfaced roads.
Yaviza in the eastern Darien Province
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
No organised violence recorded over the period.
This briefing gathers public information to prepare a mission. It does not replace your organisation's security analysis, your security focal point's instructions or the country's authorities.