Can I enter Panama with a one way ticket as I am coming with the intent of moving there and am in the midst of obtaining my pensioned visa. My lawyer is in Boquete. Will I have trouble at the customs with a one way ticket?
Bruce
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if you come through Tocumen perhaps, but the answer is really most of the times NO: The airlines in US require you to have a return ticket.
This is what I did before. The day I was traveling to Panama I´d buy a Spirit ticket with insurance, from Panama to the US. When I arrived in Panama I canceedl it and had no charges on my CC because it was within 24 hours.
If you do come through the Costa Rica border, they will also ask you for a copy of your bank statement, CC statement or to show $500 cash which is the easiest way.
We bought a shuttle bus ticket online from Bocas del Toro, Panama, to Puerto Viejo, CR, and Copa Airlines accepted that. You just need something showing you are leaving the country within six months. That was 15 months ago.
Buy a bus ticket online from Tica Bus from Panama City to San Jose. They can help you out. They will send you a PDF ticket online. Just print it out and your good to go. It cost $42. Or, buy a single return ticket for a later date (good for 180 days after entry) and NOT a round trip airline ticket and cancel the return ticket after boarding. By law they have to give you a full refund within 24 hrs. Or, buy a one way refundable return ticket for a later date. The airline companies, when departing the US, make you show proof of travel out of Panama by land, sea or air when LEAVING the US before boarding a flight for Panama. Panama holds the airlines responsible. I researched the Panamanian law on entry from the US by air. United enforces the law. I don't know about the others from the US but would think they are on board with the law. Now, the land crossing requirements are different. You can research this on the US Embassy web sight or Panama Government site.
It's a crap shoot whether or not they'll check. I purchased two one way tickets with the return being refundable and simply canceled it and requested a refund after I arrived.
We did it with no problem at all. We were in your exact situation. We told the ticket agent, at the airport, when we checked in that we were moving to Panama and we had no problem at all. In fact, the lady began asking questions, stating that she was seeing a lot of people going through who were doing this. Of course, this was a little over 3 years ago. Things do change daily. Good luck.