New rules for tourist stays

[Patrick]

http://www.newsroompanama.com/news/panama/new-rules-tourist-stays?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+newsroompanama+%28Newsroom+Panama%29

NEW RULES  governing the length of time tourists can stay in the country went into effect on Wednesday, May 31. It is aimed primarily   at residents from Colombia, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

The new rule establishes a maximum time of stay of 90 days as a tourist in the country of 90 days. Previously it was 180 days.

It also clarified that citizens of the three  nationalities who entered the country before the validity of this decree will be able to maintain their status of 180 days as tourists.

The decree was signed by President Juan Carlos Varela and Minister of Public Security Alexis Bethancourt Yau.

The changes went into effect after being published in the Official Gazette.

One of the reasons for establishing this new regulation is that a large number of foreigners from those countries engaged in work without requesting the change of immigration status.

The new provision was announced by Varela on Friday. The president also said that there will be an increase in the surveillance of foreigners entering Panama.

[Susan Killen]

US citizens can only drive legally for 90 days... and stay for 180

[Susan Killen]

US citizens can only drive legally for 90 days... and stay for 180

[Amanda Firestone]

Ninety days for those three, 180 days for U.S. citizens.

[Bob Miller]

Any updates for boarder crossing? Is it still a month?

[Sheila]

I think that it is still not clear. On another forum an Embassy warden posted about an email that she received from an American. He said that last Thursday he tried to re-enter Panama at Tocumen after being out for 30 days. He said he was sent back to the US along with several other Americans. They told him that he had an arrest record from several years ago and wouldn't be allowed back in Panama. He said that he has lived in Boquete for ten years. She didn't give his name and he didn't give any details as to whether he had a previous arrest that led to a conviction of a crime, or if it was just an arrest. I know that there are a few that posted on this forum in April that they had left for their 30 days out. I haven't seen anyone posting about returning. 

[Floyd R. Turbo]

I would like to disabuse the idea that one has to spend 30 days out in general. I returned less than 30 days to Albrook no problems last month. So have others, but at Tocumen.

BTW people, don't use months to calculate your stays, it is DAYS, and yes it matters. Glib statements are rife on this forum.

[Sheila]

How long have you been border hopping?