The Ministry of Health (MINSA), through Executive Decree No. 260 of March 29, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), and due to the new strain of P1 Sars Cov-2 (COVID-19) has informed certain measures applicable to all persons coming from, who have stayed in or transited through any country in South America, as follows:

• As of 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, all persons coming from, staying in or transiting through any South American country must bring a negative PCR or antigen test no later than 48 hours prior to arrival.
• In addition, they must undergo, at their own cost, a PCR or Antigen Test upon entry into the country.

• • If the result is negative, the traveler must be isolated at home for 5 days or in a Covid-19 travelers’ hospital. On the fifth day, the antigen swab test must be repeated, and if the result is negative, the isolation ends.
  • If the result is positive, PCR-RT test and typing test +ICGES analysis should be performed. In addition, the traveler must comply with a 14-day quarantine in a Covid-19 travelers’ hospital.

• This Decree will become effective on March 29, 2021.

Comments:

• This Decree applies to nationals, residents and tourists who come from, have stayed, or transited through any South American country, regardless of the result of the PCR or antigen test.
• The current Executive Decree No. 61 of January 8, 2021 establishes the requirement to file a negative result to enter the country or to take a PCR or antigen test at the Tocumen Airport. With this Decree, even when bringing a negative test, any person with characteristics the already indicated is obliged to take a second test at the Airport, in order to enter our country.
• Likewise, the Decree establishes mandatory isolation for all persons coming from, having stayed in or transited through any South American country, regardless of the result of the PCR or antigen test.
• The use of masks and compliance with all biosecurity measures established by MINSA is mandatory for all persons entering the country, whether by air, land or sea, using commercial or private means.
• The Civil Aviation Authority, the National Immigration Office, the Panama Maritime Authority and the Public Force can adopt any measures that they consider necessary to comply with these measures.
• Failure to comply with the provisions of this Decree will be sanctioned in accordance with Executive Decree No. 961 of August 18, 2020, as amended by Executive Decree No. 61 of January 8, 2021.

As of February 12, 2021, the National Authority for Government Innovation enabled the COVID-19 vaccination registration for all foreigners who are living in Panama.

To complete the registration, you must follow these steps.

Step 1. Enter the following link.

https://vacunas.panamasolidario.gob.pa/vacunas_menu/

Step 2. You must select one of the following options.

a. For permanent resident, temporary resident, or resident in process.

Foreigners who already have a registration stamp of the National Migration Service stamped in their passport.

The affiliation number is unique for each foreigner and it doesn´t change. It can be found in:

 b. For foreigners without an affiliation stamp.

Foreigners who don´t have a registration stamp of the National Migration Service stamped in their passport, must select this option.

Step 3. Complete the form with the requested information.

Resolution number 636 of January 27th, 2021 issued by the National Immigration Authority (“SNM”), and published in the Official Gazette on February 1st, 2021 establishes an additional extension of documents, due to the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, namely:

• An extension until June 30th, 2021 in the validity of any identification document issued by the SNM (Provisional Residence Cards, Non-resident Visas, Judicial Stay Cards, Immigration Regularization Cards and Tourists Stay), expired as of March 13th, 2020, without incurring fines or surcharges.
• An extension until June 30th, 2021, to the period in which Permanent Residents who are outside the national territory, can remain abroad, without this situation leading to the cancellation of the Permanent Residence.
• An extension until June 30th, 2021 to previously issued birth and marriage certificates that have expired from March 30th, 2020 to January 31st, 2021.

Comments:

• The extension established in this Resolution will allow an additional validity previously extended until January 31st, 2021, now up to June 30th, 2021.

• The Resolution includes the extension of the period in which permanent residents can be away without incurring a penalty. In this sense, article 31 of Decree Law 8 of 2008 establishes as a cause for canceling permanent residence, that the foreigner remains outside the country for more than two (2) years.

• The marriage and birth certificates will now be valid until June 30th, 2021, only if they expired between March 30th, 2020 and January 31st, 2021.

Decreto Ejecutivo N ° 61 enero 8 ^º , 2021 (en adelante “el Decreto”), publicado en el Boletín Oficial el mismo día, establece medidas sanitarias para los pasajeros al entrar en Panamá durante el estado de emergencia nacional.

Medidas relevantes :

• Requisitos de entrada: Todos los pasajeros deben cumplir con los siguientes requisitos para ingresar a Panamá:

1. Envíe a la aerolínea un Certificado de Prueba Negativa de PCR o Antígenos con un máximo de 48 horas antes de abordar el vuelo en el país de origen.
2. Las autoridades panameñas tendrán derecho a realizar pruebas de PCR o antígenos aleatorias a todos los viajeros en los puntos de entrada, las cuales serán cubiertas por el estado panameño.

• Excepciones: Estos requisitos no serán aplicables a: (i) tripulación técnica; (ii) tripulación auxiliar; (iii) mecánicos de barcos o embarcaciones; y (iv) personal humanitario.
• Será responsabilidad de los Directores Reg i onales de Salud sancionar conmulta de quinientos un dólares (US $ 501.00) hasta cinco mil dólares (US $ 5,000.00) las siguientes infracciones:

1. Incurrir en reincidencia en los comportamientos descritos anteriormente.
2. Violación de vallas sanitarias o puestos de control.
3. Circulación de personas determinadas como sospechosas de COVID-19 que están sujetas a cuarentena y se encuentran en supermercados, estaciones de transporte o lugares y áreas de concurrencia masiva.
4. Circulación de personas diagnosticadas como positivas de COVID-19 que transitan fuera del lugar de aislamiento ordenado.
5. El incumplimiento de las medidas sanitarias establecidas para los nacionales, residentes o extranjeros que ingresen a la República de Panamá, mientras se encuentre vigente el Estado de Emergencia Nacional.

Comentarios:

• Se establece que toda persona que ingrese al Territorio Nacional deberá presentar Certificado Negativo de PCR o Antígenos con un máximo de 48 horas antes de abordar el vuelo en el país de origen.
• Las autoridades competentes podrán realizar pruebas aleatorias a todos los viajeros en los puntos de ingreso, las cuales correrán a cargo del estado panameño.
• Se establecieron los montos de las multas para las personas que no cumplan con ciertas medidas establecidas en este Decreto
• Se incluye como Anexo al Decreto un Flujo de Procesos para la Vigilancia Epidemiológica de Viajeros.
• The Decree abrogates Executive Decree No. 1089 of September 23^rd, 2020 and modifies Article 2 of Executive Decree No. 961 of August 18^th, 2020.
• The Decree will enter as of January 8^th, 2021.