/ Published in Immigration Law, news

New requirements to entry into the country, applicable to Panamanian, residents, and foreigners.

The Ministry of Health (hereinafter “MINSA” for its acronym in Spanish) through Executive Decree No. 804 of July 22, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), modifies the requirements to entry to Panama, applicable to Panamanian, residents, or foreigners during the State of National Emergency, as follow:

NEW RULES APPLICABLE FROM JULY 23, 2021.

  • Digital Health Sworn Affidavit.Any Panamanian, resident, or foreigner who enters Panama must provide, prior to boarding, a Digital Health Sworn Affidavit, with a negative Covid-19 test up to 72 hours before leaving their country.

 

  • Passengers coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk with vaccines.Any Panamanian, resident or foreigner coming from, who have stayed or transited, in the last 15 days, through countries identified as High Risk, will be exempted from the 3-day quarantine and do not have to take the Covid-19 test upon entry to Panama if they have:
    • A negative Covid-19 Test (PCR or Antigen) up to 72 hours and;
    • A Card o Digital Certification with the complete immunization scheme with vaccines approved by WHO, EMA and FDA, with the last dose applied at least 14 days before entry to Panama.

 

  • Passengers coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk without vaccines.If the passenger does not have a complete Covid-19 vaccination card or if the last doses was applied less than 14 days before entry to Panama, he/she must:
    • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
    • Do a 72-hours of quarantine at home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama the quarantine must be done at a hotel for non-Covid-19 travelers, free cost or in an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
    • Take a third Covid-19 test after the 72-hours of quarantine. If the results are negative the quarantine will end and if the results are positive the passenger must do a 14-day isolation at their home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama, the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
  • Passengers coming from countries with Low Epidemiological Risk.Any Panamanian, resident or foreigner coming from countries identified as Low Risk, who has a negative Covid-19 test (PCR or Antigen) up to 72 hours before entry to Panama will be exempted of the 3-days quarantine and the Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama.

NEW RULES APPLICABLE FROM AUGUST 9, 2021.

  • Foreigner passengers without immigration process and without vaccines coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk.Any foreigner without immigration process in Panama coming from countries identified as High Risk, in the last 15 days, who does not have a complete Covid-19 vaccination card or if the last doses was applied less than 14 days before entry to Panama, must:
    • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
    • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
    • Take a third Covid-19 test after the 72-hours of quarantine. If the results are negative the quarantine will end and if they are positive the passenger must do a 14-day isolation at their home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama, the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.

 

  • Passenger with positive Covid-19 test coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk.If the Covid-19 Test taking upon arrival to Panama has a positive result the passenger coming from, who have stated or transited in the last 15 days, through countries identified as High Risk, must do a 14-days isolation at home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
  • MINSA retains the authority to randomly carry out Covid-19 test for any incoming passenger who enter Panama at the passenger expense.
  • This Decree will take effect from its promulgation.

Comments.

  • Previously, the exemption of the 3-day quarantine and the Covid-19 molecular test upon arrival to Panama, was only for Panamanians or residents who had the complete requirements. Now this measure is extended to foreigners without immigration process in Panama.
  • The exemption of the 3-days quarantine is maintained for any passenger coming from countries identified as Low Epidemiological Risk.
  • The validity of the Covid-19 test for entry to Panama is extended up to 72 hours. Before it had a maximum of 48 hours of validity.
  • From August 9, 2021, the 72-hours of quarantine doing by a foreigner must take place in an authorized hotel at the passenger expense. Previously, this quarantine could be done in a hotel for non-Covid-19 travelers at free cost.
  • Some of the countries or regions considered as High Epidemiological Risk are United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa, India, and South America’s countries.