Panama-Borders and Roads

Table of Contents

Border Crossing Information
Roads and Driving

Border Crossing Information

Entry Requirements

Necessary documents

Passport
Vehicle Title
One photocopy of each

Costs

$1 sticker for passport
$10 tourist card
$1 fumigation

Procedure

At the migracion window you will need to pay $1 for a sticker for your passport, as well as $10 for the 'tarjeta de tourista.' After filling out the tarjeta and presenting your paperwork and passports to the Panama Tourism Bureau or Instituto Panameno de Tourismo officials, you can proceed to the aduana to start the car import process. They need a photocopy of your title and passport, as well as the originals. If more than one person will be driving the car, make sure to give them photocopies of their passports as well. They will process your paperwork and give you your vehicle import permit, which should not cost anything. A D.F.A. official will then inspect your car with your paperwork before you can finalize the process. You will also need to pay $1 at a separate window for the fumigation station.

Exit Requirements

For information about shipping your car from Panama to South America around the Darien Gap, please see the Darien Gap Shipping page. For information on how to travel by boat or plane across the Darien Gap, read the Traveling Across the Darien Gap page.

Individual Experiences

People's experiences vary depending on crowds at the border, corrupt or honest border officials, and rules can also change. People's individual experiences are included in the Panama-Additional Border Crossing Information page.

Roads and Driving

The Pan-American Highway is the main road in Panama. In general it's in good condition, well paved, wide, with shoulders. Apparently they don't really believe in signs in Panama though, so get ready to do a lot of stopping and asking around.

Panama