Visas & Customs Requirements

Students:

Foreigners that desire to study as full-time regular students, in public or private schools, of basic, intermediate, upper, and specialized levels, recognized by the Department of Education will be able to request the Panama Student Visa.

Applicants must register all subjects pertaining to the plan of study for either the two-month period, quarter, semester, or module period.

Exempted are nocturnal studies registered subject to certification by the school.

The Panama Student Visa is exclusively for those dedicated to studies. Therefore, during the length of their studies, they are forbidden to work, except for the professional practices and courses required by the educational center.

In addition to the basic requirements established in Article 28 of the Decree Law (except for the deposit for repatriation) and the presentation by means of legal attorney, the applicant must submit the following documents:

1. Letter of admission from the educational center;


2. Payment receipts of registeration;


3. Certification by the center of study containing: the basic information of the applicant, duration of the studies, and subjects or courses that have been registered;


4. If the courses are exclusively nocturnal hours, the certification by the University must certify that the courses only are given at night;


5. Solvency of economic reliability, which will be verified by submission of:
   • Document that shows the student is a holder of a scholarship of studies;
   • Certification authenticated by the parents of the student where they are responsible for the expenses of study and constancy of their relationship;
   • Constancy of financing;
   • Banking letter or statement of the student's credit card;


6. In the case the student has a sponsoring national resident, the sponsor must present a letter that accredits:
   • The commitment to assume the expenses of education and its basic needs, and copies of the personal identity card of the responsible resident;
   • Copies if ID;


7. If the applicant is under age, he will need to submit:
   • Copy of his birth certificate;
   • Present authorization written by the parents in favor of the sponsoring resident. Note: if the father or the mother of the student under age are in Panama.

To request an extension of the Panama Student Visa, besides the requirements mentioned in the numerals described in the previous article, the applicant must present:

• Approved credits of the previous year's courses.

The length of this permit will be for the term of one (1) extendable year to a total of six (6) years. Before the six years expire, students will need to explore other Panama visa options to acquire legal residency in Panama.

List of universities in Panama:

• Universidad Tecnol?gica de Panama
• Universidad Latina de Panama
• Universidad de Panam
• Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnologia
• Columbus University
• Universidad Autonoma de Chiriqui
• Universidad del Istmo
• Universidad Especializada de Las Americas
• Universidad Maritima Internacional de Panama
• Universidad Americana
• Universidad Interamericana de Panama
• Universidad de Louisville
• Universidad Tecnol?gica Oteima
• ISAE Universidad
• Universidad de Cartago de Panama
• GANEXA Universidad del Arte
• Universidad Panamericana
• Universidad Metropolitana de Educacion Ciencia y Tecnologia
• Universidad San Martin de Panama