Thread: Keeping a vehicle on a tourist visa in Panama

I'm planning a motorcycle ride from the U.S. to Panama. Once I arrive I plan to live here for a few years leaving every 90 days for Costa Rica to renew the visa. I am hoping this is a way to get around having to import my bike into Panama and pay $1000's in taxes.

So my plan seemed pretty solid until the other day I spoke with a guy who is in Costa Rica. He told me that he has to leave C.R. every 90 days just like Panama, but his bike has to stay out of the country for 90 days before he can bring it back in for another 90 days.

Can anyone tell me if Panama has a similar law to shut down this loophole?

You can leave it in between the countries. A few years - probably better to import then....

So are you saying that, no I don't have to leave it outside of Panama for 90 days before i can bring it back in for 90 days? I can just take it to Costa Rica for 3 days and bring it back with me?

No, just saying you can have the car in no-mans land for 90 days and avoid having it any country.

I did 90+87 in Costa Rica, then they gave me 3 days to get the car out. You can probably rotate borders to get around this. I got into trouble on the Nicaragua-CR border - they would not take $ to accomodate.

Originally Posted by EdBowers

No, just saying you can have the car in no-mans land for 90 days and avoid having it any country.

I did 90+87 in Costa Rica, then they gave me 3 days to get the car out. You can probably rotate borders to get around this. I got into trouble on the Nicaragua-CR border - they would not take $ to accomodate.

This vehicle I'm talking about is actually a motorcycle. So leaving it sitting in limbo at the border for 90 days is a bad idea in my situation.

I'm not an expert on what it will cost to import the bike into the country, but I have heard some big numbers on taxes that make me really afraid to even try it. Problem is I'm in Panama now with my motorcycle back in the states. I have made the ride from USA to Panama before, and I love that bike and would really like to have it with me here in Panama. So I hate to sell it in the states and buy something different here in Panama.

Just trying to figure out a way around it, anyone has an idea please let me know. Thx

Maybe you can "lose" the title and plates and register it in another state. Then you have 2 titles and 2 plates.

Could work since you can hang around nomans land in Paso Canoas for a day or so.