Thread: Almost over 3 months period

I was wondering if there is anyone who ever stayed over the maximum time as a tourist...and what happend?

I'm almost at my 3 months perios and dont really have the time the go out of the country, I understood that asking for another month at the ministry of migration isn't really easy (you have to give a good ereason and its a lot of paper work). People told me that if you stay over your 3 months and you don't get "caught" you don't have a problem and if you do you have to pay a $50 a month fee for each month you stayed extra...

I don't really feel like having a lot of problems on this, but if its just fine of 50$ a month (and no other risk or fine) than I rather take that change.

A friend of mine was turned back into the country at the airport - had to go to the office on Av Cuba and spend a whole day there paying the fine. Missed his flight, various expenses and so on and so forth. I wouldn't mind paying $200 per month at the airport, but that would prevent the Panamanians from using the only invention they ever came up with in history - to torture people with pointless and endless amounts paperwork. They use the principle of avenging sevenfold form the bible I think since they are good Catholics. If you get a fine for X dollars, they need to torture you for 7 times that in expenses and time to complete the transaction.

Why do they do this you might ask? Because they are evil and stupid, or both.

Originally Posted by Annepannetje

I was wondering if there is anyone who ever stayed over the maximum time as a tourist...and what happend?

I'm almost at my 3 months perios and dont really have the time the go out of the country, I understood that asking for another month at the ministry of migration isn't really easy (you have to give a good ereason and its a lot of paper work). People told me that if you stay over your 3 months and you don't get "caught" you don't have a problem and if you do you have to pay a $50 a month fee for each month you stayed extra...

I don't really feel like having a lot of problems on this, but if its just fine of 50$ a month (and no other risk or fine) than I rather take that change.

Well, lucky for you it's 6 months and not 3.

Who knows, maybe for sure in farmville up by Paso Canoas. At the airport they might look at actual laws, depending on the day and employee.

Originally Posted by MRWOOHOO

Well, lucky for you it's 6 months and not 3.

I know for sure that US and Canadian citizens get 6 months - I checked by calling. Not sure about those from the Netherlands.

its 6 now. but basically you need to contact a lawyer and pay the fine. It's 50/month. Then you have 5 days to leave the country, if it went well you have the usual 72hr turn around. my father just did a year, but filed for residecy within the 5 day period and had no problem once the fine was paid.

tahnks for your reactions, I will be calling the ministry of migration today to see what they say me... I will post the result. I'm dutch so indeed don't know if the 6 months visa also applies to me. I'm planning on staying a bit more (without a visa) and in that time arrange another visa, I won't be leaving the country, so hopefully that won't be a(big) problem.

Ok I´ve checked it and indeed also the Dutch get 6 months in Panama.

6 months is probably the norm for most tourist visas, just don't try to drive a car here under your foreign license and passport if you have been in the country for more than 90 days.

I was under the impression that once you obtained your permanent residency you had 90 days to get the Panamanian drivers license. As far as I know, you cannot get a Panamanian drivers license without being a permanent resident. That takes awhile. Most folks I know continue to drive with there foreign license until they get the permanent residency. Maybe someone could clarify the rules for us. Thanx

You can get a drivers license on your temporary residency permit - and you should for liability reasons. If you get into an accident on a foreign license when you should have had a local, normally bad. Especially if a lot of people happen to die. Then they put you in a prison for 2-3 years while the courts process you case.

Originally Posted by Pollerkeeper

I was under the impression that once you obtained your permanent residency you had 90 days to get the Panamanian drivers license. As far as I know, you cannot get a Panamanian drivers license without being a permanent resident. That takes awhile. Most folks I know continue to drive with there foreign license until they get the permanent residency. Maybe someone could clarify the rules for us. Thanx