Mercjoe

I live in Costa Rica now, but am coming to Panama to check it out. I have a few Questions.

1) With 30 days allowed on a tourst stamp, What do they do if you overstay? In CR they only charge you a little fine and let you come right back.

2) do they have the same kinds of road block checks near the borders and in the country there, and do they require you to carry your passport or is a license sufficient?

Here in CR they are passport mad. All the Cops now check your passport hoping for a 20 dollar bribe if you{ve overstayed - is that the same down south in panama? Can I stay longer than I am supposed to and have no real problems? if not what are the problems?

Thanks, just looking for some info.

ladonna

Hi Mercjoe!

As a matter of fact I once overstayed for five days and the guy at immigration just checked my passport name with my boarding pass name and didn't even look at the entrance stamp. At a different occasion I asked them what would happen if I overstayed and they said that they would charge me a low fee depending on how long I overstayed.

Mercjoe

Are there road checks in or outside panama city?

And if so...

Do they check passports, or just id's?

Do I have to carry my passport or just a copy?

Thanks ladonna

expatplayer

What happens if you do not have your passport on you?

I've heard that it is common for people to get their passport stolen, since they are so valuable on the blackmarket.

Lalaguayaba

I've never seen or heard of roadside checks in/out of P.C. since the Noreiga regime, and haven't spoken to anyone who has experienced it ever--Panamanians are very used to American ideas of freedom in that manner. I did not have to produce one to check into hotels, but I did for the rental car--and I think mostly to reassure the agent that our visa stamps were good for the time of the rental (2 months.)

If driving, take your passport, as well as your state issued license, and if you plan to drive a lot, spend the $20 to get an International D.L. (you can find many places that offer this service, AAA is one such source.) If you plan on taking buses/taxis, etc., then take a copy(s) of your passport and leave the original in the hotel safe or somewhere else you feel is secure.

Its like travelling anywhere else that was never a Soviet colony or a dictatorship--just go. Roadside shakedowns are just not part of a country with an active, vibrant and awesome tourist economy. I mean, would you ask this question about Jamaica? And I would honestly be a lot more nervous driving around the interior and mountains of Jamaica than Panama...
And, if you happen to space your passport and need it for something, the copy has all the relevant information on it; the number, country of register, etc. and with a few minutes of chatting, I'm sure you could talk someone into accepting a copy when paired with a U.S. identification.

Cheers.