The U.S. Embassy in Panama detailed on Tuesday the procedures and requirements for applying for or renewing visas for the 2026 World Cup. Ambassador Kevin Cabrera urged fans to begin the process as soon as possible. He reminded that while in other countries the new program announced by President Donald Trump allows for a faster appointment by presenting tickets, in Panama that condition is not required: "It is not necessary to have your tickets to apply for a visa to see Panama's games in the United States." Cabrera added that the consular section is handling "times of no more than 2 months to get an interview appointment." He also noted that the consulate currently serves about 500 people per day and has the capacity to increase if necessary, including attending to Colombians traveling to Panama to process their visas. Vice Consul Noah Myers stated that Panama maintains a low rejection rate compared to the region. "I don't have an exact figure, but it's quite low," he said, indicating that the causes of denial are the same as in any other country and depend on each case. Myers also added that they have already attended to people seeking visas for the World Cup even before Panama's qualification, and an increase is expected in the coming weeks. He recommended verifying all steps directly on the official website: "It's all there, how to apply for a visa, with step-by-step instructions." "We are making a call to all Panamanian fans who are interested in going to see the games in the United States to start applying for their visa as soon as possible," Cabrera said. "At this moment we are not concerned, we have sufficient capacity," he assured. Regarding renewal cases, he specified that those with a valid visa or one that expired less than a year ago can request an interview waiver. "If you have a valid visa or one that expired less than 1 year ago, you can request an interview waiver, and normally the times are about 2 weeks," he explained. "So far we have been under the 2 months, which is what President Trump has committed," he said, while emphasizing that the requirements remain exactly the same. Regarding the validity period, Cabrera responded that the regular period for a tourist visa will be maintained: "It is for the normal period for a tourist visa, not only to visit the World Cup." He also indicated that the cost remains at $185 and that journalists traveling accredited must follow the regular process for the corresponding visa. Myers also warned about people who promote themselves as authorized facilitators: "We do not have any certification system."
