Panama Restores Transit Visas for Haitian Citizens

The government of Panama has reinstated the requirement for a transit visa for Haitian citizens traveling through the country to another destination or returning to their home country. In addition to Haiti, visitor visas are also required for citizens of the Dominican Republic. For Cubans, both a tourist visa and a transit visa are required, even if they are only passing through the airport. To obtain a transit visa, applicants must present documents proving their domicile in the destination country. The visa will cost 50 dollars, and to apply, interested parties must have an airline reservation with a continuing itinerary. It can only be granted for a maximum period of 24 hours and only authorizes the migrant to remain in the international transit area of the airport in order to continue their journey. Once the requirements are verified, the Panamanian consul in the applicant's country must send the information electronically to the National Migration Service. Last August, this document was eliminated for Haitians; however, it has been reinstated through Executive Decree No. 28 of December 5, 2025. Precisely, this entity is the one authorized to approve or reject the application presented. Haiti is going through a difficult political and social situation, with a society convulsed by the confrontation of criminal gangs. The situation worsened after the assassination in 2021 of President Jovenel Moïse, who was in power for four years.