Panama Extends Cuban Transit Visa Requirement Through June 2029
Panama has prolonged its mandatory transit visa requirement for Cuban nationals passing through the country, pushing the rule's deadline to June 30, 2029. The extension replaces a previous cutoff of July 31, 2026 and keeps in place tighter controls on layovers at Tocumen International Airport in Panama City.
What changed
Executive Decree No. 15, signed on August 14, 2026, extends a transit regime first introduced in December 2022. According to the source, the measure took effect immediately on publication in the Official Gazette.
Under the rule, Cuban passengers connecting through Tocumen may remain only in the international transit area for up to 24 hours. They cannot leave the transit zone or enter Panamanian territory during a layover. Crucially, airlines will deny boarding to any Cuban traveler routing through Panama without verified Panamanian transit clearance.
Who is exempt
The decree lists automatic exemptions for travelers who meet certain residency or visa thresholds, including:
- Direct return travelers flying home to Cuba.
- Holders of valid Panamanian visas or permanent residency.
- Permanent residents of a third country returning to that country.
- Holders of a valid entry visa for their final destination.
- Holders of used, multiple-entry visas with at least six months of validity remaining, issued by the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom or an EU member state.
Cuban travelers who don't qualify for any exemption must obtain an approved transit visa before flying. The source notes applications must be filed well ahead of travel, either through a registered Panamanian legal representative at the National Migration Service in Panama, or via the Panamanian consulate in Havana.
What it means for nomads
Panama City is a major hub linking South America, North America and Europe, so this rule matters to Cuban remote workers and expats plotting routes across the Americas. If you hold a Cuban passport and rely on Panama connections, check your documents against the exemption list before booking anything.
Because the requirement is enforced at the boarding gate, a missing transit visa can strand you at your departure airport with a non-refundable ticket. If you don't clearly fall under an exemption, budget extra lead time to file an application through the proper channels, and confirm your clearance before purchasing tickets rather than after. Travelers who hold qualifying residency or long-validity visas elsewhere generally avoid the extra step, but it's worth verifying rather than assuming.
Originally reported by Stamped Nomad.