To drive in Panama, do I need a Panamanian driver's license?
Roy Cannon - Gestoria Cocle - main office in Penoneme
Your driver's license from your home country (if this uses a Latin Alphabet - not Arabic or other scripts that cannot be read by a Panamanian police officer), is valid for driving in Panama a period of 90 days (or the length of your visa if less) for cars, motorcycles, bicycles (yes you need a driver's license for bikes) and small vans and busses which do not carry fare paying passengers. If stopped, just show your valid license from another country, together with your passport stamp...
Your driver's license from your home country (if this uses a Latin Alphabet - not Arabic or other scripts that cannot be read by a Panamanian police officer), is valid for driving in Panama a period of 90 days (or the length of your visa if less) for cars, motorcycles, bicycles (yes you need a driver's license for bikes) and small vans and busses which do not carry fare paying passengers. If stopped, just show your valid license from another country, together with your passport stamp that is less than 90 days old, and you are good to go.
If you are going to be in the country for more than 90 days, you will either have to stop driving, or go to Costa Rica to get a new stamp in your passport. The trip to Costa Rica can be for as little as 15 minutes, no minimum stay required, have a coffee and return. There is no limit on the number of times you are permitted to do this, as long as you are from a country that does not require visas to visit Panama.
If you are going to be in the country for more than 90 days, you will either have to stop driving, or go to Costa Rica to get a new stamp in your passport. The trip to Costa Rica can be for as little as 15 minutes, no minimum stay required, have a coffee and return. There is no limit on the number of times you are permitted to do this, as long as you are from a country that does not require visas to visit Panama.
Posted February 4, 2013
Judith Tovar - Easy Travel Panama
You can use your US license for 90 days in Panama. After that you "do" need a Panamanian driver´s license to drive in Panama.
But don`t worry..that is not very hard to get. Once you are here there are special places where you have to go where you can get this Panamanian license without much problem at all.
You can use your US license for 90 days in Panama. After that you "do" need a Panamanian driver´s license to drive in Panama.
But don`t worry..that is not very hard to get. Once you are here there are special places where you have to go where you can get this Panamanian license without much problem at all.
Posted May 6, 2013
Roy Cannon - Gestoria Cocle - main office in Penoneme
To be able to obtain a Panamanian Driver's License you MUST have a carnet (ID Card) from Immigration. The validity of your license will either be for 4 years or the expiration date on your Immigration document, whichever comes first. If you are 70 years of age, or more, you license will be valid for 2 years, renewable with a medical certificate, and you get a 50% discount on the $40 license fee.
Pensioners and all other legal residents qualify...
To be able to obtain a Panamanian Driver's License you MUST have a carnet (ID Card) from Immigration. The validity of your license will either be for 4 years or the expiration date on your Immigration document, whichever comes first. If you are 70 years of age, or more, you license will be valid for 2 years, renewable with a medical certificate, and you get a 50% discount on the $40 license fee.
Pensioners and all other legal residents qualify for a driver's license, if you can prove that you know how to drive. This can be done by producing your "validated" home country license or by going through a Panamanian approved driving school (generally in Spanish) and passing a practical exam.....get your license before you come to avoid the language issue.
Posted May 10, 2013
Keila Mulero - Savvy Link
Panamanian Driver's License...
Tourists visiting Panama may drive with a valid driver’s license from their home country for a period of 90 days. Moreover, once you have your ’temporary’ residency are you are required to have a Panamanian driver's license. If you don't, you can get a citation. You have two options after you have your residency:
- Request a US driver’s license replacement and expedite or certify your US license in...
Panamanian Driver's License...
Tourists visiting Panama may drive with a valid driver’s license from their home country for a period of 90 days. Moreover, once you have your ’temporary’ residency are you are required to have a Panamanian driver's license. If you don't, you can get a citation. You have two options after you have your residency:
- Request a US driver’s license replacement and expedite or certify your US license in Panama. You will receive a Panamanian license the same day.
- Apply for Panamanian license. You need to take the driving and written test.
Be aware that US driver's license doesn't have the blood type required by the Panamanian Transportation Authority. You must get your blood type only from certified local labs...
Posted March 12, 2014
Rafael Alvarado - Rafael Alvarado / Attorney / Real Estate Broker
If you are a tourist in Panama, you can use your existing driver’s license from your own country for three months. After you are in Panama for three months and you are still a tourist, you cannot use that driver’s license anymore.
Once your status is changed, then you can apply for a Panamanian driver’s license at the Transit Authority. They will check your hearing and eyesight but they will not give you a driving test because you...
If you are a tourist in Panama, you can use your existing driver’s license from your own country for three months. After you are in Panama for three months and you are still a tourist, you cannot use that driver’s license anymore.
Once your status is changed, then you can apply for a Panamanian driver’s license at the Transit Authority. They will check your hearing and eyesight but they will not give you a driving test because you already have a driver’s license from another country.
Posted October 15, 2014
Bill Hamilton - Bill Hamilton
You need a driver’s license in Panama if you are a resident or you’ve been here for more than 3 months. You can only drive on your foreign license for three months, after which, you have to go and get a Panamanian license. You have to go to your embassy and have them certify that what you have is a true and valid copy of your driver’s license. Then you take a blood test, fill out paperwork and forms, and then go to the driving place,...
You need a driver’s license in Panama if you are a resident or you’ve been here for more than 3 months. You can only drive on your foreign license for three months, after which, you have to go and get a Panamanian license. You have to go to your embassy and have them certify that what you have is a true and valid copy of your driver’s license. Then you take a blood test, fill out paperwork and forms, and then go to the driving place, where they will put you on a machine. You read signs on the machine by looking through a pair of binocular- type viewers. You go into another room where you put earphones on. There is a computer that makes different sounds and different decibels. You just tap on the mouse right or left. You pay US $40 and you pick up your driver’s license.
There is no physical test with you in the car and an instructor. You do not have to do any of those things. You get to keep your American license or European license as well.
If they catch you driving without a Panamanian driver’s license, and it is past the 90 days, you will get a big fine. However, you're allowed to be in Panama without a Panamanian driver's license; you just can't drive without one.
Posted February 2, 2015
Michael A. Martinez - B & B Real Estate Nicaragua / Panama Real Estate Information
Before, when you got to Panama, you received a 90-day visa. The international law in Panama states that if you have a driver’s license from a foreign country, you are allowed to drive on your native country’s driver’s license for the duration of your visa, which is 90 days. Panama increased the visa period to 6 months for Canadians and Americans. So, you can literally have a visa for 6 months, but because of the technicality of the law, you can only...Before, when you got to Panama, you received a 90-day visa. The international law in Panama states that if you have a driver’s license from a foreign country, you are allowed to drive on your native country’s driver’s license for the duration of your visa, which is 90 days. Panama increased the visa period to 6 months for Canadians and Americans. So, you can literally have a visa for 6 months, but because of the technicality of the law, you can only drive for 90 days and you would have to leave the country, go to Costa Rica and come back and get a new stamp so you can legally drive the additional 90 days. That is what some people do. Some people actually try to bribe the officer and invite them to lunch and hand a US $20 bill. Unfortunately, the way things are, most people get away with that. Nowadays, the letter arrives and you can drive for 90 days. Once expired, you would have to renew your visa, even if you have a 6-month visa, if you want to continue driving without the fear of being pulled over.
(Paso Canoa, the road at the border of Panama and Costa Rica, pictured.)
Posted May 26, 2015