Panama Transit Visa For Cubans
Replies: 6 - Last Post: Mar 15, 2012 4:03 PM Last Post By: anillos_de_satu...
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Panama Transit Visa For Cubans
I know this is relevant to be very few here but....According to an email today from our local Cuban Consulate Panama has just introduced a new regulation requiring Cubans not residents in Panama to obtain a Tourist Transit Visa EVEN if not leaving airport. Need to apply at least 10 days before travelling.Each time I have flown via Panama City 99% of the passengers were Cubans returning from some other country loaded with booty. And Panama City is a frequent gateway for Cubans not just living in central/south america but travelling to and from the antipodes.
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COPA Airlines might have the best information regarding the new Panama transit visa for Cubans.I believe that passengers not leaving the airport = not going thru immigration/customs between flights, aren't required to hold visas.
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#3 2travel2know "I believe that passengers not leaving the airport = not going thru immigration/customs between flights, aren't required to hold visas."That's quite contrary to what both the news item anillos posted and the actual wording of the regulation from the Panama government.
Have you read either?
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The source of the Panamanian transit visas for Cubans was that Ecuador doesn't require entry visas for Cubans, so hundreds of Cubans were flying - mostly CM - to Ecuador, making their way overland to the U.S. and being caught in Panama becoming a burden to the Panamanian immigration authorities.As intelligent our government is, they tacked the problem by requiring all Cubans flying thru PTY transit visas, regardless of final destination, when the measure was aimed at those Cubans getting into Panama by land or sea ilegally.
I think CM put some sense into the Panamanian paranoic immigration authorities and the requirement was changes only to apply for those flying to Ecuador via PTY.
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#5 good research anillos re the 9 March amending regulation. Our local consulate hasn't got that one yet!! they only forwarded a copy of the 27 Feb Gazette a few days ago!#6 "intelligent" LOL 2t2k! And just to reiterate the reg(s) do still apply (although now to a smaller cohort) even to those NOT leaving the airport.
