Panama has lifted the decades-old stamped consular visa requirement for all Dominican citizens traveling to the country as tourists, following the formal signing of Executive Decree No. 12 by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino Quintero. The policy change went into effect immediately after the decree was officially published in Panama’s Official Digital Gazette, bringing an end to a restrictive travel rule that had stood for nearly a decade.
According to a statement released by the Panamanian government, the decision to eliminate the visa mandate came after a comprehensive interagency review that found no remaining security or technical justifications to keep the 2015 travel restriction in place. The statement also emphasized the deep, mutually beneficial diplomatic and commercial connections that have long bound the two Latin American nations, framing the policy shift as a reflection of the growing closeness of the bilateral relationship.
The new executive order formally repeals the older Executive Decree No. 176 enacted in 2015, which had forced Dominican travelers to complete an in-person visa application process at Panamanian consulates prior to embarking on their trip. That requirement created significant administrative burdens and travel delays for Dominican citizens planning visits to Panama.
Under the updated regulations, Dominican nationals can now enter Panama for tourist purposes without securing a pre-approved consular visa. Per existing Panamanian immigration law, eligible visitors can stay in the country for a maximum period of 90 days per entry. This adjustment moves the Dominican Republic into the growing group of countries whose citizens enjoy streamlined, favorable entry conditions into Panama, opening new opportunities for tourism, business travel, and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.