Can I leave Tocumen International Airport on my layover?

Who can leave PTY without a visa?

Tocumen (PTY) has an international transit zone: passengers whose nationality is not on Panama's transit-visa list can stay airside for up to 12 hours without a visa. Nationals on that list (e.g. India) need a transit visa unless they hold a valid multiple-entry visa or residence of the US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, UK, Singapore or an EU state (or meet other exemptions). To leave the airport, visa-exempt nationals need only a passport (US/Canada up to 180 days, others up to 3 months); visa-required nationals (China, India, Philippines) need a Panamanian visa or a valid visa/residence of the US, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, Korea, Australia or Singapore (Decree 521 of 2018, amended by Decree 196 of 2024), which allows up to 30 days.

11 of the 14 passports we cover can leave the airport without applying for a visa first (some need an online authorisation). Other passports: check the official sources linked in the planner.

Transit rules in Panama

12-hour visa-free airport transit

Who: Nationals not on Panama's transit-visa list

• Stay in the international transit zone of Tocumen
• Maximum 12 hours
• Leaving the airport requires meeting normal entry requirements

Source: Embassy of Panama in Canada

Entry with a third-country visa or residence (Decree 521 of 2018, amended by Decree 196 of 2024)

Who: Nationals of visa-required countries holding a valid visa or residence of the US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, UK, Singapore or an EU state

• Visa valid on entry (prior use no longer mandatory since Decree 196)
• Passport valid 3+ months (Embassy Washington) / 6 months (Embassy Ottawa)
• Proof of USD 500
• Return/onward ticket
• Maximum stay 30 days (one month)

Source: Embassy of Panama in Washington, D.C., Embassy of Panama in Canada

Getting from PTY into Panama City

We measure to Casco Viejo (Plaza de la Independencia). Times are the operators' own figures; ≈ marks a timetable-based estimate where no official door-to-door time is published.

Good to know: Two terminals (T1 and the newer T2) linked by free internal (airside) and external shuttles, daily 05:00-23:00; external stops T1 Level 100 gate 2, T2 Level 100 gate 18. Metro Line 2 airport branch opened in March 2023 (stations ITSE and Aeropuerto); the airport's metro page says an external shuttle runs to the nearest metro stop. Metro closes at 23:00 weekdays and 22:00 Sundays. Casco Viejo is not on the metro; the metro journey needs two changes, so the taxi is the practical choice for a short layover.

If you stay in the airport

Transit hotel

No airside hotel listed.

Left luggage

Not confirmed.

Free layover tour

None that we know of.

Questions

Do I need a visa for a layover in Panama City?

If you stay airside, it depends on your passport: Tocumen (PTY) has an international transit zone: passengers whose nationality is not on Panama's transit-visa list can stay airside for up to 12 hours without a visa. Nationals on that list (e.g. India) need a transit visa unless they hold a valid multiple-entry visa or residence of the US, Canada, Australia, South Korea, UK, Singapore or an EU state (or meet other exemptions). To leave the airport, visa-exempt nationals need only a passport (US/Canada up to 180 days, others up to 3 months); visa-required nationals (China, India, Philippines) need a Panamanian visa or a valid visa/residence of the US, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, Korea, Australia or Singapore (Decree 521 of 2018, amended by Decree 196 of 2024), which allows up to 30 days. Choose your passport above for the exact rule and its official source.

How long does it take to get from PTY to Panama City?

The fastest public option, Metro Line 2 from the airport, change to Line 1 at San Miguelito, to 5 de Mayo, then a short taxi or 20-minute walk to Casco Viejo, takes about 60 minutes to Casco Viejo (Plaza de la Independencia) (timetable-based estimate). The planner adds 20% for waiting and delays.

How long a layover do I need to leave Tocumen International Airport?

With our cautious defaults (45 minutes to get out, 120 minutes back before departure, the transfer both ways plus 20%), you need about 7 hours for 90 minutes in the city. Below that, stay in the airport.

Rules checked against official sources on 2026-11-01; airport facts from Tocumen International Airport. Found something out of date? Tell us.