Panama
France
France visa for Panamanian citizens
Entry requirement
Panamanian citizens do not need a visa for France: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at pa.ambafrance.org
For longer stays: study, work and residence
France: visa decisions in Panama
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 120 | 103 | 15 | 12.5% | 31.1% |
| 2024 | 110 | 99 | 5 | 4.8% | 24.2% |
| 2025 | 150 | 128 | 7 | 5.2% | 9.4% |
In 2025, France’s embassy and consulates in Panama (Panama City) received 150 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 128. The refusal rate was 5.2%. That is barely different from 2024 (4.8%). Applications rose by 36% compared with 2024 (110).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 6.4% of the applications lodged in Panama that year. France’s consulates worldwide refused 14.2%. France was the 2nd most applied-for Schengen state in Panama.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in Panama, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
French citizens travelling to Panama
FrancePanama Visa-free, 90 days Panama visa for citizens of France
Travel advice for France
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
For a trip from Panama to France, the published travel advice reads as follows: the US State Department rates France at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 20 October 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to France (updated 22 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for France (updated 28 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long Panamanian citizens can stay in France
Panamanian citizens may stay in France for up to 90 days. Days in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
France and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of Panamanian citizens in France count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
France’s neighbours for Panamanian citizens
Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Italy, Andorra, Monaco and Spain admit Panamanian citizens visa-free.
French citizens travelling to Panama
Panama admits French citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. The rule is the same in both directions between Panama and France.
Frequently asked questions
Do Panamanian citizens need a visa for France?
Panamanian citizens do not need a visa for France: stays of up to 90 days are visa-free.
How long can Panamanian citizens stay in France?
Panamanian citizens can stay in France for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do French citizens need a visa for Panama?
Panama admits French citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
Can Panamanian citizens enter France visa-free?
Yes, Panamanian citizens can enter France without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.