Panama
Last update 05 January 2025Diplomatic missions
Risk index
Level 2: Increased cauion (Be informed on the current situation in the country beforehand)
2
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the Republic of Panama
The Republic of Bulgaria does not have a functioning embassy in Panama. The Embassy of Bulgaria in the United Mexican States is accredited to the Republic of Panama
Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico
Address: Paseo de la Reforma 1990, Col. Lomas de Chapultepec, Del. Miguel Hidalg, c.p.11000, México D.F.
Telephone: +52 55 55963283; +52 55 55963295
Fax: +52 55 55963295/108
Emergency mobile out-of-hours hotline: (+52 1) 55 6064 5199 (044 55 6064 5199 when dialled from a landline phone in Mexico and 55 6064 5199 when dialled from a mobile phone of a Mexican mobile operator within Mexico)
Working hours: Mon – Fri, 08:30 – 16:30
Consular Office: Mon – Fri, 08:30 – 16:30
Information by phone: Mon – Fri, 09:00 – 15:00
E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: www.mfa.bg/embassies/mexico
Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Panama
Mrs. Klaudia Lyubomirova Lissitchkova de Mitchev, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Bulgaria in Panama
Address: Obarrio, calle Abel Bravo No 4, PO Box 08-31 -1844, Paitilla, Panama city, Panamá
Telephone/Fax: +507 399 9392
E-mail: [email protected]
General information
Security level:
Public safety is within normal limits, and it is advised not to carry valuables. It is recommended to carry a copy of your ID document while in the country.
Healthcare
Consumption of bottled water is recommended. Buying food from street vendors should be avoided. There is a possibility of contracting dengue and malaria.
Vaccines — mandatory yellow fever vaccine for persons entering Panama from countries in Africa and/or Latin America.
Since the beginning of 2019, Panama has seen a sharp increase in the number of people infected with dengue disease, which is transmitted after mosquito bites.
In order to avoid possible infection with the disease, Bulgarian citizens travelling to Panama should take all possible measures to prevent mosquito bites, such as wearing body covering clothing, using mosquito repellents and nets, avoiding places with a higher risk of contracting the disease.
Some of the main symptoms of dengue are high fever, dizziness, vomiting, rash and weakness. With complications, especially in children, blood begins to flow from the nose, constant vomiting, red eyes, urination of blood and mental deviations are observed. In the presence of the above symptoms, you should seek medical attention immediately.
Specifics of the legislation
Possession or use of narcotics is a crime in Panama and is punishable by imprisonment. Sentences for drug trafficking range from 10 to 25 years. Panama has a consistent policy against drug trafficking under a number of international programmes. The international airports of Panama are equipped with state-of-the-art drug trafficking control equipment.
Customs requirements
The import of food products is prohibited.
Each foreigner may bring into the country, without being subject to declaration, up to USD 10,000 or their equivalent in euros.
Local currency
The national currency is the ‘balboa’, which is approximately equivalent to one US dollar. The use of euros is not recommended as it is still difficult to find banks that exchange this currency. It is possible to exchange dollars at bank offices or exchange bureaus in the country. It is not recommended to exchange large amounts of currency.
Climate
The climate in Panama is tropical, and temperate in higher elevations. The country has well-defined dry (summer) and rainy (winter) seasons. The dry season lasts from November to April—May. The rainy season, which is accompanied by hurricanes, is from May —June to November.
Travel papers and visas
A travel document is a passport that is valid for at least six months after the last day of stay in the country. It is necessary a return or onward airline ticket to be presented.
Bulgarian citizens can stay in the country without a visa for a period of up to 90 days. The stay can be extended on the spot by the migration authorities.
For further information on visa and other issues, Bulgarian citizens can contact the following telephone numbers and e-mail addresses:
MFA Consular Affairs: +507 511 4100; +507 511 4200
E-mail: [email protected]
Embassy of Panama in Athens (accredited to Bulgaria)
Address: 1-3 Filellinon & Akti Miaouli, 185 36 Piraeus
Telephone: +30 210 4286 441
Fax: +30 210 4286 448
Е-mail: [email protected]
In case of air travel, an exit fee of USD 40 needs to be paid.
Travelling of children
In case of children travelling with you accompanied by only one parent or unaccompanied, a document from the parents certifying their consent to the child’s travel should be necessarily drawn up. A birth certificate is required for children not accompanied by their parents when leaving the country.
Consular service
Certifications and legalizations
Bulgaria and Panama are parties to the Hague Convention for the certification of public documents with an Apostille. When submitting public acts from Panama to Bulgaria and from Bulgaria to Panama, the only requirement is that the documents certified with an Apostille must be translated into the respective language and the translation must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country concerned or by its diplomatic or consular mission.
Once the public document has been provided with an Apostille, the translation can also be carried out in Bulgaria according to the established procedure.
When submitting public acts from Panama to Bulgaria and from Bulgaria to Panama, it is required that the documents certified with an Apostille be translated into the respective language and the translation must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama or its diplomatic or consular mission. The procedure for the certification of the translation of documents from the above-mentioned countries intended for the Republic of Bulgaria is as follows:
• The document shall be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama;
• This is followed by a certification of the Embassy of Mexico in Panama;
• Certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico;
• Certification by the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico, accredited for Panama.
Issuance of identity documents
Bulgarian citizens residing in Panama, wishing to renew their Bulgarian identity documents — passport, identity card, driving licence or to be issued an Emergency Travel Document can do so by submitting an application at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico. Upon acceptance of applications for Bulgarian identity documents, biometric data is taken, which requires the applicants to be present in person.
In case of emergency (such as a stolen or lost passport), Bulgarian citizens can seek on-the-spot assistance from a diplomatic mission of an EU Member State to obtain an Emergency Travel Document. For the issuance of an Emergency Travel Document to return to Bulgaria in case of lost/stolen documents, a report from the police stating the relevant circumstances must be presented (theft, burglary, robbery, etc.)., as well as the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria in Mexico should be notified.