Practical info for Panama
Emergencies, embassy, entry requirements, money: the essentials before you go, with the official source and the date each piece of information was checked.
Embassy and entry requirements shown for travellers from: United Kingdom.
Emergency numbers
Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
- Single emergency numberaccording to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 09/10/2026911
- Policeaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026 ; according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026104
- Medical emergenciesaccording to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026103
- Medical emergenciesaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026107
- Medical emergenciesaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026211
- Fire brigadeaccording to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026 ; according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026103
Source: France Diplomatie, GOV.UK, French embassy, Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, Ministerstwo Spraw Zagranicznych RP · verified on 26/10/2026
Embassy and consulates
- British Embassy Panama CityEmbassy
- Address
- Humboldt Tower, 4th FloorCalle 53, Marbella, Panama City, Panama
- Consular emergency line
- To call us in an emergency or send us an online enquiry use our contact form: https://www.contact.service.csd.fcdo.gov.uk/posts/panama/british-embassy-panama-city
Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
Entry requirements
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included.
Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 09/10/2026 ›
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Safety and travel advice
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Currency and payments
Currency: Balboa (PAB).
The ECB does not publish a reference rate for PAB.
Currency: US dollar (USD).
ECB reference rate on 26/10/2026: €1 = 1.1188 USD.
Source: SIX Group (ISO 4217), European Central Bank, EU Publications Office (1, 2) · verified on 26/10/2026
Time difference
Local time: UTC-05:00, −5 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026).
The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
Source: IANA (time zones) · verified on 26/10/2026
Driving
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Panama for up to 3 months.”
Source: GOV.UK · verified on 26/10/2026
Mobile networks
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: +Movil - C&W PAN (Airalo); Cable & W./Mas Movil (Sirocco); Claro (Sirocco); movistar (Sirocco).
eSIM prices for Panama
7 days, 5 GB · prices checked on 26/10/2026
3 brands compared, not an exhaustive listWhy this ranking?
Ranked by price: for each brand, the cheapest plan that covers 7 days and 5 GB.
Not an exhaustive comparison: 3 brands out of the dozens that sell eSIMs. The list of brands compared is in our Methodology.
eSIMeter is published by Mocom SAS, which sells Sirocco: the site is funded by those sales. No other brand pays us.
Frequently asked questions
What are the emergency numbers in Panama?
Single emergency number: 911 (according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026 ; according to Poland's foreign ministry, 09/10/2026) ; Police: 104 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026 ; according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 103 (according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 107 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026) ; Medical emergencies: 211 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026) ; Fire brigade: 103 (according to France Diplomatie, 15/09/2026 ; according to GOV.UK, 09/10/2026 ; according to the French embassy, 20/07/2026). Official sources give different numbers for some services: each number is shown with its source.
How do I contact the embassy or consulate in Panama?
British Embassy Panama City, Humboldt Tower, 4th FloorCalle 53, Marbella, Panama City, Panama. Consular emergency numbers (emergencies only): FCDO, London (24 hours): +44 20 7008 5000.
What are the entry requirements for Panama?
The rules depend on your passport: check them here before you book, for every traveller, children included. Official page: GOV.UK (FCDO), updated 09/10/2026.
What is the travel advice for Panama?
The FCDO does not currently advise against travel to any part of this country.
What currency is used in Panama?
Currency: Balboa (PAB). The ECB does not publish a reference rate for PAB. Currency: US dollar (USD). ECB reference rate on 26/10/2026: €1 = 1.1188 USD.
What is the time difference in Panama?
Local time: UTC-05:00, −5 h compared with London (calculated on 26/10/2026). The clocks change in London on 28/03/2027: the difference may change that day.
What should I know about driving in Panama?
Driving licence, according to GOV.UK (FCDO): “You can use a UK photocard driving licence to drive in Panama for up to 3 months.”
Which mobile networks operate in Panama?
Networks listed by the eSIMs we checked: +Movil - C&W PAN (Airalo); Cable & W./Mas Movil (Sirocco); Claro (Sirocco); movistar (Sirocco).