Entering by boat: Panama
What to do to enter Panama by sea: the procedures, the papers to present and the ports where you can clear in.
Check with the authorities before you leave (last checked on 28 October 2026).
The steps
- On arrival: go to immigration for each crew member’s entry.
- Report to the Panama Maritime Authority harbour office with the printed crew list, passport copies, ship’s papers and the last port clearance (zarpe).
- Apply for a cruising permit for stays over 14 days (not needed for a canal transit only).
Papers to have on board
- Passports for the whole crew
- Crew list
- Boat papers (registration certificate)
- Outward clearance from the previous country
Good to know
- No official online advance notice was found: check with your marina or an agent.
- Keep every zarpe: the next port will ask for it.
Ports of entry
The ports where you can clear in, and the services available there.
Prepare your arrival with Hullteam
In the app, free: the map of every port of entry and its offices with their contacts, the crew list and the entry forms filled in for you, ready to print or send to an agent.
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This information is gathered from public sources and sailors’ experience. It does not replace the country’s authorities, whose word is final: check before you leave.