Panama Travel Advisory 2026
Current U.S. State Department advisory
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level. Advisory as of September 22, 2024.
Official source: travel.state.gov
US vs UK: how the advice compares
🇺🇸 United States — travel.state.gov
Level 2 of 4 · as of September 22, 2024
🇬🇧 United Kingdom — FCDO (GOV.UK)
No overall travel warning
Last updated December 10, 2025 · gov.uk advice
Latest UK update note: “New information about dual nationals returning to the UK (‘Entry requirements’ page).”
See all countries where the two governments disagree on the US vs UK comparison page.
Advisory level timeline
September 22, 2024 — current
Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution
Latest official advisory as captured in our snapshot.
No advisory level changes recorded for Panama since we began tracking in July 2026. We log every future change here, with dates and official change notes.
Is Panama safe? What the official advisory says
Updated to reflect information on areas of civil unrest.
Exercise increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire travel advisory.
Do not travel to:
- Parts of the Mosquito Gulf due to crime .
- Parts of the Darién Region due to crime .
Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Panama.
Country Summary: Crime occurs in Panama, including theft and residential break-ins. Crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen in tourist areas. The Embassy receives occasional reports of residential break-ins, especially during the holiday season.
Demonstrations periodically occur due to local issues and have disrupted some normal travel patterns in the past, including the flow of goods and services to some parts of the country.
Condensed from the official State Department advisory of September 22, 2024 — read the full advisory before you travel.
Panama travel advisory FAQ
What is the current travel advisory level for Panama?
As of September 22, 2024, the U.S. State Department rates Panama at Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution. Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.
What does Level 2 mean?
Level 2 (Exercise Increased Caution) — Be aware of heightened risks to safety and security. Most popular travel destinations worldwide sit at this level.
When did the Panama travel advisory last change?
The current advisory was published on September 22, 2024. No level changes have been recorded since we began tracking in July 2026 — this page will log every future change.
Does the UK government agree with the US advisory for Panama?
The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) position: No overall travel warning (last updated December 10, 2025). The US and UK use different systems — the US assigns a 1–4 level, while the UK either advises against travel (entirely or in part) or issues no overall warning.
Related: all Level 4 countries · all Level 3 countries · US vs UK advice