SANTO DOMINGO.– After more than ten years of immigration restrictions for Dominican citizens, the Panamanian government officially eliminated the stamped visa requirement that, since 2015, forced nationals of the Dominican Republic to obtain consular authorization before entering that country.
The decision was adopted through Executive Decree No. 12, signed by Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino and Minister of Public Security Frank Ábrego, and published this Tuesday in the Digital Official Gazette of Panama, the official body administered by the Ministry of the Presidency.
According to the regulations, the Panamanian authorities determined, after the corresponding analyses, that the security reasons and technical foundations that justified maintaining the immigration requirement for Dominican citizens no longer persist.
A restriction in place since 2015
The measure nullifies Executive Decree No. 176 of November 23, 2015, by which Panama added the Dominican Republic to the list of countries whose citizens had to obtain a stamped visa issued by a Panamanian consul before traveling.
At that time, according to the Panamanian newspaper La Estrella de Panamá, the authorities justified the decision based on considerations related to immigration control and national security, within a regional context marked by greater restrictions on mobility and the strengthening of immigration verification mechanisms.
The repeal approved this year represents one of the most significant changes in migration policy between the two countries since the implementation of that measure.
Dominicans will be able to enter for up to 90 days
The decree notes that Panamanian immigration law allows the entry of tourists for recreational activities and other purposes contemplated in current regulations, with an authorized stay of up to 90 days.
The document also highlights the diplomatic and commercial relations between Panama and the Dominican Republic, and states that the elimination of the visa requirement takes effect upon its promulgation.
The measure could facilitate travel for tourism, business and commercial activities between both countries, in addition to representing a significant relaxation of the immigration conditions applied to Dominican citizens during the last decade.
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