Travel from British Indian Ocean Territory to Panama is conditional — see requirements below
This is the generic answer for any British Indian Ocean Territory citizen. Not legal or medical advice — verify with your airline and destination authorities before travel.
Confirm visa requirements for British Indian Ocean Territory passport holders travelling to Panama with Panama's official immigration authority.
Generic country-level guidance for Panama. Verify against the official source before you travel.
This page covers a direct flight to Panama. If your route connects through a third country, that country may require its own transit visa — sometimes even for a short airside layover. Transit rules depend on your specific routing, so check the country you connect through separately, or analyse your full itinerary.
You're travelling to Panama (PA). Your home cellular plan may or may not include data abroad — check your carrier's international options before you fly. An eSIM is a low-commitment alternative if your plan doesn't cover the destination or charges high roaming rates.
The US State Department publishes these advisories for your route. Panama: Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution (as of 2024-09-23). Review the country page for the specific areas and risks flagged before you go. This is a US State Department safety perspective, not an entry or boarding rule — it doesn't affect whether you can board, only what to be aware of on the ground. Travellers from other countries should also check their own government's advisory.
Your itinerary touches Panama (PA), where malaria transmission occurs. Transmission is often region-limited within a country (e.g. coastal vs highland zones) and varies by season. Discuss prophylaxis with a travel medicine clinician — the right antimalarial depends on the specific region, your medical history, and any medications you take.
This page covers the generic case for any British Indian Ocean Territory citizen. Sign in (free) to factor in your specific passport expiry, vaccinations, previous visas held, and connecting flights — and get the same analysis for your exact itinerary.
Sign in (free) to personalize →Panama (PA) requires every traveller to submit the Panama Digital Affidavit for entry — best done a few days before departure rather than in the airport queue. Without it, expect to be pulled aside at the border or denied boarding. Apply at: https://www.panamadigital.gob.pa
Panama requires proof you'll leave before they let you in. At check-in the airline often asks for this — without it, they can deny boarding because the carrier becomes liable for flying you back. Easiest fixes, in order: (1) book a refundable return or onward flight, (2) use a one-way bus / train ticket out, or (3) buy a temporary onward-ticket reservation through a service like OnwardTicket. Have whichever you choose printed or on your phone before you reach the counter.
Typical September conditions at PTY (Panama (PA)): wet. Typical lows around 22°C, highs around 30°C, frequent rainfall (~261mm for the month). Expect frequent rainfall this month (~261mm typical). Pack a compact rain shell and a small umbrella.
Your passport-to-Panama pairing isn't in our verified reference yet — coverage is expanding. Before booking, confirm the requirement directly with Panama's official immigration portal (linked below). If a visa is needed it usually has to be applied for in advance, so don't rely on a check-in agent's word.