Cubans are exempt from applying for a transit visa to Panama and Costa Rica

Text: Cuba Newsroom 360

The Costa Rican and Panama embassies in Cuba share a new common element for the island’s citizens: both have recently requested transit visas for Cubans. Less than a month later, the consular representations in Havana of these countries took this measure, they claimed, for better immigration control. The sudden decision aroused indignation among citizens who have airline tickets or are interested in traveling to these Central American countries, which became a new meeting point between them: hundreds of Cubans demonstrated outside their diplomatic headquarters in protest against the new request.

Costa Rica, one of the frequent destinations among Cubans leaving the country, especially as an intermediate route, was the first country of both countries to impose the transit visa requirement, and report the procedure, for immediate application, last February 21.

The new clause states that for a change of plane you can spend up to 12 hours in the territory of Costa Rica, and makes it clear that for a longer period, another type of visa must be processed and not a transit visa.

Transit visa that is applied for at the Costa Rican Consulate in Havana has a series of requirements that can be described as abundant, as it includes criminal record, proof of economic solvency, among others. It costs $32 (CUP equivalent) and $40 (CUP equivalent) per consulate, although it may have additional costs.

However, Cuban citizens who have:

– Tourist visa, crew visa or multi-entry business visa to enter the United States (exclusive multi-entry B1/B2, D and C1/D).

Visa for tourists or businessmen to enter Canada. This visa must be stamped in the passport and must be valid for at least one day from the day you entered Costa Rica.

– Permanent Residence (Green Card), Student Visa (F1, J1), Work Visa (H1B, G4, L1 EB-1, etc) in the US, Canada, Switzerland, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the European Union.

On March 9, it was reported that the Panamanian government had also implemented the tourist visa for Cubans traveling through Panama to another destination. Although the application of the measure was extended after the protests until March 15, it has already entered into force. As stipulated, in addition to their minimum six-month travel document, ticket reservation, application form, and two photographs, they must pay approximately US$50 to receive the document allowing them to stay for a maximum period of 24 hours in the airport’s international transit area.

However, there are exceptions in which a Panama transit visa is not necessary, such as:

Persons with a valid visa or permanent residence issued by Canada, the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Northern Ireland, Singapore and any of the European Union countries.

Persons who hold an official, diplomatic or service passport.

Persons with multiple visas that have previously been used, valid for at least 6 months before entering Panamanian territory, according to Executive Decree No. 521 of August 6, 2018.

Those in some of the above groups can travel without the need for the new document.

Those who need this transit visa should take into account that the said visa must be requested in person at the Panamanian Consulate in Havana at least 15 days before the date of travel.