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Panama — Travel Guide 2026

Quick Answer

Can Panama citizens visit China visa-free in 2026?

Yes. Panama passport holders can enter mainland China visa-free for up to 30 days. The stay is for tourism, business, or family visits and cannot be extended inside mainland China.

Source: Chinese MFA, 2026

Visa policy for Chinese borders

30-day visa-free entry to China. Valid for tourism, business, family visits, and transit. Extension possible through local Public Security Bureau (PSB) in China.

Visa & travel facts

Visa status: Visa-free, 30 days
Max stay: Up to 30 days
Capital: Panama City
Currency: PAB
Region: Americas

Alipay & foreign cards

Cards that work: Visa, Mastercard

Banistmo Visa
Banco General Mastercard

Often unreliable: Most Panamanian debit cards

Alipay and WeChat Pay link foreign Visa/Mastercard directly — complete passport + face verification in-app before you fly (caps ≈US$5,000 per payment, ≈¥10,000 per day, ≈US$50,000 per year).

Connectivity — eSIM & VPN

Provider	Data	Price	Notes
Airalo	5–20	$9–$32	Reliable coverage.
Holafly	5–unlimited	$19–$50	Unlimited data options.

VPN that works: Astrill (StealthVPN protocol), LetsVPN

Avoid: Most consumer VPN protocols (OpenVPN, WireGuard standard) are blocked in China. Only obfuscated / StealthVPN protocols work. Free VPN apps blocked in China; use paid obfuscated ones

Tigo/Claro Panama roaming at USD 5-10/day — eSIM is far cheaper.
Install VPN on home WiFi before flying.

Tax refund

Eligible for the departure sales-tax refund — minimum spend ¥500.

Request a Tax Free form at checkout (passport required).
At departure, visit the Tax Free counter in the airport departures hall — arrive 3+ hours early.
Present passport, receipts, and form; refund is paid in cash or to a foreign card.

Participating airports: Beijing Capital (T3), Shanghai Pudong, Guangzhou Baiyun

Your embassy in Beijing

No. 26 Dong Liu Jie, San Li Tun, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100600, China (东三里屯26号, 朝阳区) · +86 10 6532 6812 · Mon-Fri 09:00-17:00

Sources: Embassy of Panama in China