Panama
Local Laws & Customs
Last verified August 21, 2026
Written for U.S. passport holders
Public Conduct
- Panama bans drinking in public areas completely (not just certain zones); anyone caught faces fines or arrest, a stricter default than the 'no drinking in some public spaces' rule common elsewhere on this page.
Medicines You Can't Bring
- Bring medications in original packaging with the prescription; given how strictly Panama treats controlled substances overall (see below), it's worth confirming any stimulant or opioid medication's status before traveling.
Photography & Drones
- Avoid photographing military and government facilities, including around the Panama Canal's operational areas. Drones require registration with Panama's Aeronáutica Civil, and flying near the Canal, airports, and government buildings is restricted.
Drugs & Alcohol
- The legal drinking age is 18, enforced equally for locals and tourists.
- Panama has a strict, genuinely zero-tolerance policy on illegal drugs: even small possession amounts can mean substantial fines or prison sentences up to 15 years, and merely being in the company of someone using drugs can be grounds for arrest, association alone, not just possession, carries legal exposure here.
Carrying ID
- Carry a form of ID (passport or copy) at all times; retailers and bars check ID for alcohol purchases, and the requirement applies equally to locals and visitors.
The Gotcha
The 'mere association' rule is the standout risk here: being physically present while someone else is using drugs, even if you personally aren't using anything, can be grounds for your own arrest under Panama's zero-tolerance approach. This is a meaningfully different (and stricter) standard than 'don't do drugs yourself,' and it's worth actively removing yourself from a situation where others are using, not just declining to participate.
Sources
This page was drafted from the primary sources below. Rules change, so check the linked page directly before relying on any of this.
- Panama International Travel Information (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs)