FBOs at Tocumen International Airport MPTO PTY

Airport security

Panama City operates under a U.S. State Department Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory, driven by elevated street crime — including armed robbery, mugging, and violent crime — and active civil unrest, with protests and demonstrations capable of disrupting airport access and logistics with little warning.

Panama City is assessed by U.S. government sources as a high-threat location for crime, with serious incidents occurring across major urban provinces.

Terrorism risk is assessed as low by both U.S. and UK government sources, with no recent history of attacks in Panama, though the broader global threat environment remains a baseline consideration.

Tocumen International Airport is a major international hub serving as a primary transit point for Latin America, with direct U.S.-bound service bringing it within the scope of U.S. DHS enhanced security requirements applicable to Last Point of Departure airports.

The airport operates gate-level security screening for U.S.-bound departures, with passengers subject to two rounds of security and passport control procedures prior to boarding those flights, and maintains a secondary screening requirement for passengers arriving from airports not meeting Panamanian security standards.

These measures reflect the heightened screening standard expected of a large-hub, high-volume international transit facility with direct service to the United States.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

Hours: H24 (international airport with continuous scheduled operations) Digital immigration and customs declaration now required on arrival; paper forms accepted during transition period. Proof of onward travel and proof of funds (USD 1,000 or credit card) required. Immigration stamp mandatory.

Ground corridor

Panama City presents an opportunistic crime risk category — pickpocketing, bag-snatching, and street theft are the primary concerns in urban areas, with a secondary risk of civil unrest given a documented pattern of road-blocking demonstrations that have periodically disrupted the main airport access corridor on Avenida Domingo Díaz.

The airport access road and the Tocumen district immediately surrounding the terminal are not high-crime zones, but the corridor toward downtown, particularly through working-class residential areas, warrants situational awareness especially after dark.

Pre-arranged vehicles coordinated through a vetted ground support team are strongly advised over curbside or unvetted transport, as independently solicited drivers at the arrivals level carry an elevated risk of overcharging and route deviation; professional drivers with confirmed booking offer a materially better security baseline.

No armed conflict zone, OFAC sanction, or active movement restriction applies to Panama City as of the date of this report.

City threat summary

Panama City operates under a U.S. State Department Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution advisory, driven by elevated street crime — including armed robbery, mugging, and violent crime — and active civil unrest, with protests and demonstrations capable of disrupting airport access and logistics with little warning.

Panama City is assessed by U.S. government sources as a high-threat location for crime, with serious incidents occurring across major urban provinces.

Terrorism risk is assessed as low by both U.S. and UK government sources, with no recent history of attacks in Panama, though the broader global threat environment remains a baseline consideration.

Country overview

Panama's overall security environment is rated by the U.S. Department of State at Level 2 — Exercise Increased Caution — primarily due to crime, with the unrest risk indicator removed from the August 2026 advisory revision.

Organized crime, gang rivalry, and drug-trafficking networks are driving homicide rates that are running ahead of the prior year's pace, concentrated in Panama province, San Miguelito, and Colón.

The Mulino administration is managing elevated public dissatisfaction over insecurity and social policy, while pursuing closer U.S. security ties and navigating significant legal and diplomatic friction over canal port concessions.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Panama City MPMG ELEVATED