🇵🇦 Panama— Cash & Currency
Autoridad Nacional de Aduanas
2026-07-01
Declaration Threshold
US$10,000
USD
You must declare to customs if you are carrying cash, traveler's cheques, money orders, or negotiable bearer instruments totaling above this amount when entering or leaving Panama.
What Must Be Declared
| Instrument | Declaration Required |
|---|---|
| Physical currency (any currency) | Yes, if above threshold |
| Traveler's cheques | Yes, if above threshold |
| Bank drafts / money orders | Yes, if above threshold |
| Bearer bonds / negotiable instruments | Yes, if above threshold |
| Credit cards / debit cards | Generally no |
| Electronic payment apps | Generally no |
Failure to declare
Carrying undeclared cash above the threshold can result in seizure of funds, fines, and in some jurisdictions criminal prosecution. When in doubt, declare.
Additional Country Notes
- 01Panama Canal hub; Tocumen (PTY) is Latin America's premier transit airport.
- 02Colón Free Zone (CFZ) is the second-largest free zone in the world.
- 03Panama uses USD as functional currency; balboa coins circulate alongside USD bills.