Panama visa
 

Hi,Verka if you read this can you tell me what was required from Peta before they would issue him with a visa for Panama.As you may recall my girlfriend is from Slovakia too.I remember you were stuck in Costa Rica for 4 weeks.We do not have that time to wait around for a visa so i would like to prepare now.
Was an invation from a resident in Panama enough for the visa application ?
By the way how was the trip ?are you still travelling ?

Simon & Michaela

Hi Simon and Misa.
Great to hear from you. Getting the visa for Panama was a big pain in the ..., we ended up waiting for 2 months and we had to call them every day just to hear them say "ohhh, not yet, try tomorrow" . For TWO months!!! The invitation letter did help, Peta would not get it without it. He needed the letter, copies of passport and a copy of a check card. Also a letter explaining what he will do in Panama, where he will be staying and for how long. I think thats it. Paid about $40. Get it now, before your trip. The Panama consulate in Costa Rica
likes to take it sloooooow.
We are still on the road, currently in Argentina, heading north (finally after the tough beggining of winter down south).
When are you planning to leave? And to where? Let us know, maybe our paths will cross.
By the way, no other visa related problems anywhere else (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Arg.). It is needed for Brasil, we will know more in about two weeks from their consulate in Buenos Aires. We will let you know.
Ohhh, the visa is not needed for Mexico anymore.
The trip is soooo much fun. Enjoy.
Verka and Peta

Hi
Thanks for replying.It's good to hear from you and that you are both enjoying the trip.I really hope we don't have to wait for 2 months as we only have 6 months for whole trip.We leave for calgary,Canada on 11th July.Hope to be in Costa Rica about October.The Panama visa lasts 3 months so it will run out by the time we get to Panama.The embassy in London only requires a copy of passport to be sent so i am leaving this with other required docs and a copy of a hotel booking in Panama for my mother to send to london in August, then when/if she gets visa back i will give her an address to send it to us.Is the visa in paper form and not a stamp in passport ?
I have not managed to get a letter of invation yet ,just a confirmation of hotel booking in Panama City.May have to fly over Panama if it will be problem getting visa.Shame as i would like to go there.(So if anybody from Panama is reading this i would be very grateful for invation letter to help get my girlfriend visa.)
Where is yor final destination verka ?
Unfortunately i have to be back to work at the beginning of January,so it will be a quick xmas in Tierra de Fuego then exit from Buenos Aires.
Thanks again !

Simon & Miska

Good news !I called the Panamanian Embassy in London this morning and from May 24th this year Slovakia passport holders do not require a visa.A bit late for you though Peta.Still, good luck with the Brazil visa.

Simon & Miska