The Canadian ambassador, Patricia Atkinson, confirmed that Panamanians need a visa to enter the country, one of the three host nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, alongside Mexico and the United States.
At some point, they have to go to the visa application center located at the City of Knowledge, where they will need a valid passport, a health test, and proof that the traveler will return to their country, she specified.
Atkinson detailed that if they have or have had a Canadian visa, the process is simpler and they can apply for an electronic travel authorization, which costs $5 and takes five minutes.
«If you apply now, it will take a month, however, we anticipate a high demand for these visas, so the process may take longer,» the ambassador warned.
The diplomatic official stated that «the process is done through the ircc.canada.ca website».
In this regard, Atkinson advised Panamanian fans «to apply now» because she does not know «how long it will take» to complete the process, which will cost $100 due to the high demand they are expecting.
For now, she said there is no budget for travelers, but accommodation and travel costs will increase for the World Cup dates. Therefore, she recommended they start planning their trip and consider medical insurance, which is a great benefit for any traveler.
Panama, in Group L, will play two matches in Toronto: the first against Ghana on June 17 and the second against Croatia on June 23, both at 6:00 PM, and will close the group stage in New Jersey against England at 4:00 PM.
She also highlighted following the embassy's social media accounts or visiting the official Canadian government website.
