Moving Guides for Panama

Panama’s crime index of 42.7 ranks it among the safer countries in Central America. Petty theft is the realistic risk in most expat areas; violent crime is concentrated in specific neighborhoods most residents never visit.

Tourists can drive on a foreign license for 90 days. Once you have residency, Panama law requires converting to a local license, but for most nationalities, there is no written exam and no road test. Here’s how the process works, what the tests involve, and what to do if you no longer have your original license.