Panama vs Costa Rica Passport Comparison
Panama
AMERICAS
Costa Rica
AMERICAS
Detailed Comparison
| Metric | Panama | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| Visa-Free Destinations | 147 | 148 |
| 2026 Ranking | #30 | #29 |
| Global Mobility Score | 71/100 | 71/100 |
| Openness Score | 68/100 | 67/100 |
| Continent | AMERICAS | AMERICAS |
| Schengen Member | Yes | Yes |
| Citizenship by Investment | No | No |
| Residency by Investment | Yes | Yes |
| Visa on Arrival | 31 | 30 |
| eTA Available | 8 | 8 |
| e-Visa Available | 32 | 33 |
| Visa Required | 46 | 45 |
Visa-Free Destinations
2026 Ranking
Global Mobility Score
Openness Score
Continent
Schengen Member
Citizenship by Investment
Residency by Investment
Visa on Arrival
eTA Available
e-Visa Available
Visa Required
Comparison Summary & Recommendations
Overall Winner
Costa Rica
With 148 visa-free destinations, Costa Rica offers the most global mobility among the compared passports.
Schengen Area Access
Panama
Panama is a Schengen Area member, providing free movement across 27 European countries.
Residency by Investment
Panama
Panama offers a Residency by Investment program for those seeking alternative pathways.
Most Unique Access
Costa Rica
Costa Rica provides exclusive visa-free access to 11 destinations not accessible with the other passports.
Key Insights
- • All compared passports share access to 99 common destinations
- • The strongest passport offers 148 visa-free destinations
- • Consider your travel priorities: business, leisure, or specific regions when choosing a passport
- • Visa requirements can change - always verify current entry requirements before traveling
Visa Access Analysis
Understanding the overlap and unique access each passport provides
Exclusive Visa-Free Access
Panama
10 unique destinations
Costa Rica
11 unique destinations
Shared Visa-Free Destinations (99)
Countries that all compared passports can access visa-free
Ranking Trends Over Time (Server Rendered)
Historical passport ranking comparison from 2006 to 2025 (lower rank is better)
2025 Snapshot
Panama
Rank: #30
Visa-free: 148
Costa Rica
Rank: #29
Visa-free: 151
Recent Historical Ranks
| Year | Panama | Costa Rica |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #30 (148) | #29 (151) |
| 2024 | #31 (149) | #28 (152) |
| 2023 | #36 (144) | #32 (150) |
| 2022 | #34 (142) | #30 (150) |
| 2021 | #37 (141) | #32 (149) |
| 2020 | #34 (142) | #30 (150) |
| 2019 | #34 (140) | #27 (150) |
| 2018 | #35 (141) | #28 (149) |
| 2017 | #36 (127) | #31 (134) |
| 2016 | #36 (127) | #33 (131) |
Each cell shows rank and visa-free count for that year.