Prostitution in Panama

Prostitution in Panama is legal and regulated. Prostitutes are required to register and carry identification cards. However, the majority of prostitutes are not registered. There are 2,650 sex workers registered with the government in 2008, but there was no accurate information regarding the total number of persons practising prostitution in the country. Some estimate put the number of unregistered prostitutes at 4,000.

The main area of prostitution in Panama City is Bella Vista. Street prostitution also occurs on Avenida Ricardo Arias, Central Avenue and Avenida Perú.

There are many foreign prostitutes in the country, especially from Cuba, Venezuela and Colombia (Panama was part of Colombia until 1903). To work as a prostitute, foreign prostitutes need an "alternadora" visa. As this is stamped into their passport, many work unofficially on tourist visas to avoid effectively having "prostitute" stamped in their passport. Working without the correct visa and being unregistered is an administrative offence not a criminal offence and usually punished with a small fine if caught. Unregisted prostitutes can still access health services at clinics such as the one in Santa Ana, Panama City.