Buy a Gun in Panama
If you’re thinking about how to buy a gun in Panama, it’s important to understand how the process works and what to expect in terms of availability, pricing, and regulations. Panama City has only a handful of licensed gun stores, and their inventories are typically limited. These stores carry a variety of firearms, including semi-automatic handguns, revolvers, shotguns, and rifles. In most cases, you can also find high-capacity magazines and ammunition compatible with these weapons.
However, guns in Panama are significantly more expensive than in many other countries, especially compared to the United States. Expect to pay up to double the price for popular U.S. brands such as Smith & Wesson, Remington, Glock, and Ruger. This is largely due to import restrictions, limited supply, and the costs associated with Panama’s firearm licensing process.
Inventory in local gun shops is usually modest. If you’re looking for a specific make or model, you may have to place a special order, and it can take up to three months for the firearm to arrive—especially if it’s not commonly stocked. The wait time varies depending on importation schedules and local regulatory approvals.
Here is the Process for buying a gun in Panama:
1. Visit a gun store and provide proof that you are a legal resident of Panama. Tourists are not allowed to purchase guns.
2. Select a gun and pay for it.
3. You will be given a sanitized cup to pee in at their bathroom. The urine will be analyzed for drugs.
4. You will be given a Panama government form to take to a government health office to have your finger pricked for a blood sample for its DNA.
5. You will go to a medical psychiatrist for a short interview and return to the gun store with a short written report that you are mentally fit to own a gun.
6. Obtain two passport size photos of your face.
7. You will have your right index finger print attached to a green triple folded card board ID form which will include one passport size photo and your name, address, residency carnet ID number, the type of gun and serial number and the expiration date. The maximum is 5 years before the permit expires.
7. The gun store will send all of this paperwork to the national police along with the gun for ballistic tests.
8. It could take 3 months to get your gun permit.
You can purchase up to 10 guns and have all them listed on one gun permit.
Before purchasing a firearm, buyers must comply with Panama’s gun ownership laws, which include background checks, medical evaluations, fingerprinting, and firearm registration with the national police (DIASP). This process can take several months and must be completed before the buyer is legally allowed to take possession of the weapon.
It is illegal to carry a gun in public without a permit, and concealed carry permits are difficult to obtain unless you can demonstrate a legitimate need. Panama also has strict penalties for illegal possession of firearms or ammunition. Short barreled rifles and sawed off shotguns are legal in Panama. While they are not sold in that shape, it is legal to have them shortened.
Ammunition is available in most gun stores, though certain calibers may be limited depending on current supply levels and demand. Standard calibers such as 9mm, .38, and .22 tend to be more readily available, while specialized or less common rounds may require advance ordering. High-capacity magazines are legal and sold in most locations, though availability may fluctuate.
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