Last checked 13 Nov 2026Written for US citizensSome rules are still being checked
In brief
Retirees with a $1,000 lifelong pension get permanent residence straight away. US citizens can also qualify through Friendly Nations with $200,000 in property or a deposit, and remote workers can stay up to 18 months.
Residency income from$1,000 a month of pension
Visa-free (US)Up to 180 days
CitizenshipAfter 5 years of permanent residence
Tax on foreign incomeNo: only Panamanian income is taxed
Short-stay remote-worker visa
(Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto)
Who it's for: Remote employees of foreign companies, and genuinely self-employed people, whose work and income come from abroad.
Money needed
At least $36,000 a year; an employer letter must show at least $3,000 a month
How long it lasts
9 months, plus one renewal of 9 months
Leads to
Nothing directly: you'd need to qualify for another category
Apply from
Inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer
Processing time
No official target Not in the official checklist; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Passport: authenticated copy, plus 3 photos and a notarised power of attorney
Employer letter: your role, pay, how often you're paid and the remote arrangement
Company proof: a certificate that your foreign employer exists; freelancers show their own business and clients
Bank proof: statements or a bank letter linking foreign payments to your work
Health: insurance valid in Panama for your whole stay, and a recent medical certificate
Criminal record check: apostilled, with a translation by a Panamanian public translator
Fees: $250 to apply and $50 for the visa card. Other costs Not yet verified
Good to know
No local work: no jobs, services or business with anyone in Panama.
Family: this visa has no way to add family members Not established yet.
Not a tax break: after 183 days in a year you can be a tax resident.
Checked against the lawRules read in the remote-worker decree and the immigration office's checklist.
Still being checkedWhether family can join, and whether any tax exemption applies to remote workers.
Sources (4)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: family sponsorship isn't established, so don't treat it as included; no source-specific remote-worker tax exemption from the tax office is verified.
Law: Decreto Ejecutivo 198 of 7 May 2021 arts 1–5; current SNM checklist PM 18. Nonresident category; one renewal for the same 9 months, repeating the initial and financial evidence. No annual minimum stay identified; no numerical cap.
Money: at least 36,000 PAB a year; employee letter at least 3,000 PAB a month. Freelancers need foreign-business registration and a notarised client, service and income declaration.
Fees: 250 PAB to SNM plus 50 PAB visa card = 300 PAB. The general 250 Treasury + 800 repatriation pair doesn't apply to this visa. Lawyer, insurance, medical and translation costs are extra. The six-month application-card validity isn't an approval time.
Tax and citizenship: the visa doesn't itself give an income-tax exemption; more than 183 days in the current or previous fiscal year is a tax-residence test, and Panama-source work can be taxable below that. Time on it doesn't start the 5-year citizenship clock.
(Residente Permanente en calidad de Jubilado Pensionado)
Who it's for: Retirees with a lifelong pension from a government, an international body or a private plan. No minimum age.
Money needed
A lifelong pension of $1,000 a month, or $750 if you own Panama property bought for over $100,000
How long it lasts
Permanent, with no renewal while you still qualify
Leads to
Already permanent; your years count toward citizenship from the start
Apply from
Inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer
Processing time
No official target Not in the official checklist; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Pension certificate: showing a lifelong pension; an investment account alone doesn't count
Private pensions: a letter from the plan, proof the provider exists and a payment statement
Passport: authenticated copy, plus 3 photos and a notarised power of attorney
Criminal record check and medical certificate, apostilled and translated
Family: $250 a month more for each dependant, plus proof of the relationship
Property deed: only if you use the $750 rate
Fees: no $250 Treasury fee or $800 deposit; $50 application card. Card fees Not yet verified
Good to know
Work: this permit isn't a work permit; working needs separate approval.
Absences: more than 2 years abroad without permission can cancel it.
Couples can combine pensions, and children can stay until 25 while studying full-time.
Checked against the lawRules read in the immigration decree and the immigration office's checklist.
Still being checkedThe full current fee list for registration and the residence card.
Sources (4)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: the complete current registration and PR card tariff, before any all-in government total.
Law: Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 arts 200–203 (art 203 as amended: indefinite permission; art 201: exempt from the Decreto Ley 3 art 28(4) 250 PAB Treasury payment and 800 PAB repatriation deposit); DE 26 de 2009 arts 53–54; current SNM checklist. Cancellation after more than 2 years abroad without authorised justification (Decreto Ley 3 art 31(3)).
Money: 1,000 PAB a month lifelong pension; 750 PAB with personally owned Panama property acquired for more than 100,000 PAB; spouses may combine; add 250 PAB a month per dependant (extra pension or local bank reference). Dependent children stay temporary through 25 if studying full time; no automatic PR except a documented profound-disability case.
Fees: DE 590 sets a 50 PAB application card where applicable; general processing, registration and identity charges and private costs are separate. Medical certificate within 3 months (Decreto Ley 3 art 28).
Citizenship and tax: 5 consecutive years from PR for an ordinary US-born applicant. The permit doesn't itself give a tax exemption; 183-day residence test.
(Residente Provisional / Permanente de Países Específicos (Países Amigos))
Who it's for: US citizens who buy Panama property, make a Panama bank deposit, or take a job with a Panama employer.
Money needed
$200,000 in Panama property, or a $200,000 three-year deposit at a Panama bank
How long it lasts
2 years provisional, then you apply for permanent residence
Leads to
Permanent residence after 2 years, if you still qualify
Apply from
Inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer
Processing time
No official target Not in the official checklist; real waits Not yet verified
What you need
Property: registry proof; it can be held through your company or foundation, and bank-financed
Or deposit: a certificate for $200,000, unencumbered, fixed for 3 years
Or job: an employer letter and a work permit application
Passport: authenticated copy, plus 3 photos and a notarised power of attorney
Criminal record check and health certificate, apostilled and translated
Fees: $250 Treasury fee and an $800 repatriation deposit, plus a $50 card. Other costs Not yet verified
Good to know
US salary alone doesn't qualify: the job route needs a Panama employer.
Work: property or deposit residence isn't a general work permit.
Absences: more than 2 years abroad without permission can cancel permanent residence.
Checked against the lawRules read in the Friendly Nations decrees and the immigration office's checklist.
Still being checkedThe full fee list and real processing times.
Sources (4)
Legal basis and exact figures
Still being checked: complete ancillary fees and actual processing times aren't certified; no all-in cost is claimed.
Law: Decreto Ejecutivo 416 de 2012, amended by DE 197 de 2021 and DE 226 de 2021; current nationality list DE 16 de 2026; SNM checklist LE 2. At 2 years, request PR and show the category still applies; LE 2 excludes the initial criminal certificate and cheque at the permanent stage.
Money: property minimum 200,000 PAB (qualifying beneficially owned entity or foundation and local bank financing allowed), or an unencumbered 200,000 PAB deposit at a Panama general-licence bank for 3 years. The employment limb needs a Panama employer and a MITRADEL work-permit application. The family means checklist includes 1,000 PAB a month plus 100 per dependant in its tax-return proof option.
Fees: initial 250 PAB Treasury + 800 PAB repatriation deposit (LE 2; the deposit isn't labelled a nonrefundable fee); application card 50 PAB under DE 590; registration, work-permit and final-card charges separate.
Citizenship and tax: the 5-year clock starts with PR, not the 2-year provisional grant, so roughly 2 + 5 years. The permit doesn't itself give a tax exemption.
(Residente permanente en calidad de Inversionista Calificado)
Who it's for: Investors putting $300,000 or more into new Panama property, securities or a bank deposit.
Money needed
$300,000 in new property, $500,000 in securities, or a $500,000–750,000 deposit
How long it lasts
Permanent residence
Leads to
Already permanent
What you need
New property: $300,000, bought from the developer
Or securities: $500,000, held for 5 years
Or a deposit: $750,000 at a private bank, or $500,000 at Banco Nacional or Caja de Ahorros
Good to know
New rules: a September 2026 decree replaced the 2020 investor rules.
Resale property: the amount for it is Not yet verified.
Checked against the lawThe investment amounts, in the September 2026 decree.
Sources (1)
Legal basis and exact figures
Law: Executive Decree 17 of 2026 (Gaceta Oficial 30613, 16 Sep 2026) replaces Decree 722 of 2020. Minimums: $300,000 in new property bought from the developer; $500,000 in securities held for 5 years; a fixed deposit of $750,000 at a private bank or $500,000 at Banco Nacional or Caja de Ahorros. The amount for resale property hasn't been re-checked.
Status chips:Checked against the law means we read the official legal text. Not yet verified and Not established yet mean it isn't confirmed at the official source yet; Not in the official checklist means the official checklist doesn't say. Still being checked marks open questions; each route's Sources list names them.
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