Guide · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
Immigration & residency in Panama
Which visa or residency fits you if you are moving to, renting or buying in Panama, with data from official sources and the next step to apply.
Retiree (pensionado) visa
What Panama Immigration asks for the retiree (pensionado) residency: lifetime pension of $1,000 (or $750 if you own a home), dependents and documents.
Read guide →🤝Friendly Nations visa
Friendly Nations residency: who qualifies (51 countries), the three routes (job, B/.200,000 property or fixed deposit), the B/.1,050 fees and dependents.
Read guide →💻Digital nomad visa
Short-stay remote worker visa: B/.36,000 a year of foreign income, health insurance, 9 months renewable once, B/.250 fee plus card.
Read guide →🏛️Qualified investor (Golden Visa)
Permanent residency by investment under Executive Decree 17 of 2026: new property $300,000, resale or state-bank deposit $500,000, MICI and Immigration timelines.
Read guide →💼Work permit
Every foreigner working for an employer in Panama needs MITRADEL authorisation. Types 1, 2 and 4, the 10% and 15% quotas, restricted professions.
Read guide →✈️Tourist entry and stay
Panama entry requirements (passport, $500 solvency, onward ticket), tourist stay of 90 days or 180 for the US and Canada, extensions and fines.
Read guide →🪪Residence card and cédula E
The Immigration card is your ID as a resident: for the bank, driving licence, lease and utilities. B/.15 replacement, digital card and cédula E.
Read guide →🚗Driving licence for foreigners
Tourists drive on their own licence for up to 90 days. Residents get a Panamanian licence at SERTRACEN: certified foreign licence conversion or a test.
Read guide →🐾Bringing your pet to Panama
Apostilled health certificate (max 30 days), vaccines, 3–5 business days notice, fees on arrival at Tocumen and home quarantine.
Read guide →🏠Buying or renting as a foreigner
Foreigners can buy homes in Panama except within 10 km of the borders. How it ties to visas: $100,000, $200,000 and $300,000 thresholds.
Read guide →Compare the main residencies
| Residency | Financial requirement | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retiree (pensionado) visa | Lifetime pension B/.1,000/month (B/.750 with a home > B/.100,000) | Indefinite | Details |
| Friendly Nations visa | Job, B/.200,000 property or B/.200,000 deposit | 2 years provisional → permanent | Details |
| Digital nomad visa | Foreign income B/.36,000/year | 9 months + 1 renewal | Details |
| Qualified investor (Golden Visa) | New property B/.300,000; other routes B/.500,000+ | Permanent | Details |
Sources: National Immigration Service, MICI (Executive Decree 17 of 2026). Details and links in each guide.
Apply through our partner sites
Trámites Visa Panamá
Friendly Nations, pensionado, investor, work permit and digital nomad visas, with verified specialists.
tramitesvisapanama.com →Panama Vault
Residency by investment, private interest foundations, territorial taxation and asset protection.
panamavault.com →Residency by nationality (Panama Vault): US citizens · Canadians · Colombians · Venezuelans · Spaniards · Mexicans
By country (Trámites Visa Panamá): the 51 Friendly Nations countries · United States · Canadá · Spain · Mexico · Colombia · Venezuela
After residency
Documents
Almost every process asks for documents apostilled and translated into Spanish by an authorised public translator. traducciondocumentospanama.com →
Free consultation with Trámites Visa Panamá
This form belongs to tramitesvisapanama.com: your request goes straight to their team, who will contact you by WhatsApp or email with a verified specialist.
Can't see the form? Open it on tramitesvisapanama.com →
FAQ
What is the easiest residency in Panama?
It depends on your case: with a lifetime pension of B/.1,000, the pensionado; if you are from one of the 51 Friendly Nations, that route through a job or property; if you work remotely, the remote worker visa. Compare requirements in this page's table.
Do I need residency to rent or buy?
No. A foreigner can rent or buy with a passport (except land within 10 km of the borders). Residency helps with banks, mortgages and utilities.
How long can I stay as a tourist?
Generally up to 90 days; US and Canadian citizens up to 180 days.
General information, not legal advice. Confirm requirements and fees with the National Immigration Service or a lawyer. TuHogar en Panamá is not a law firm or an immigration agency.