🤝 Immigration & residency · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
Panama Friendly Nations visa
It is the most-used route for professionals and investors from countries with which Panama has special relations. It first grants a 2-year provisional residency, then permanent residency.
Apply for the Friendly Nations visa with Trámites Visa Panamá → Free consultation
Who is it for?
Nationals of the 51 countries on the official list (including the United States, Canada, Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Costa Rica and, since September 2026, Ecuador) who have a job in Panama, buy property or make a fixed-term deposit.
Key facts · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
- Job route
- Employment letter from a Panamanian company + work-permit application at MITRADEL
- Property route
- Property worth at least B/.200,000 (can be financed by a local bank)
- Deposit route
- B/.200,000 in a general-licence bank, unencumbered, for 3 years
- Government fees
- Certified cheques: B/.250 to the National Treasury + B/.800 to the SNM (B/.1,050)
- Residency
- Provisional for 2 years; then you apply for permanent
- Solvency with dependents
- B/.1,000 a month + B/.100 per dependent
General requirements
- Be a national of a listed country (nationality, not just residence).
- Power of attorney and application through a lawyer, certified passport, three photos, criminal record and health certificate.
- Proof of the chosen route: employment letter and company documents, Public Registry certificate for the property, or bank certificate for the deposit.
- Dependents: spouse and children; those aged 18 to under 25 must be full-time students and single.
How the process works
- Choose the route (job, property or deposit) and prepare apostilled, translated records.
- The 2-year provisional residency is filed with Immigration.
- When it ends, you apply for permanent residency with the same documents, without the police record or cheques.
- Colombia, Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, Italy and several Central American countries are not on the list: check the official list before you start.
- Residency does not replace the work permit: working for a Panamanian employer requires MITRADEL.
Next step
Apply for the Friendly Nations visa with Trámites Visa Panamá
tramitesvisapanama.com →List of the 51 eligible countries
tramitesvisapanama.com →Real economic requirements of the Friendly Nations visa
tramitesvisapanama.com →Which residency fits if you also protect your wealth (Panama Vault)
panamavault.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.
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FAQ
How much does the Friendly Nations visa cost?
Government fees are B/.1,050 per main applicant (B/.250 to the Treasury and B/.800 to Immigration). Lawyer fees, apostilles and translations are extra.
Can I qualify by buying an apartment?
Yes, if it is worth at least B/.200,000 and is in your name, a company you ultimately own or your foundation. The purchase can be financed by a local bank.
How long is the residency?
The first is provisional for 2 years. After that you apply for permanent residency.
Official sources (data checked on 28 Oct 2026): SNM – Requisitos Países Específicos (PPT-PE / PPP-PE) · SNM – Decretos
General information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change: confirm them with the National Immigration Service or a lawyer before deciding. Where it says "ask", the authority does not publish that information and we do not make it up. TuHogar en Panamá is not a law firm or an immigration agency.