🌴 Immigration & residency · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
Panama retiree (pensionado) visa
This residency is built for people who already receive a retirement pension and want to settle in Panama. It does not require an investment or a local job: the key is proving a lifetime pension.
Apply for the pensionado visa with Trámites Visa Panamá → Free consultation
Who is it for?
People who receive a lifetime retirement pension from a foreign government, an international organisation or a private company, of any nationality.
Key facts · data checked on 28 Oct 2026
- Minimum pension
- B/.1,000 (USD 1,000) a month, for life
- If you own a home
- B/.750 a month if you bought a property in your own name worth over B/.100,000
- Per dependent
- +B/.250 a month (extra pension or local bank reference)
- Couples
- Spouses may add their pensions together to reach the minimum
- Duration
- Indefinite permit: no renewal needed
- Government fees
- Ask (the SNM requirements sheet does not list them)
General requirements
- Notarised power of attorney and application through a lawyer (including parents' names and nationality).
- Certified passport copy, three photos, criminal record certificate and health certificate.
- Certificate of the lifetime pension (for a private-company pension: letter from the fund manager, proof the company exists and proof of payment).
- Sworn personal-history form and, if applicable, Public Registry certificate for the property.
How the process works
- Gather your pension certificate and police record at home, apostilled and officially translated into Spanish.
- Your lawyer files the application with Panama's National Immigration Service.
- With the resolution you receive your residence card; with it you can open a bank account, get a driving licence and set up utilities.
- Dependent children only get a temporary permit until 25 if they are studying; they do not become pensionados (except in proven cases of profound disability).
- The pension must be for life: investment income or savings do not replace it in this category.
Next step
Apply for the pensionado visa with Trámites Visa Panamá
tramitesvisapanama.com →Pensionado vs Friendly Nations: which suits retirees
tramitesvisapanama.com →Taxes for foreign retirees: territorial taxation (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 pension do I need for the pensionado visa?
At least B/.1,000 (USD 1,000) a month for life. It drops to B/.750 if you bought a property in Panama in your name worth more than B/.100,000. Add B/.250 a month per dependent.
Do I have to renew the pensionado residency?
No. According to the National Immigration Service's official sheet, the permit is indefinite and needs no renewal.
Can I include my partner?
Yes, as a dependent, showing an extra B/.250 a month. Spouses may also combine their pensions to reach the minimum.
How much does the process cost?
The SNM requirements sheet does not publish this category's fees, so they must be confirmed. Lawyer fees, apostilles and translations are separate.
Official sources (data checked on 28 Oct 2026): SNM – Requisitos Jubilado/Pensionado (PE2)
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.