Panama’s Immigration Visa Options
Last Updated on October 7, 2026 by Retire in Panama
Panama offers a wide variety of immigration visas. Whether you are looking to retire in Panama or visit for a few days, there is a visa that fits your needs. We will discuss the types of visas available in Panama, the difference between residency and citizenship in Panama, and how to obtain a permanent residency in Panama.
There are a variety of visas available in Panama, each with its own set of benefits and requirements. Below, we’ll outline the three most common types of residency visas and their requirements. Still, first, we will discuss the requirements, benefits, and some differences.
Understanding the Requirements and Benefits of Panama’s Immigration Visas
First, let’s look at the eligibility requirements for visas in Panama. To be eligible for a visa in Panama, you must meet specific conditions, such as having a valid passport and having no criminal record. Additionally, you must have sufficient funds to support yourself while in the country and be interested in living in Panama.
When it comes to granting visas, the government of Panama is selective with who they allow into the country. This is why it’s essential to carefully research all your options before making any decisions – choosing the wrong Visa could mean missing out on an opportunity that would have been perfect for you.
To most countries, Panama offers 90-day tourist visas or 180 days (to the USA and Canada) just by entering with your passport. This is an excellent option for you to come for an extended visit to see if Panama could be the place you want to move to before applying for any permanent visa.
Whether you are a retiree, a person looking for employment, or an investor in real estate or business, you have visa opportunities.
The process for obtaining any visa or residency visa can take between 30 days and two years, depending on the type of Visa. For all Visas, you will need a clean criminal background check from your home country, proof of income, a marriage certificate if applying as a married couple, and birth certificates for bringing dependant children.
If you do have something like a DUI on your background check, that really is not a problem, but anything else could be, and you will have to speak to a lawyer here to discuss your options.
What is the Difference Between Residency and Citizenship in Panama?
We often get asked, “if I apply for residency in Panama, do I give up my country’s citizenship?” Residency and citizenship are two totally different things. You can have as many permanent residencies as you want, and you will still hold your currency country’s passport. Below, we will outline the difference between residency and citizenship.
When you move to Panama and apply for residency, this will happen in two steps. First, temporary residency, then permanent residency. The timeline will be different for the different visas mentioned above. For the pensionado Visa, you will have your permanent residency in six months. For the Friendly Nations Visa, you are looking at just over two years for your permanent residency. And for the Qualified Investor’s Visa, it happens really fast in 30 days.
Your permanent residency card gives you the right to come and go as you please, and most of the rights of a Citizen, except you, do not have the right to vote or protest. You must not be absent from Panama for more than two consecutive years to maintain your permanent residency status.
Suppose you seek a second passport option (citizenship) after five years of permanent residency. In that case, you can apply for citizenship and a passport, although it can be challenging to get. Upon receiving your citizenship, you must say an oath to resend any other citizenships you have within two years. Panama does not recognize dual citizenship, except for some rare circumstances. Getting Citizenship with the Pensionado Visa is very difficult.
The Most Popular Residency Visas in Panama
If you’re interested in living in Panama, you must understand all available options. This section will explore Panama’s most popular residency visas and provide details on their requirements and benefits. We’ll also discuss how to apply for them and provide tips on increasing your chances of success.
All Residency Visa applications must be made through a Panama lawyer. You cannot do this yourself.
Panama’s most popular residency visas are the Pensionado, Friendly Nations, and Qualified Investors Visa. These Visas all lead to Permanent residency through different timelines and sometimes can lead to a work permit.
Finally, suppose you are looking to relocate your family here. In that case, you will really have to decide on the correct Visa for you, especially if you intend to work.
Pensionado Visa
The Pensionado visa is designed for retirees of any age. Its main requirement is that you are receiving a life-long pension of over $1000 USD for one person, plus $250 for each dependant, Spouse, or child under 18.
This pension must be a pension, not investments, annuity, IRA, or RRSP. To qualify, you must produce a letter from the pension administrator that the pension is for life. Suppose it is a US Social Security pension or Canada Pension. In that case, this is much easier as immigration authorities know that these pensions are for life. It will also be pretty straightforward if the pension is from the military, a Fortune 500 company, or state or city governments.
Pensions from smaller private companies that immigration here has not heard of will be more complex, and more paperwork to prove that this pension is for life. Still, with a good lawyer, they can be used.
Remember, there is no age restriction on getting a Pensionado Visa. You could be retired military in your thirties and qualify. You could have worked 30 years for the police department and retired at 50 with a full pension. Or, you can wait until you collect your Social Security pension and apply then. You must be already receiving your pension to apply.
One of the best features of the Pensionado Visa is its Pensionado discounts for any age. In Panama, the retirement age for Panamanians is 57 for women and 62 for men. When they reach this age, they receive discounts on goods and services. These discounts are extended to all foreigners holding Pensionado Visas, regardless of age. Also, suppose you do not qualify for the Pensionado Visa and move to Panama on one of the other Visa. In that case, you also will enjoy these discounts once you reach the required age in Panama, as long as you are a permanent resident.
Below are the Discounts provided:
One time Duty tax exemption for home items to as much as a total of $10,000.
Duty exemption for importing a brand new car every 2 years.
50% off entertainment any place in the nation (films, concert events, sports)
30% off in public transportation (bus, boat, and train)
25% off in airplane tickets
50% off in hotel accommodations from Monday to Thursday
30% off in hotel accommodations from Friday through Sunday
25% off in restaurants
15% off in fast-food restaurants
15% off in hospital fees (when no insurance is applicable)
10% off in prescription drugs
20% off in healthcare consultation services
15% off in eye and dental checkups
20% off in expert and specialized services
50% decrease in settlement costs for house loans
25% discounts in power bills
15% off in loans done in your name
1% less in home mortgages for houses utilized for personal dwelling
Friendly Nations Visa
In August of 2021, there were significant changes to the Friendly Nations Visa, which put a lot more restrictions on it and made it more expensive for most to acquire.
This Visa is designed specifically for people who want to relocate to Panama and start a new life. The are 50 counties that are part of the Friendly Nations Visa, and if you hold a passport from one of these counties, you can apply for this Visa. (The list is at the bottom of this article.)
The Friendly Nations Visa process is just over two years long. It starts with the application and a temporary Visa, then a work permit for option 1 below. After two years of the temporary Visa, you apply the second time for your permanent Visa.
There are three ways now to qualify for a Friendly Nations Visa.
- Receive a Job offer from an Existing Panamanian company with a current government profile, then receive a work permit to work at the company.
- Invest $200,000 in real estate in Panama. Real estate can be purchased with cash or a mortgage with a Panamanian bank. You must hold the property until your second application is approved, which will be between 2 and 3 years.
- Deposit $200,000 in a Panama Bank CD (Certified Deposit) locked in for three years.
At the time of the second application for your Permanent Visa, you must still have the job, real estate, or bank CD to qualify for permanent residency.
Let’s go into detail on each of these options.
Job Offer: When this program was first introduced in August of 2021, some money-hungry business people and lawyers tried to scam immigration by telling people they could set up their own companies and hire themselves as employees to circumvent the real spirit of the new law. This simply is just not the case. As the process takes two years, which is just coming up this August, for the first people who applied like this, we are still unsure if people who used this method will actually get their permanent visas.
Currently, immigration requires the company that makes the job offer to be an existing Panama Company with a corporate profile in Panama, meaning it has paid into Panama’s Social Security system and tax system. Then over the two years, the employee and the company would have to be paying monthly into the CSS system, and file income tax declarations each year. This simply cannot be a fake job just to get the Visa, we are sorry if you heard otherwise and are sorry if you are stuck in this mess.
This method is for actual Panamanian companies to hire real foreign employees to work for them.
Real Estate: The investment is $200,000 for a single, plus $2,000 per dependant, so a couple would be $202,000.00. This can be land, housing, or a combination of several smaller properties. You must intend to hold the real estate. After the two-year temporary visa process, you must prove that you still have the title of your property to get your permanent Visa on the second application.
Getting mortgages in Panama for foreigners takes a lot of work. Typically you would need 30% – 40% down, carry a life insurance policy on the total amount payable to the bank and have about 6 – 8 months time for approval.
Bank CD Deposit: This is a good option for many; the same rule applies to $200,000 for the primary person and $2,000 for the dependant. You are looking at a three-year certified deposit, and the process will take over two years. The good thing about this method is that the CD can earn an interest rate of between 3.5% and 5%, deposited monthly into a bank account in Panama that is yours to use. You could pay for rent in Panama with your monthly interest payment and not rush into buying something.
Qualified Investors Visa
The Qualified Investors Visa is really a fast-track Visa for investors. It requires the following:
An investment of $300,000 in new, first time sale or pre construction real estate. You must hold the real estate for 5 years.
An investment of $500,000 for previously occupied real estate. You must hold the real estate for 5 years.
A $500,000 in Bank CD (Certified Deposit for 5 years) in Banco National or Caja de Ahorros,
A $750,000 in Bank CD (Certified Deposit for 5 years) in other Panama banks.
You will get your Permanent residency in 30 days. You do not even have to be present in Panama to receive it, unlike all the other visas in Panama where you must be present twice, for the temporary visa application and then the permanent application.
The Cost of the Above Visas
The cost will vary based on your lawyer’s fees. Remember that the best lawyer will NEVER be the cheapest lawyer. Stay far away from discount lawyers; you will be sorry. If you want a recommendation for one of the best immigration lawyers in panama, click HERE.
Here are some estimates.
Pensionado Visa: between $2,400 and $3,000 for everything.
Friendly Nations Visa: between $8,000 and 12,000 for everything over the two-year process.
Qualified investors Visa: between $12,000 and $18,000 total.
When getting quotes from lawyers in Panama, make sure it is a complete quote. Lawyer Fees, Government Fees, translations, stamps, copies, etc.!
To get a complete quote for your residency visa, click HERE.
Other Residency Visas in Panama
As mentioned at the top of this article, Panama has many visa options. However, 9o% of the Visas issued are the three that we discussed.
Short Stay Visa (Digital Nomad Visa) – This is not a great visa as far as Digital nomad visas go; many countries have better ones. This Visa allows you to stay in Panama for up to 18 months if you can prove you make $36,000 a year (48,000 for a couple) from a company outside of Panama or from your own business that earns money from outside of Panama. The Visa is issued for nine months first; then, you must extend it for nine months. It currently is not extendable after that time, so it will not lead to a Permanent Visa.
Student Visa – If you are going to be studying at one of Panama’s accredited Universities, you may qualify for a Student Visa
Professional Visa – This Visa is used sparingly now since option 1 of the Friendly nations Visa was introduced. This Visa is for foreign university degree holders offered jobs in Panama. It is a temporary Visa, so the new friendly nations visa is a better option for most.
There are also family Visas like Married to A Panamanian and Family Reunification Visas.
In a Nutshell,
Panama offers a variety of immigration visas to suit different needs. From tourist and investor visas to retiree and student visas, each visa option has its own set of benefits and requirements. Understanding these requirements is essential to make an informed decision about which Visa is best for you.
Additionally, the process for obtaining any visa can be lengthy. Still, it is ultimately worth it if you are seriously considering moving to Panama, as there are many benefits associated with permanent residency in Panama, such as a great year-round climate, low cost of living, lower taxes for employees and business owners, no tax on international income, and excellent discount program for retirees.
It’s more than a tour . . it’s an experience.
List of the 50 Friendly Nations Countries
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Malta
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States of America
Uruguay
Peru
Mexico
Paraguay
