Visa

Remote Work Visa

The remote work/freelancer visa is for workers who work online for a non-Panamanian company or doing freelance work.

Requirements

• Earn at least $36,000/year ($48,000 for families)
• Employment contract with foreign company or proof of your own company

Benefits

• Lasts 9 months
• Renew for up to 18 months
• Transfer to another visa type after 18 months

Student Visa

Student visas are for attending college/university in Panama and include the many outposts of Americans schools in the country.

• Show acceptance and proof of tuition payment
• Show ability to support yourself financially

• Lasts one year
• Renew each year for up to 6 years

Pensionado Visa

The Pensionado Visa is designed for retirees or pensioners who receive a lifetime income from abroad, such as Social Security benefits or private pensions.

This visa offers the most comprehensive benefits, including discounts on medical services, transportation, hotels and entertainment. Unlike some countries, you only have to be 18 to qualify for this visa AND the discounts! If you don’t come in on this visa, you can still get the discounts once you reach retirement age, which is considered 55 for women and 60 for men. Sorry guys!

• Proof of $1,000/month retirement income (pension, annuity, Social Security, etc.), or
• $100,000 real estate investment plus proof of $750/month retirement income, or
• $170,000 five-year deposit in a Panama bank (Rentista Retirado option, which essentially provides you monthly income in the necessary amount)
• Additional amounts required for each dependent

• 50% off entertainment like movies, concerts, sports
• 30% off bus, boat, and train fares, 25% off airfare
• 50% off hotels M-Th, 30% off F-Su
• 25% off at restaurants, 15% off at fast food restaurants
• 15% off out-of-pocket hospital bills, 10% off prescriptions, 15% off dental & eye exams
• 20% off professional and technical services
• 50% off home closing costs
• 25% off utilities
• 15% off loans
• Tax exemptions :
  • 1-time tax exemption on the importation of household goods up to a value of 10,000 USD
  • 100% tax exemption on the importation or purchase of a car every 2 years

Friendly Nations Visa

The Friendly Nations Visa is available to citizens of one of the 50+ countries with whom Panama has diplomatic ties. The tax benefits of this visa have changed in the past few years, so be sure to talk to your tax pro.

• Buy property worth $200,000+, or
• Invest $300,000+ in a Panama bank, or
• Get a job with a Panama company

• Temporary residency
• Two-year path to permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship

Professional Employment Visa

The Professional Employment Visa is available to people with a college degree who get local professional employment.

• Have a college degree and any necessary U.S. licenses
• Get a job with a Panamanian company
• Pay local social security taxes

• Temporary residency
• Two-year path to permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship

Business Investor Visa

The Business Investor Visa is designed for entrepreneurs who wish to start or expand their business operations in Panama.

• Invest $200,000 in a business venture
• Create 5 new jobs for Panamanians
• Investment and job requirements increase for each dependent you bring

• Temporary residency
• Two-year path to permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship
• Preferential treatment when applying for government contracts

Small Business Investor Visa

The Small Business Investor Visa is designed for entrepreneurs who wish to start or expand their business operations in Panama with smaller operations than the Business Investor.

• Invest $40,000 in a business venture
• Create 3 new jobs for Panamanians
• Investment and job requirements increase for each dependent you bring

• Temporary residency
• Four-year path to permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship
• Preferential treatment when applying for government contracts

Self-Solvency Visa

The Self-Solvency Visa is designed for persons of independent means.

• Invest $300,000 in real estate
• Invest $300,000 in a Panama bank
• Invest in some combination of the two
• The amount increases for each dependent you bring
• Show the ability to support yourself and your dependents financially

• Temporary residency
• Four-year path to permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship

Qualified Investor Visa

The Qualified Investor Visa offers immediate permanent residency for people investing larger sums in Panama.

• Invest $500,000 in real estate (without a mortgage)
• Invest $500,000 in the Panama stock market
• Invest $750,000 in a Panama bank

• Permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship
• 30-day delivery of visa
• Includes dependents
• Visiting Panama not necessary

Reforestation Investor Visa

The Reforestation Investor Visa has three tiers of investment that provide varying speeds to permanent residency.

• Invest $80,000 in a government-certified reforestation project
• Invest $100,000 in a government-certified reforestation project
• Invest $350,000 in a government-certified reforestation project

• Option 1 grants temporary resident for five years and then permanent residency
• Option 2 grants temporary resident for two years and then permanent residency
• Option 3 grants permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship

Reforestation Investor Visa

The Reforestation Investor Visa has three tiers of investment that provide varying speeds to permanent residency.

• Invest $80,000 in a government-certified reforestation project
• Invest $100,000 in a government-certified reforestation project
• Invest $350,000 in a government-certified reforestation project

• Option 1 grants temporary resident for five years and then permanent residency
• Option 2 grants temporary resident for two years and then permanent residency
• Option 3 grants permanent residency
• Five-year path from permanent residency to citizenship