Friendly Nations Visa
Invest in Panama, earn residency that gives back
The Friendly Nations Visa turns a real investment into a foothold in a stable, dollar-based economy.
For investors from the U.S. and 50-plus friendly countries.
The pitch
Why investors keep choosing Panama
Panama runs on the U.S. dollar, so there's no currency to convert. Its territorial tax system generally leaves your foreign income alone. Add a real banking hub and a three-hour hop to Miami for an attractive option at the gateway to South America.
- U.S. dollar economy, no FX risk
- Territorial tax on foreign income
- About 3 hour flight from Miami
The numbers that matter
$200,000
Minimum qualifying investment
Buy property or make a 3-year deposit
50+
Eligible friendly nations
The US and Canada included
0%
Panama tax on foreign income
Taxes on local income only
How it works
The Friendly Nations Visa, minus the jargon
Since 2021, this isn't the old $5,000-in-a-bank visa. You qualify with real money, either $200,000 in property or a $200,000 deposit locked for three years. Expatsi's partner also offers an investment option as low as $27,000. In exchange, you get a two-year provisional card, then can apply for permanent residency.
- $200,000 in property, or a 3-year deposit
- Provisional card first, permanent after two years
- No minimum-stay rule to keep it
Friendly Nations Visa
Available to citizens of over 50 countries with friendly relations to Panama. Applicants must demonstrate economic or professional ties, such as employment or property ownership. Offers permanent residency.
- Government cost
- $800
- Processing time
- ~60 days
- Timeline
- Permanent
- Difficulty
- Moderate
Key requirements
- Citizenship from a country on the Friendly Nations list
- Proof of economic or professional ties to Panama (employment contract with a Panamanian company or property purchase)
- Valid passport
- Criminal record certificate
- Proof of economic solvency (bank deposit in Panama)
- Migration fee application and payment
The green angle
Rather grow trees than flip condos
Panama runs a separate reforestation program that grants residency to investors who back government-certified teak and hardwood projects, with real tax breaks on the timber. Sizes span a wide range: Expatsi can point you to green options from as low as $27,000, while the residency-carrying tiers begin around $100,000.
- A separate route from the Friendly Nations Visa
- Certified projects, ministry-overseen
- Green options from about $27,000
Scouting Trips
See Panama like a local before you move
Before you buy property sight unseen, come look. Our Panama scouting trip covers Panama City, Coronado, and Boquete over seven nights, with visa, tax, and healthcare experts on hand.
- We walk neighborhoods
- Meet local experts
- Tour healthcare facilities
- Explore housing options
- Help you understand what daily life actually feels like
Your people on the ground
ECI Developments
Belize & Panama Real Estate and Investing
Belize and Panama property and investment, including projects that can qualify you.
Freedom Panama
Panama Relocation Specialist
Panama City specialists who handle the visa paperwork end to end.
Questions that investors actually ask
Will Panama tax my US income?
Panama uses a territorial system, so it generally only taxes income earned inside Panama. As a US citizen you still file US taxes on your worldwide income, so loop in a cross-border tax advisor.
Does this visa give permanent residency right away?
Not since 2021. You get a two-year provisional residency first, then apply for permanent residency once those two years are up. You can apply for citizenship five years after that.
Can I really get the Friendly Nations Visa for $27,000?
No. The Friendly Nations Visa needs a $200,000 investment in property or a bank deposit. The $27,000 figure is an entry point for a green, reforestation-style investment through Expatsi's partners. Residency through reforestation is a separate program, and the tiers that grant it on their own start around $100,000.
How long does approval take, and what does it cost?
Plan on roughly four to six months for the provisional card after filing. Beyond your qualifying investment, budget about $5,000 to $10,000 for legal fees, government charges, apostilles, and translations.
Do I have to live in Panama full time?
No. The Friendly Nations Visa has no minimum-stay requirement, so you can keep a base elsewhere. You will need to be in Panama in person for biometrics during the application.
Which nationalities qualify?
Citizens of 50-plus friendly countries, including the United States, Canada, the UK, most of the EU, Australia, and Japan. Your immigration lawyer confirms your country is on the current list.
Ready to put your money somewhere with roots?
Book a free call and we'll map the cleanest path to Panama residency for your budget.
Why not you?