Imiatlas

🇵🇦 Panama

Panama Permanent Residency: requirements and how to apply

Fast-track residency for citizens of 50 friendly nations via formal employment or real estate investment ($200k USD).

Official Panama permanent residency page

Friendly Nations Visa (Países Amigos)

Fast-track residency for citizens of 50 friendly nations via formal employment or real estate investment ($200k USD).

Typical duration
2 years provisional, then Permanent Residence
Path to permanent residency
Direct permanent residency after 2-year provisional card

Main requirements

  • Citizen of 50 friendly nations
  • Employment or real estate acquisition

Official page

Documents usually needed for Panama

  • For Digital Nomad Visa: annual foreign income of at least $36,000 USD (~$3,000 USD/month) and remote contract with company abroad
  • For Friendly Nations Visa: citizen of one of 50 designated friendly nations + labor contract with Panamanian company or real estate purchase ($200,000 USD)
  • Apostilled police clearance certificate and local Panamanian lawyer representation
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months and a compliant photo (make yours here)

Application steps

  1. 1

    Preparation & Panamanian Legal Power of Attorney

    Grant power of attorney to a licensed Panamanian immigration attorney and apostille documents.

    1 - 2 weeks

  2. 2

    SNM Lodgement & Provisional Carnet

    Submit file at the National Migration Service in Panama City to receive provisional 6-month card.

    1 - 2 weeks

  3. 3

    Permanent Resident Resolution & E-Cedula

    Receive formal resolution and collect permanent resident carnet (and Tribunal Electoral Cédula E).

    2 - 4 months

Other ways to move to Panama

Helpful for your move

Partner links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It never affects the information on this site.

Find a licensed adviser

For advice on your own case, use a licensed immigration lawyer or adviser. Always check they are registered before you pay anyone. Imiatlas does not refer or review cases.

Look for a lawyer registered with the national bar association or law society in Panama. The official immigration website explains any rules on who may represent applicants.

Servicio Nacional de Migración Panamá (SNM)

General information to help you research, not legal advice. Rules change often: always confirm with Servicio Nacional de Migración Panamá (SNM) on the official website before applying.