The Panamanian Government offers foreigners several visas for obtaining temporary or permanent residency, citizenship, passports, and work permits.

Our law firm will help you analyze which type of visa will better suit your personal need.

This program allows foreigners to obtain legal permanent residency in Panama under the condition that they are retired or pensioned. According to the Immigration Department of Panama, there is no minimum age required to qualify.

The applicants' retirement income (or pension income) must be at least a lifetime US$1,000 per month plus US$250.00 per additional dependent.  If the applicant can provide documentation showing that he or she owns a real estate property in their personal name for over US$100,000.00, the minimum pension income required starts from US$750.00 per month. 

The law grants, in addition to the indefinite resident visa, tax franchises to import households or personal items once, up to the total amount of Ten Thousand Dollars (US$10,000.00), and an automobile for personal use every two (2) years.
(For process and requirements on the tourist pensionado visa click here)

(Click here to view the “jubilado” or “pensioned” discounts you will obtain with the tourist pensioner visa)

This visa offers you the chance to obtain a Panamanian residency, and after five (5) years of having obtained the permanent residency, you will have the option of applying for Panamanian Citizenship. This visa is designed for those who wish to live in Panama, not being employed or starting a business, but living of their own means.
(For process and requirements on the Economic Solvency Visa click here).

There are three (3) options available for this visa category:

1. Invest a minimum of US$300,000 in a three (3) year time deposit (or "certificate of deposit" or "CD") at any licensed bank in Panama.
2. Invest a minimum of US$300,000 in a titled property in the Republic of Panama to your personal name or in the name of a private interest foundation.
3. Invest a minimum of US$300,000 combined through a three (3) year time deposit (or "certificate of deposit" or "CD") at any licensed bank in Panama, PLUS invest titled property in the Republic of Panama to your personal name or in the name of the foundation.

* Note: interest income from the time deposit or “CD” is not taxed by the Panamanian government.

The two principal stipulations for this visa are:

1. The real estate property or time deposit has to be free and clear of any liens.
2. The primary applicant must also prove that he or she has an income to support his or her general costs of living and for his or her dependants.  This can be accomplished by providing a bank reference letter showing deposits from four (4) mid to high figures.

3. Reforestation Investor Visa

Foreigners who invest in direct form in the activities of reforestation as natural persons or through a corporation. The investment requirement is a minimum of Eighty Thousand Dollars US$80.000.00, to apply for this immigrant visa.

The foreign applicant must prove to the National Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization the source of funds that he has effectively invested in the plantation of forest species for commercial, environmental, tourist aims or other.
(For process and requirements on the Macro Business Reforestation Visa click here).

4. Macro Business Investor Visa

Foreigners who invest directly in a Panamanian company, that is constituted with a minimum share capital of One Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars US$160,000, will be eligible to obtain a Panamanian residency with an investor's status qualifying as a macro enterprise investor.  The investment must increase in Two Thousand Dollars US$2,000.00 for each additional dependent. 

The foreigner must be the shareholder and Director / Officer of the company, which in addition, must have an initial list of Five (5) Panamanian workers, working fulltime and earning a wage not inferior than the minimum established by Law for each region of the country, specifying the position or activity that each one performs.

The company must register its employees in the Social Security System, thus complying with the legal obligations in respect to the social issues. It is important that the foreign investor considers that at the time of requesting the visa extension, after exceeding the provisional permission that is issued with Immigrant's Visa, he/she will have to prove that it has fulfilled the commitment to contract Panamanian personnel and to be up-to-date in the payment of the obligations towards the Social Security.
(For process and requirements on the Macro Business Investor Visa click here).

5. Resident Visa for aliens married to a Panamanian Citizen

This visa is granted to those foreigners that are married to a Panamanian citizen and live together, stable and continuously with their spouse.

The marriage of a foreigner to a Panamanian Citizen does not by itself provide the right to a Panamanian residence.  The National Service of Immigration for health, morality, public safety, national economy may deny the entry into the country or residence to a foreigner married to a Panamanian Citizen if they esteem appropriate.
 
The person that by means of a false marriage tries to obtain a migratory status can be subject of criminal actions, furthermore, the request will be denied or the granted permit will be revoked, and the immediate departure of the country by the foreigner will be requested.
(For process and requirements on the resident visa for aliens married to a Panamanian Citizen click here).

6. Resident Visa as Resident's Relative Dependent Status

This visa may be applied by foreigners who dependants of a Two (2) year provisional resident of Panama, Permanent Resident or a Citizen of the Republic of Panama who are either their spouse, children under eighteen (18) years old, family members with an incapacity or Parents dependents of the resident. 
Dependents over eighteen (18) and under twenty five (25) years old must be currently enrolled in a local university and proof that they are financially dependent of the resident or citizen.
(For process and requirements on the residence permit as resident’s relative dependent click here).

7. Temporary Residency as Independent Retired (Immediate Passport Visa)

This Visa may be applied by any Foreigner who enters into the country of Panama, and establishes a Time Deposit that earns a minimum monthly income of Eight Hundred and Fifty U.S. Dollars (US$850.00), that proceed exclusively from the interest of a five (5) year time deposit at "Banco Nacional de Panama" (National Bank of Panama) or "Caja de Ahorros", free of liens of any nature. 
The petitioner can bring his (her) dependents into the country (Are considered as such, the parents, spouse or children under legal age or those who are of legal age but under 25 years, single and without children that are attending regular studies, on a Study Center duly recognized by the Ministry of Education.
The retired petitioner can invest money at the Panamanian Territory, previous to the compliance of the requirements, but will not be able to work within the territory.
(For process and requirements on the immediate passport visa click here).

1. Extension of Tourist Visa

The Tourist Visa Extension allows foreigners to stay up to ninety (90) additional days in Panama.  Foreigners who wish to apply for the tourist visa extension should contact us at least one (1) week prior to the expiration of your original tourist visa so we can assist you in obtaining an extension.
(For more information on the process and requirements for the tourist visa extension click here).

2. Multiple Entry & Exit Visa

The Multiple Entry & Exit Visa allows foreigners to enter and exit the Republic of Panama as many times as necessary during the validity of the Multiple Entry & Exit Visa, or until the expiration date of the Visa.  The validity of the Multiple Entry & Exit Visa is of one (1) or two (2) years, depending on your migration status.
(For more information on the process and requirements for the multiple entry & exit permit click here).

3. Tax exemption for Household personal articles import or and automotive vehicles

In order to obtain the tax exemptions granted through the different resident visas you will have to do a separate process requesting this exemption.  The tariffs tax exemptions for the import of household or personal articles will be given once. While the tariffs tax exemptions for auto motor vehicles, can be requested every two (2) years.
(For more information on the process and requirements for the multiple entry & exit permit click here).