Contact 
Log In 
The Digital Nomad/Short Stay visa is ideal for those who only want to live in Panama for 9-18 months. It’s also a great way to bridge the gap between when you want to move to Panama and when you will qualify for a Pensionado visa.
The biggest con is that it is only good for up to 18 months. But this may be just enough time to bridge the gap until you qualify for a Pensionado Visa.
The biggest pro is that you can get a Panama driver’s license with this visa, PLUS of course, that you get to live in beautiful Panama!
You will need to work with a Panama immigration lawyer to get the “Short Stay/Digital Nomad” visa. Ask the attorney if there is an online platform to apply.
Any foreigner who meets the following conditions can apply for this visa:
• That he has an operating contract with a foreign transnational company or is an independent worker. The work must be done in a telework mode.
• To have the ability to perform their work in Panama.
• That he receives income from a foreign source and with an annual amount not less than Thirty-Six Thousand Dollars with 00/100 ($36,0000USD) or its equivalent in foreign currency.
This visa is particularly interesting for digital nomads. Some of the advantages are:
• Those foreigners who are granted this visa will not be required to obtain a work permit.
• Your income, being from a foreign source, will not be taxable by the Republic of Panama.
• The visa is granted for a term of nine (9) months, which translates into a stay of more than one hundred and eighty-three (183) days, enough time to apply for a tax residence certificate.
The visa can be extended only once, for an additional term of nine (9) months.
To apply for this visa, a foreigner who has a contract with an external company must fulfill the following requirements:
• Complete the corresponding request form
• Three photographs ID size
• Copy of medical insurance. It is important that this insurance covers the person in Panamanian territory.
• Letter from the company with letterhead and signed by the legal representative that indicates:
o Solicitors general information
o Position and functions that the person executes
o Monthly income
o Work modality
o Commitment to assume the costs of returning to their country
o Affidavit of non-acceptance of job offer in Panama
o Proof of payment of $250 in favor of National Immigration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migración)
In the case of self-employed or freelance workers, they must provide the following documentation:
• Certification or proof of ownership of a company, properly registered in its country
• Notarized sworn declaration that describes the commercial relationship with clients who receive their services
Every person who requests a visa must provide proof of their income, such as properly authenticated bank statements.
The visa does not permit the beneficiary to act as the company’s representative for local activities, which could result in the visa’s revocation. (Meaning you cannot work in Panama)
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
The visa is highly attractive to digital nomads seeking a tax-friendly location with a good quality of life and affordability. The main benefits of the program include:
• Fast processing time: You will be able to complete the entire process in under 30 days.
• Affordable: The total cost of the visa application is only $250.
• Tax benefits: Panama is a tax-friendly nation that will not tax remote workers on any income sourced from outside of Panama. In addition, residing in Panama for 9 months or more is enough time to apply for tax residency, which means you may be able to avoid paying tax to your home country.
• Quality of life: Panama offers an attractive lifestyle for nomads. It has long been a favorite destination for expats and retirees alike, with its warm climate, beautiful scenery, and vibrant cities. It is also relatively affordable compared to developed Western nations.
• Extended stay: The visa offers a stay period of at least 9 months, with the opportunity to extend it for an additional 9 months.
There are two types of applicants who can apply for the short-stay visa: those working remotely for a foreign company and those working as independent freelancers or autonomous business owners. The application requirements differ slightly depending on the applicant’s category.
All applicants must submit the following documents:
• A completed application form, which also includes a commitment to fund the costs to return to their home country upon completion of the stay period.
• Three passport-size photographs.
• A copy of a valid medical insurance that covers the applicant during their stay in Panama.• Certified passport copies.
• Certificate showing a clean criminal record.
• Affidavit of non-acceptance of any job offers within Panama territory (i.e., all work needs to relate to operations carried out outside of Panama territory).
• Proof of annual income in excess of $36000. The applicant must provide bank certification and authenticated bank statements to prove sufficient income and funding.
Applicants who are working remotely for a foreign company must submit a letter from the company that includes:
• The role and functions that the applicant exercises at the company,
• The monthly income of the applicant,
• The work modality (how the work is performed from abroad).
Applicants who are self-employed must provide:
• Proof of ownership of a company that is registered outside of Panama,
• A sworn declaration outlining the business activities that they are engaged in, the services which they offer, the nature of their clients, and their past and expected revenue. Documents must be properly notarized and authenticated at a Panama Consulate.
The visa costs include:
• $250 application fee payable to the National Immigration Agency
• $50 for the issuance of the visa card
Why Should You Apply for the Panama Digital Nomad Visa?
The life of a digital nomad or remote worker is not always an easy one. One of the more challenging issues is finding the right countries to live in that have a friendly outlook toward foreign freelance workers and favorable regulations. The new Panama short-stay visa for remote workers has certainly put Panama on the list of top-choice countries for digital nomads.
The visa makes it easy to spend up to 18 months in Panama as a remote worker, while enjoying the great lifestyle, top-class infrastructure, affordability, and numerous other benefits.
