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Tourists can visit Panama for 30-180 days, depending on which country they are from. But to live in Panama full-time, you must get a residency visa.
Panama offers many different visa programs.
The most popular is the Pensionado visa which requires $ 1000 USD in lifetime income plus $250 for your spouse. This visa is ideal for retirees.
A Friendly Nations Visa is your best option if you don’t qualify for a Pensionado Visa. To qualify, you must be from one of the Friends Nations (see list below), then you need to meet one of these four requirements:
1. Get a job at a Panamanian company. Learn more about getting a job in this article.
2. Purchase real estate worth at least $200,000. This must be titled real estate. It cannot be Right of Possession (ROP)real estate. You can finance the real estate purchase, but financing will take at least 90 days. Most banks want 20-30% down. Plus, you need a life insurance policy naming the bank as beneficiary, and all loans must be paid off by the time you turn 70. Learn more about buying real estate in this article.
3. Deposit $200,000 into a 3-year CD earning 3.5% interest at a Panama bank. Some banks pay 5.5% on a 3-year CD. Your immigration attorney will help you set up the correct account. Read this article about the safety of Panama’s banks.
4. Set up a Panama company that issues you a labor contract and a work permit. You must show income for at least nine months and pay into Panama’s Social Security. The initial fees for this visa are about $6000 for one person. Your spouse and minor children can also get this visa. The total costs for this visa are about $10,000 for one person.
You will receive a two-year temporary visa after applying for a Friendly Nations visa. After two years, if you continue to meet the abovementioned qualifications, you can apply for your permanent residency visa.
With any of these Friendly Nations Visa options, you can get a work permit to sell products or services in Panama.
When you get a Friendly Nations Visa, there is no requirement to live in Panama, but you must come back for a few days every two years.
Once you get your permanent visa, you can still get the Pensionado (also called Jubilado) discounts if you meet the age requirements of 55 for women and 60 for men. Learn more about all the Pensionado discounts available to you in Panama.
The Online Complete Panama Relocation Guide recommends affordable and reliable immigration lawyers who can help you get a Friendly Nations Visa. If you’re buying real estate to qualify, we also have a list of dependable agents throughout Panama in the Online Guide, too.
You’ll get this information if you come on an all-inclusive 6-day, 7-night Panama Relocation Tour.
The Friendly Nations Visa is only available for those who have a passport from one of these countries:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Great Britain
Greece
Hong Kong
Hungary
Ireland
Israel
Japan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxemburg
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Paraguay
Poland
Portugal
San Marino
Serbia
Singapore
Slovakia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United States of America
Uruguay
Peru
I am a South African citizen and I would like to secure Permanent Residency for myself and my wife. I trade CFD (metals and forex) online and I already have a offshore bank account, but would not mind to open another account in Panama, if this was a necessary requirement?
I understand there are different types of company formations through which I may trade, but first need to confirm if online trading would be categorized as “foreign income” and not locally sourced income? So I may be interested in the “offshore IBC” company formation, if it is necessary that I incorporate a new company in Panama?
So I have heard that the Friendly Nations Visa does no longer exist? Perhaps then I can opt for the Agricultural Investor Visa of $60,000 OR the Forestation Investor Visa of $40,000 (over 5-year period to qualify).
Or maybe I would qualify for a “nomad digital visa” ?
Would I need a “registered address for an office” in Panama for the company registration?
What are the “annual maintenance fees” for the company?
Do I need to complete “annual tax filing” for the company? And what are the fees if I outsource this?
This Friendly Nations Visa would be a good option for you — https://panamarelocationtours.com/5000-friendly-nation-visa-option
Hi Jackie, I hope you are well. I love your article. Just bought a place in Bajo Boquete for close to 300k. We did use an attorney but were shocked by the 1600. USD fee because we own several farms and homes in Colombia and never had an attorney to buy.
Is it legally required to have an attorney to do the Friendly Nations Visa process? I am fluent in Spanish and have gotten visa in several countries already.
Background info: I am Mexican and my partner of 28 years is a US citizen. He says he does not need a visa at this time because he can stay for 6 months already? We have 25 dogs in Colombia so its not like we are are going to be here full time anyway. My passport being Mexican only gives 3 months at a time in Panama so I would like to get the FNV for the recent purchase which is in my name anyway.
I an the COO of a US company so following the process to do this is no big leap. While I understand its advised to have consul my question is to legality only. Thanks for any help!
Hello Janet. You must use a Panama immigration lawyer for the Friendly Nations Visa. Your partner needs a visa if he wants to be able to drive in Panama. He/she can only driver for the first 90 days in Panama with their foreign license. To get a Panama driver’s license, you must get a Panama residency visa.
Hi Jackie, Thanks once again for a very informative video.
I am interested in option 4 (starting an LLC and becoming an employee) but in a previous email you mentioned an initial cost of $5 000. Has that now gone up to $6000 ??! Also, you mention that the TOTAL cost comes to about $10 000…is the additional $4 000 legal fees?
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Regards
Andre, the initial fee to get this Friendly Nations Visa is about $5000. We recently discovered that that fee does not include the $1000 annual renewal fees for the corporation, registered agent and board of directors.
Hi Jackie! so if i understand correctly, its 10,000 per person, even children(?), plus the cost of opening the LLC and generating income as well?
Char, it is NOT $10,000 per person. A spouse and minor children can be added to the visa for about $600 per person extra. The $10,000 includes the initial set up of the corporation, lawyer fees, business license, work permit, and other things necessary for this visa
Hi, Jackie
My husband and I are coming to visit Panama the end of summer and planning to move within a year or two. Are options are only the real estate or CD? how much approximately will that cost for the process? can you use the CD to buy real estate or not? also we have a minor, how would that work?
Thanks,
There are 4 options for getting a Friendly Nations Visa
See them here https://panamarelocationtours.com/4-ways-to-get-a-friendly-nations-visa
If you get the 3-year CD, you can borrow against it to buy real estate. But there is a penalty if you withdraw the funds and you would lose your visa too.
Hi Jackie,
I’m interested in your fourth option of setting up a corporation.
To break it down, how much money is needed at what stages?
Is the $10,000 all fees?
I’m also a digital nomad, do you offer any different options for digital nomad workers?
Thank you kindly for your answers.
AB. The digital nomad visa in Panama is not good. It’s only good for 9 months, then you can renew one time for 9 months. So, it’s not a good option for someone who wants to live in Panama full time. A tourist can stay in Panama for 180 days.
The Friendly Nations Visa by setting up a corporation is about $7,000 – 10,000 total. The initial fees are about $5000 (depending on which lawyer you use – could bemore or less)
Set up Corporation 1250
corp bank account 400
opening bank account individual 250
government fees for migration 1050
first ID 55
doctor control 35
Notary 68
multi visa 200
pub,reg 35
translation of the criminal record &
tax id 400
working permit 750
Av.op.Natural 400
personal registration to Social security 125
Lawyer Fee 1250
Hi Jackie!
Is it true that Marriage Certificate and Birth Certificates should be issued within the previous 6 months to be valid for the Friendly Nations visa? Should all of them be apostilled?
Thank you!
Hello Elena. A birth certificate is only needed for minors. It’s true that all documents needed to apply for a visa cannot be more than 6 months old. You will need to get a “certified copy” of your marriage certificate. It can be apostiled at the State or province where you live or authenticated at the Panama Consulate
Hi Jacky. I will be on one of your upcoming tours. We may be interested in the Friendly Nations Visa with a $200k CD option. Is there any talk about this amount increasing? Is there an official Panamanian government website that spells out this visa? Thank you.
Hello Gerald. There is no talk of increasing the requirement to more than $200,000 for a CD or real estate purchase the Friendly Nations Visa.
Hi Jacky, I have Widows pension. I receive $1300 a month. Do I qualify, how much do I need to move? Down payment on a rental? I also have a cat?
Thanks Nancy
HI Nancy, You qualify for the Pensionado visa which is the most affordable visa to get and the fastest visa too. It will cost about $1200 to get a visa.
The price of a rental depends on where you live. If you like warmer weather, Chitre is very affordable. You can get a nice furnished one bedroom for $400-$500 there.
If you prefer cooler weather, Volcan or Boquete have furnished one bedrooms for $500. Your cat would be welcome.
We have more details, including attorney recommendations in the Online Panama Relocation Guide – https://panamarelocationtours.com/guide
Hi Jackie, My family is looking into moving from the US to Panama after our daughter graduates from high school in June, 2025.
It would be my husband, myself, my daughter who will turn 18 in September, and likely also my mother. We are trying to understand how this will work with our daughter turning 18 so soon.
My husband and mother will both have pensions. My husband’s pension will be over $1000, but less than$1250. My mom is 80 years old, pension is over $1250.
I am working and do not have a pension, and I’m 53 so I won’t be able to access social security anytime soon.
We are looking to get information on how residency will work for our daughter, now and after she reaches age 25. And, what if she decides not to go to college? Thanks, Karen
Karen,, Please send an email to [email protected] with your questions. I will explain the solutions.
Hi Jackie,
I read that for the corporation option, you must also employ a minimum number of other Panamanians full time at at least mínimum wage?
David, there is no requirement to hire Panamanians when you get a Friendly Nations Visa by setting up a corporation that issues you a labor contract