Panama Friendly Nations Visa 2026 : The Ultimate Guide

The Panama Friendly Nations Visa allows citizens of qualifying nations to obtain provisional, then permanent residency in Panama either by gaining employment with a Panamanian company, investing USD 200,000 in real estate, or depositing USD 200,000 in a Panamanian bank.  

This visa is designed for citizens of countries with professional, economic, or investment ties with Panama, allowing them to live and work in Panama, provided they meet all the requirements. After 5 years of permanent residency, visa holders can apply for citizenship and acquire a Panamanian passport.

However, as with any residency program, you must understand how the Friendly Nations Visa Panama works, its benefits and requirements, and whether you qualify.  

Panama Friendly Nations Visa – Key Takeaways

The Panama Friendly Nations Visa provides a straightforward path to 2-year provisional residency, then to permanent residency and eventual citizenship, with the option to include spouses and dependent children.

Applicants can qualify via employment with a Panamanian company, real estate investment of USD 200,000, or a bank deposit of USD 200,000.

Citizens of 50+ “Friendly Nations”, including the US, Canada, UK, EU countries, Brazil, and others, can apply, provided they can show professional, economic, or investment ties to Panama. 

Friendly Nations Visa holders gain the right to live, work, study, and invest in Panama, access healthcare, enjoy Panama’s territorial tax system, and benefit from an affordable and efficient application process compared to other residency programs. 

1. Fast & easy application process: This visa has a straightforward application process. Once you meet all requirements, you should expect approval within 2-4 months.  
2. Family inclusion: With this visa, the primary applicant can include dependents (spouse and dependent children under 25) in the application, and they can all obtain permanent residency.  
3. Work permit: Successful applicants receive a 2-year provisional work permit, renewable. 
4. Clear path to permanent residency: After the 2-year provisional residency elapses, you can apply and obtain permanent residency.  
5. Direct pathway to citizenship: After 5 years of permanent residency, you can apply for citizenship and get your Panama passport, provided you fulfil other requirements.  
6. Easy settlement: Panama Friendly Nations Visa allows you and your family to fully settle, live, work, study, and invest in Panama and travel within the country with zero restrictions.  
7. Access to good healthcare: Through this visa, you and your family gain uninterrupted access to Panama’s private and public healthcare systems. You can also purchase private health insurance.  
8. Affordable: The Friendly Nations Visa is quite affordable at a minimum price of $200,000 compared to other residency or the Panama Qualified Investor visa, which often starts from $300,000+.  
9. Tax benefits: Panama has a territorial tax system. So, income earned outside of Panama is not subject to tax. This means that if you gain tax residency in Panama, you only pay tax on income earned in Panama and don’t have to pay tax on foreign-earned income, including inheritances or gifts.

The Panama Friendly Nations Visa allows citizens of designated countries to obtain temporary residency in Panama. It is designed for individuals who establish economic or professional ties to the country, such as through employment, real estate investment, or a fixed-term bank deposit.

Successful applicants obtain temporary residency valid for two years. After this period, they can apply for a permanent residency permit in Panama.

The Friendly Nations Visa is a type of residency by investment visa created to boost the economy by allowing international citizens of 50+ select countries (including the US, Canada, UK, EU countries, Brazil, and others) to obtain permanent residency in Panama. Due to its design and purpose, it is one of the most popular and easy-to-get residency visas in the country.  

01/ Be a Citizen of an eligible country   

Panama Friendly Nations Visa List of eligible countries  

Here is the full list of the 50 countries whose citizens qualify for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa.  

02/ Establish professional or economic ties with Panama 

You can prove professional or economic activity or ties with Panama in three major ways:  

1. Have a valid employment contract with a Panamanian company and a work permit from the Ministry of Labor. You can also create your own company in Panama. 
2. Invest a minimum of $200,000 in real estate in Panama. You can purchase and hold this property or via a legal entity, but you must be the final beneficiary for at least 2 years. This amount is the same for a single applicant and a family, regardless of how many dependents are added to the application.  
3. Deposit a minimum of $200,000 in a fixed deposit personal bank account in Panama for at least 2 years. This account must be in a general license bank in Panama, and the funds must be unencumbered. This means the money in the account must be fully yours and freely available for use at any time, with no restrictions or claims on it for at least 2 years.  

Important Note: The mortgage/borrowing does not qualify as unencumbered funds. Gifts and sponsorship may work, but would need bank statements and a paper trail clearly showing the source of funds and supporting documentation that it was legally obtained.  

03/ Provide required documentation 

Here are the required documents for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa application.  

General Documents 

• Completed visa application form 
• Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) 
• Two passport-size photographs 
• Criminal record certificate or police clearance certificate (issued by federal or national police within the last 6 months from the applicant’s country of residence for the last two years) 
• Proof of financial capacity and solvency (e.g., bank statements or tax returns). 
• A health certificate issued by a local doctor in the last 90 days. 
• Personal background declaration (work and education history) 
• Bank certification confirming source of funds (apostilled if issued abroad). 
• Notarized letter confirming completion of the relevant financial transaction.  

Proof of Economic or Investment Ties (one required) 

• Real Estate Investment 

You need a certificate from the Public Registry evidencing ownership of the real estate. 

The property may be held: 

• in the personal name of the applicant; or 
• by a legal entity, provided that the applicant is the ultimate beneficial owner of the shares, equity contributions, or corporate quotas of the company; or 
• by a private interest foundation, provided that the applicant is both the founder and ultimate beneficiary. 
• the real estate must have a minimum value of USD 200,000 

• Fixed-Term Bank Deposit 

• Certificate from a general license bank in Panama confirming a fixed-term deposit of at least USD 200,000 (free of encumbrances and sourced from abroad) 
• Notarized deposit agreement (minimum two-year term) 

• Dependents (if applicable) 

• Letter of responsibility from the main applicant 
• Proof of relationship (marriage certificate or birth certificates) 
• Proof of shared address 
• For dependents over 18: 
  • Single status certificate 
  • Student certificate (if applicable) 

Additional Notes 

• Applicants must travel to Panama at least twice during the process 
• All documents must be apostilled or notarized and translated into Spanish 
• Common law partners cannot apply together, as you need an authenticated marriage certificate in accordance with Panamanian law.  

1. Confirm eligibility: Applicant must be a citizen of a Friendly Nations country and qualify through employment, real estate investment, or a fixed-term bank deposit. 

2. Select qualification route 

• Employment with a Panamanian company (labor contract + work permit), or 
• Real estate investment of at least USD 200,000, or 
• Minimum investment in the form of a fixed-term bank deposit of USD 200,000 in a Panamanian bank (minimum 2-year term). 

3. Prepare documents: Passport, police clearance, proof of qualifying investment or employment, driving license, proof of address, and dependent documents, including birth certificates (if applicable). Foreign documents must be apostilled or consularized. 

4. Open local bank account & complete investment: Required for real estate or deposit routes. Funds must come from a foreign source and be documented. 

5. Travel to Panama: Physical presence is required. Applicants must visit Panama at least twice during the process. 

6. Submit application: File through a licensed Panamanian attorney with the National Immigration Service and pay applicable fees.  

7. Temporary residency card issued: Upon filing, the applicant receives a temporary residency card and a multiple-entry visa allowing legal stay and travel while the application is processed. Processing times typically range from 2 to 4 months, depending on the applicant’s profile and document completeness.   

8. Panama Friendly Nations Visa processing time: Typical processing time is 2-4 months. 

9. Apply for permanent residency card: After the provisional period (generally 2 years), apply in person for your permanent residency permit, provided qualifying conditions remain in place. 

10. Maintain residency: Maintain the qualifying economic tie and enter Panama at least once every two years. 

Yes, the Friendly Nations Visa can lead to citizenship. After obtaining permanent residency through the Friendly Nations Visa, holders must maintain their status for at least five years before becoming eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship. You must also meet other naturalization requirements, such as demonstrating ties to Panama through economic activity, residence, or integration, and passing a basic Spanish-language test on Panama’s history.

Government fees for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa come up to about $1,020. These fees are paid directly to Panamanian authorities and apply per applicant. 

• Applicant’s residence permit – $500 
• Dependent’s residence permit – $350 
• Multiple entry and exit visa – $70 
• Work permit (separate process) – $100 

Additional professional, legal, or administrative costs may apply depending on the applicant’s individual circumstances. 

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique investment migration consultancy firm focused on finding the right residency or citizenship by investment program for individuals wishing to secure their future and become global citizens. With offices in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Brazil, our multilingual team guides individuals and families from start to finish, providing expert advice considering freedom, mobility, taxation, and security.

• We have helped hundreds of clients from 35+ countries in all the top residency by investment and citizenship by investment programs. With an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the area, we provide our clients with solid guidance. 
• Our team has never had a case rejected. Our 100 percent approval rate sets us apart from our competitors and guarantees that you can expect a successful application.
• Our transparent pricing covers all the processes from opening your bank account, document certification, and legal due diligence to investment and submission. As there is one fee for the entire process, you can be confident that you will not face any hidden costs later.
• All data is stored within a GDPR-compliant database on a secure SSL-encrypted server. You can be safe knowing that your personal data is treated with the utmost security.
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• The BeGlobal Onboarding System® allows you to access the status of your application every step of the way, something that sets us apart from our competitors.