Welcome to the Republic of Panama - for stress-free and tax-free luxury tropical living!

Panama has probably the most appealing program of incentives for foreign residents and retirees anywhere in the world.

Our firm has a specialist immigration attorney and we can assist with all visa classes. By law, all visa applications must be made through a licensed Panamanian lawyer or law firm.

General Qualifications for Panama immigration

The following conditions must be complied with no matter what kind of Visa you are applying for.

1. Minimum age of 18 years. Youngsters under 18 will qualify for a visa as dependents of their parents. There is no maximum age limit.
2. All overseas documents to be presented to the authorities in Panama must be authenticated by a Notary and by the Panamanian consulate nearest you, or by a notary and the Apostille. The Apostille (The Hague Convention of 1961) is a faster way of authenticating documents. Our office will be pleased to advise you where you can obtain an apostille in your home country.
3. All documents must be recently issued (within two months of visa application) and passports must have at least one year of validity remaining.
4. Dependents: Bring a marriage certificate. Original marriage certificates are not acceptable if over two months old, so youll need to request fresh ones. If your children under 18 are to be covered by your visa, youll need to bring recently certified birth certificates.
5. All visa types require that you obtain a health certificate and HIV test

There are many types of visa that you may apply for in Panama. Below are some of the immigration options available:

The Tourist Pensioner Visa (Turista Pensionado) also known as Panama Pensionado Visa

This visa is designed for those who can demonstrate a monthly pension from a government or private corporation of at least $500 per individual, or $600 per couple. Usually a pension statement from the government or private pension administrator will suffice. The Pensionado Visa is granted indefinitely - but it is still necessary to prove to the Immigration Department each year that the income has not ceased.

The benefits include one-time exemption of duties for the importation of household goods (up to $10,000) and an exemption every two years of duties for the importation of a car. There is also a basket of other benefits and discounts available to those holding this Visa. However, please note that under this visa you cannot qualify to acquire Panamanian nationality.

1. Private Income Retiree Visa (Rentista RetiradoThis visa is for persons who don�t have a monthly pension, are no longer working, and have received a retirement lump sum. As a visa requirement, that money is to be deposited on a five-year certificate of deposit with the National Bank of Panama, to yield at least $750 a month (at current rates the face value of the CD would need to be approximately $260,000). The visa is renewable every five years, as long as the CD is renewed. The Private Income Retiree Visa includes such benefits as a travelling Panamanian passport (that however does NOT grant nationality), a one-time exemption of duties for the importation of household goods (up to $10,000), and an exemption every two years of duties for the importation of a car.
   Person of Means Visa (Solvencia Econ�mica Propia)
   Designed for those who wish to live in Panama off their own means, without the need or desire to work or start a business. The person must have a one-year certificate of deposit in any local bank of at least $200,000. $80,000 of the $200,000 can be in the form of a home purchase. Upon applying for the first, provisional renewal of this visa, the certificate of deposit must also be renewed for one more year. After renewal, the visa is granted permanently with the right to a cedula (local identity card). Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to apply for Panamanian nationality.
   Investor Visa (Inversionista)
   Designed for those who wish to establish a business in Panama (note, though, that some retail businesses and some professions are reserved to Panamanians). There must be a minimum investment of $150,000 and minimum of three, permanent Panamanian employees hired. It is granted provisionally for one year and after renewal is granted permanently with the right to be issued a cedula. Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to apply for Panamanian nationality.
   Small Business Investor Visa
   (Inversionista de Peque�a Empresa)
   Designed for those who wish to establish a small business in Panama (note that retail businesses and some professions are reserved to Panamanians). There must be a minimum investment of $40,000 and minimum of three permanent Panamanian employees hired. It is granted provisionally for one year, and needs to be renewed three more times before it is granted permanently with the right to a cedula. Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to obtain Panamanian nationality.
   Immediate Panama Passport
   This program allows foreigners to obtain immediate Panamanian Passport under the condition that they make a 5 year certificate of deposit (CD), at the Banco Nacional de Panama, which earns a minimum of US $750 per month in interest income.

   >Permanent Residency and Passports in Panama:
   Self Economic Solvency Visa
   Law Number 16, of June 30, 1960 created this program to offer international investors the opportunity to obtain legal residency, citizenship (and passport) in Panama through certain investments in the Republic of Panama.

   The Self-Economic Solvency Visa offers three (3) different investment options to qualify for residency status in the Republic of Panama;

   Agricultural Investor Visa

   Law number 16 of 1960 created this program (�Visa en Calidad de Agricultor�) as a means to offer foreigners the opportunity to become permanent residents and citizens in Panama by investing in farms and agriculture in the Republic of Panama.
   Small Business Investor Program
   This program allows foreign business owners to obtain legal residency in Panama under thecondition that they invest a minimum of US$40,000 in either a new business venture, or an established company in Panama. Part of the requirement is that the business must employ at least 3 Panamanian employees paying them at least minimum wage, with social security benefits.

   Tax Free Processing Zone Investor Progam
   This program allows foreign investors to obtain legal residency in Panama under the condition that they must rent a plot of land or an office or building (rented through a 10 to 20 year concession) within one of the new tax free processing zones in Panama,for the purpose of operating a business from Panama that exports its products or services.

   Panama Permanent ResidencyThis program allows foreigners to obtain legal 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 US$500 per month. For each dependent, the retirement income (or pension income) amount must be increased by US$100.
   Panama Temporary Work Visa:

   City of Knowledge Work Visa Program

   This program allows foreign investors to obtain up to 5 work visas (valid for an initial term of 2 years, and renewable for an additional 2 years) for their company in Panama under the condition that they must rent an office or building within the City of Knowledge of Panama (located within the former Fort Clayton military base), for the purpose of operating a business from Panama. .

   Temporary Immigrant Visa

   Student Visa

   This program allows foreign students to obtain legal residency in Panama under the condition that they will be living in Panama for educational purposes, such as attending a Panamanian university, school, etc.

   Multiple Entry & Exit Visa in PanamaThe Government of the Republic of Panama provides Residency Visas for foreigners so they can establish residency and permanently reside within the territory of the Republic of Panama. Every Immigrant and / or Resident should have an Entry and Exit Visa if he or she plans to travel into and / or out of the Republic of Panama. 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.
   Panamas Pensionado ProgramThe following are the benefits and privileges for all those classified as Jubilados & Pensionados (irregardless of age) and for all other residents of Panama be they Panama�ian or foreign nationals residing in Panama in their 3rd and 4th Ages. It sets the age at 55 for women and 60 for men. Law No. 6 of 16 of June 1987, modified by subsequent changes in the law by Law 18 of 1989, Law 15 of 1992, Law 37 of 2001 and Law 14 of 2003.

   BENEFITS AND DISCOUNTS:

   Article I
   To receive these benefits, it sets the age at 55 for women and 60 for men for all residents of Panama be they Panama�ians or of different nationalities irregardless of age. And it states that all Jubilados and Pensionados (irregardless of age) are also entitled to these benefits:

   1. Discount of 50% of price charged for entrance to recreation and entertainment activities, such as movies, theaters, sports and other public productions. This discount is not applicable for those events marked as benefits for the youth, homeless or those specifically authorized by the competent authorities.
   2. Discounts for the following means of public transportaion:
      1. Inter-Urban buses, 30%
      2. Trains, 30%
      3. Launches and boats, 30%
      4. 25% discount in air fares in public and private national and foreign Airlines.
   3. A minimum discount of the regular prices of hotels, motels and pensions:
      1. 50% from Monday to Thursday
      2. 30% on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
   4. 25% discount of food consumed by the individual in all restaurtants except for the Fondas which do not require license to operate.
   5. 15% discount in those rapid food establishments.
   6. 15% discount in the total cost for services of hospitals and private clinics.
   7. 10% discount in pharmacies for those medications obtained with a medical prescription.
   8. Discounts in the following medical services:
      1. 20% in consultation fees of general medicine doctors andmedical and surgical specialists.
      2. 15% for dental services.
      3. 15% for optometry
   9. Insurance companies that include in their policies health benefitsfor illness shall adjust their fees to include the necessary adjustmentso that the benefits of these discounts are transferred in the payment of the premiums when the insured is 55 years old if female, and 60 years old if male and to the Pensionados & Jubilados.
   10. 20% discount for technical and profesionnal services.
   11. 20% discount for all prosthetic devices as well as those items and accessories of personal assistance.
   12. (12, 13,14, 15, 16, 17 pertain to commercial transactions, loans, etc. and require a better translation than I can give.)
   13. 50% discount in cost of passports.
   14. 25% discount in monthly electrical consumption of private orpublic entity up to 600KW’s and the normal tariffs will be applied to anything above that amount.
   15. Discuss’s discounts to properties owned by associations of jubilados and pensionados and the different discounts they are intitled.
   16. 25% discount to the basic phone service charges when:
       1. the phone service is in the name of the individual
       2. is for a residential phone
       3. is for one and only one phone. The normal tariffs will apply for anything more.
   17. 25% discount in the water bill as long as:
       1. the consumption does not exceed $30.00
       2. by bill is in the individuals name
       3. the bill is residential and is the prime residence. The normal tariffs will apply to all other residences.

   a with a specific purpose allowed in any of these categories. The length of these Visas varies from 180 days to 1 year ef= to the Retirement Age for Pensiextendable to a maximum of 5 years, according to the type of Visa granted.

   Special Temporary Visitor Visa is granted to Executives of foreign companies who earn a minimum monthly salary of US$1,000.00 per month.

   There are also special visas for pensioners or persons with their own source of income who wish to have Permanent Residency in Panama, but without being immigrants and entitled to apply for future naturalisation and citizenship. Law No. 9 of 1987 established two types of special visas for retired or pensioned individuals: Income Earner Retiree Visa (which we have labeled as the Retired Investor visa with the right to a 2nd Passport) and the Tourist Pensioner Visa.

   For the requirements for the Pensionado Visa, please visit this page: You should also see the

   As of April 27, 2006, the Immigration Department has reintroduced the Reforestation Visa, with a $40,000 investment (micro investor) and $80,000 investment (macro investor).
   All residents of Panama (whether with temporary cards or permanent residents) must have a

   Panama is now positioning itself as the �New Costa Rica�. It has put together the most appealing program of special benefits for foreign residents and retirees you’ll find anywhere in the world today.We have an attorney who does nothing but Immigration Law in Panama. Below are some of the Visas available.