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Friendly Nations Visa (Residente Provisional/Permanente, Países Específicos)

Panama · Central America

Source: Mobility Asset DatabaseLifecycle: UnknownResidency-to-PassportIndependent Means Visas

Program facts from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database. Unknown facts are shown as Unknown, never as zero.

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Publication state
Mobility Asset Database
Lifecycle status
Unknown
Facts checked through
Sep 21, 2026
Source snapshots
Database edition

Identity and current status

The route identity and current status.

Present
Year establishedPublished
2012
Governing lawPublished
Decreto Ejecutivo 343 of 2012 (original); Decreto Ejecutivo 197 and 226 of 2021; Decreto Ley 3 of 2008
Responsible authorityPublished
Servicio Nacional de Migración (Ministry of Public Security)

What the program provides

What the program gives the holder.

Present
What the program providesPublished
Buy a US$200,000 Panama property or park US$200,000 in a bank and turn two years of provisional residence into permanent residence

Best suited for

Who the program tends to suit. Research only, never a personal recommendation.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Eligibility

Personal qualifications an applicant must establish.

Present
Minimum agePublished
18 years
Clean criminal record requiredPublished
Yes
Local health insurance requiredPublished
No
Nationality restrictionsPublished
Yes
Basic eligibilityPublished
Citizen of a listed friendly nation (about 50, incl. US, Canada, UK, EU) plus one of: US$200,000 Panama real estate, US$200,000 3-year fixed deposit in a Panamanian bank, or a job offer from a Panamanian company
Generational limitPublished
Not applicable

Household inclusion

How spouses and children are treated.

Present
Family sponsorshipPublished
Yes
Spouse includedPublished
Yes
Children includedPublished
Yes
Child age limitUnknown
Unknown
ChildrenPublished
Children under 18, or 18-24 if full-time students and unmarried

Documents

Evidence categories and filing documents.

Absent

No governed customer claim is present for this section.

Process and timeline

How you apply and how long it takes.

Present
Processing timePublished
17.4–26.1 weeks
Can apply without travelingPublished
No
How you applyPublished
In person in Panama through a lawyer at the Servicio Nacional de Migración
Required in-person stepPublished
Filing, biometrics and card pickup in Panama
What the processing time measuresPublished
Filing to provisional (2-year) residence approval, about 4-6 months (Parale Law 2026)
Official application routePublished
https://www.migracion.gob.pa/permisos-migratorios/

Costs and investment

Fees, income and savings thresholds, and investment amounts.

Present
Minimum investmentPublished
$200,000
Minimum passive investment (July 2026)Published
$200,000
Minimum active investment (July 2026)Published
None required
Processing feePublished
$250
Application feePublished
$800
Total cost to applyPublished
$1,050
Monthly income requiredPublished
None required
Monthly pension income requiredPublished
None required
Monthly rental income requiredPublished
None required
Savings requiredPublished
None required
Proof of sufficient fundsPublished
No
Local bank deposit requiredPublished
No
Minimum local bank depositPublished
None required
Fees paidPublished
Before approval
Cost notesPublished
B/.250 certified cheque to the National Treasury plus B/.800 to the Migration Service (repatriation deposit) per applicant; lawyer fees extra

Presence and maintenance

Stay, renewal, and how long the status lasts.

Present
Stay required to keep statusPublished
0.5 days/year
Minimum days per year in country (July 2026 figure)Published
None
Physical presence requiredPublished
No
In-country visit requiredPublished
Yes
Move-in windowPublished
0 months
Length of residencyPublished
24 months
Residency is lifetimePublished
No
RenewablePublished
No
Maximum durationUnknown
Unknown
Maximum duration is lifetimePublished
Yes
Stay rule (Sept 2026)Published
Residence is lost after more than 2 consecutive years abroad without authorization from the Migration Director (Decreto Ley 3 of 2008)
Tax residency rulePublished
Residents staying more than 183 days per year will be considered tax residents
Personal income taxPublished
range between 0%-25%

Rights and onward pathways

Work, healthcare and other rights, and the path to permanent residence and citizenship.

Present
Time to permanent residencyPublished
2 years
Time to citizenshipPublished
7 years
Work for a local employerPublished
Yes
Start a businessPublished
Yes
Remote or freelance workPublished
Yes
Local healthcare accessPublished
Yes
University accessPublished
Yes
Can buy landPublished
Yes
Local bankingPublished
Yes
Permanent residence timeline basisPublished
Years stated
Citizenship timeline basisPublished
Years stated

Risks, limitations, and uncertainty

Notes on changes, conflicts, and limits.

Present
Plan B note (Sept 2026)Published
Two-step route: 2-year provisional residence, then permanent residence on a new application; the US$200,000 property or 3-year deposit must be kept until permanent residence (the job route needs no investment). Naturalization possible 5 years after permanent residence. Work permit available. Staying 183+ days makes you a Panamanian tax resident (territorial tax).

Sources, freshness, and conflict disclosure

Where the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database took these facts from.

Present
Official program websitePublished
https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/02-PAISES-ESPECIFICOS.pdf
Plan B sources (Sept 2026)Published
https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/02-PAISES-ESPECIFICOS.pdf | https://www.paralelaw.com/en/blog/panama-friendly-nations-visa-2026-guide/ | https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/decreto-ley-3-de-2008.pdf | https://www.limitlesslegal.com/en-us/blog/permanent-residents-in-panama-how-long-can-you-stay-abroad-without-losing-your-residency

Every fact on this page comes from the CitizensOS Mobility Asset Database (Sep 21, 2026 edition). A blank is shown as Unknown.

This anonymous dossier is read-only research. It does not establish personal fit, eligibility, legal or tax advice, filing, approval, residence, citizenship, or a held Right.