Apply for your Residency

Any foreigner can apply for a Residence Permit as an investor or an Investor Visa based on the following:

• Permanent resident permit as a Qualified Investor or on the basis of personal financial solvency.

Any foreigner who invests a minimum of US$300,000.00 in real estate, fixed-term deposits, or the Panama Stock Exchange with funds from abroad can apply for this Permanent Resident Permit, which can be obtained very quickly.

Citizens of so-called Friendly Countries may apply for their visa for the two reasons above by investing US$200,000.00, which is less than the amount required for citizens whose country is not on the list. 

The Provisional Residence Permit for Foreigners, Nationals of Specific Countries, can be requested by all foreigners whose country maintains friendly, professional, or economic investment relations with the Republic of Panama.

This permit is initially granted for a period of two (2) years to those who apply for the subcategory of Permanent Resident, as foreigners, nationals of countries that maintain friendly relations with the Republic of Panama.

List of Friendly Countries: Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, South Korea, Denmark, Spain, United States, Estonia, Finland, France, Great Britain, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Montenegro, Norway, New Zealand, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Uruguay, etc. 

The Residence Permit for Retirees or Pensioners is reserved for all foreigners who receive a retirement or pension from a foreign government, international organization, or private company, and who enter the country to settle there, with sufficient financial means to cover all their living expenses and those of their dependents in the country. The monthly income or pension may not be less than US$1,000.00 or its equivalent in foreign currency, and must be granted for life. 

The regulations refer to it as a Provisional Permanent Resident Permit for Foreign Professionals. This type of visa for professionals may be applied for by any foreign professional, provided that the profession in question is not restricted by the Constitution of the Republic of Panama to nationals who are either born or naturalized.

• Provisional Residence Permit for Foreigners Married to a Panamanian National: Foreigners who have married a Panamanian national and who live with them in a unique, stable, and continuous relationship may apply for this permit.

• Residence Permit for Panamanian Children: This type of visa, considered to be for family reunification, is legally known as:
  Provisional Permanent Resident Permit for Demographic Reasons and Family Reunification as Foreigners with Panamanian Children.

This type of visa applies to foreigners who have one or more Panamanian children aged five (5) or older. 

• Residence Permit as a Dependent of a Permanent Resident: Foreign spouses, children under 18, relatives with disabilities, and parents who are dependents of a two-year provisional resident, permanent resident, or Panamanian national may apply for a Residence Permit as a Dependent of a Permanent Resident.

Panama offers workers employed by companies that have obtained Multinational Company Headquarters status a series of benefits, not only fiscal but also migratory. All foreign workers employed by companies declared Multinational Company Headquarters are eligible for this type of visa.

There are three types of visas for employees of Multinational Company Headquarters:

• SEM Permanent Staff Permit or Visa. The SEM Permanent Staff Visa is granted to foreigners who will hold administrative or executive positions within the company. Holders of this type of visa do not need a work permit.

• SEM Temporary Staff Permit or Visa. The SEM Temporary Staff Visa is requested for foreign personnel who will be performing an activity within the company for a short period of time. Holders of this type of visa do not need a work permit.

• Permit or Visa for Special Events (SEM). The Visa for Special Events (SEM) can be requested by workers who come to the country for a specific event, provided that their nationality requires a visa to enter Panama.

The Residence Permit for Students can be requested by foreigners who wish to study full-time at public or private educational institutions at basic, intermediate, higher, and specialized levels recognized by the Ministry of Education. 

The regulations refer to this permit as: Provisional Permanent Resident Permit for Experts or Technicians Within the 15% of Specialized Personnel.

Foreigners hired by a company as experts or technicians, earning a salary of no less than US$850 per month, are eligible for this type of permit or residence visa.

The legislation refers to this permit as: Provisional Permanent Resident Permit for Foreign Personnel Hired by Private Companies Within 10% of Regular Personnel.

This type of Residence Permit may be requested by a foreigner hired by a private company who earns a salary of no less than US$850.00 per month, provided that the company requesting the permit has less than 10% of its workforce made up of foreign workers.