Panama

Panama visa and residence guide

8 visa types
checked 24 October 2026

How visas for Panama work

Panama's National Migration Service (SNM), part of the Ministry of Public Security, handles entry, visas and residence permits under Decree-Law 3 of 2008 and Executive Decree 320 of 2008. It publishes a classification of visa requirements by ordinary passport: nationals of the countries listed as visa-free enter with a passport valid for at least three months, proof of at least B/.500, an onward ticket and no entry ban, while other nationalities need a visa before travelling. The balboa (B/.) is at par with the US dollar, which also circulates.

Residence is applied for inside Panama, through a lawyer acting under a notarised power of attorney. Most SNM requirement sheets share a core: three photos, a certified passport copy, a criminal record certificate, a health certificate and a sworn personal history form, plus certified cheques of B/.250 to the National Treasury and often B/.800 to the SNM. Documents issued abroad must be apostilled or legalised and translated into Spanish.

Main routes include the remote worker short-stay visa, the pensioner and retired rentista permits, residence through investment of B/.300,000, residence for spouses of Panamanians, family reunification with temporary residents and the education permit. Asylum claims go to ONPAR at the Ministry of Government within six months of entry. Employment-based permits also involve the Ministry of Labour and are not covered in detail here.

Which visa do I need?

Holiday or short visit: check the SNM's visa classification for your passport; visa-free visitors show B/.500 and an onward ticket.

Teleworking for a foreign employer or clients with B/.36,000 a year: remote worker short-stay visa.

Retiring on a lifetime pension of B/.1,000 a month: pensionado permit, granted indefinitely.

Investing B/.300,000 in property or a fixed deposit: residence for own economic solvency.

Married to a Panamanian: provisional permit, then permanent residence after two years.

Joining a temporary resident in Panama: family reunification permit.

Studying full time at a recognised school: temporary permit for education.

Fleeing persecution: refugee claim to ONPAR within six months of entry.

Visa types for Panama

Visits and short stays

Tourist visa Tourist entry and tourist extension (Turista)
The National Migration Service (SNM) of Panama publishes a classification of visa requirements by ordinary passport, and many nationalities may enter without a visa.
Maximum stay: Tourist visas are issued for up to 90 days; extensions up to a 90-day total

Business and self-employment

Investor visa Permanent residence for own economic solvency through investment (Solvencia Económica Propia, PPT-SEP)
Foreigners who invest at least B/.300,000 in Panamanian real estate, in a fixed-term deposit or in a mix of both, with funds proven to come from abroad, can apply to the SNM for residence for own economic solvency.
Validity: Provisional permit for two years, then permanent residence

Study and training

Student visa Temporary permit for education (Permiso Temporal por Razones de Educación)
Foreigners who want to follow regular full-time studies at a public or private school, college or university recognised by Panama's Ministry of Education can apply to the SNM for a temporary permit for education.

Work

Digital nomad visa Short-stay visa as remote worker (Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto)
Panama's remote worker visa is a non-resident short-stay visa created by Executive Decree 198 of 2021.
Maximum stay: Nine months, extendable once for nine more

Family

Spouse and partner visa Residence for spouses of Panamanians (Reagrupación familiar, casado con panameño/a, PPT-2 / PPT-3)
Foreigners married to a Panamanian citizen who live with their spouse in a stable, continuous and exclusive relationship can apply to the SNM for a provisional residence permit for family reunification.
Validity: Provisional permit for two years
Family reunification visa Temporary residence for family reunification (Reagrupación Familiar, PRT-FAM)
The spouse, children under 18 and parents of a foreigner holding temporary residence in Panama can apply to the SNM for a family reunification permit.
Validity: Yearly periods up to a total of six years

Residence

Retirement visa Retired pensioner and retired rentista permits (Jubilado Pensionado PRP-JP / Rentista Retirado PPT-RR)
Panama offers two retirement routes under Law 9 of 1987 and the migration regulation.
Validity: Pensioner: indefinite, no renewal. Rentista: five years, extendable for the same term

Asylum and international protection

Asylum and international protection Refugee status (Condición de refugiado, ONPAR / CONARE)
Panama's refugee procedure is governed by Executive Decree 5 of 16 January 2018.
Validity: Provisional ID for six months; refugee card for one year, renewable

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a visa for Panama?

It depends on your passport. The SNM's visa classification for ordinary passports lists the nationalities that enter without a visa and those that need one. Entry conditions such as B/.500 in funds and an onward ticket apply to everyone.

Where are Panama's embassies and consulates?

Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs publishes the list of its embassies and consulates abroad. Nationalities that need a visa contact the mission responsible for their place of residence; residence permits are filed inside Panama with the SNM.

Do I need a lawyer to apply for residence?

In practice yes. Every SNM residence sheet starts with a notarised power of attorney and application, which a Panamanian lawyer files on your behalf.

What are the usual residence fees?

Most residence files include a certified cheque of B/.250 to the National Treasury, and many add one of B/.800 to the SNM; the remote worker visa costs B/.250 plus B/.50 for the card.

What happens if I overstay?

The SNM charges B/.50 for each month or part of a month overstayed, and voluntary return can lead to an entry ban of two to five years.