Panama Friendly Nations list: which countries qualify in 2026
As of October 2026, citizens of 51 countries and territories qualify, after Ecuador was added in September 2026. The list sits in Executive Decree 416 of 13 June 2012. That decree created a permanent-residence subcategory for nationals of countries with friendly, professional, economic and investment relations with Panama.[1] Executive Decree 16 of 31 August 2026, published in Gaceta Oficial 30601-B, amended Decree 416 to add the Republic of Ecuador.[2][3]
The 51 qualifying countries
- Americas (11): Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, Paraguay, Peru, United States, Uruguay.
- Europe (32): Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom.
- Asia-Pacific and Middle East (7): Australia, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea.
- Africa (1): South Africa.
Who is not on the list
Taiwan was on the list until the 2021 reform and is not on the current one, although many older lists still show it. Italy has never been on the list. Italian citizens have a separate route under a bilateral treaty. Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia are EU members that do not appear either, and neither do Colombia, Venezuela, China or India.
If your passport is missing from the list, other routes are open to any nationality. These include the Panama Pensionado retirement visa and the Panama Golden Visa for qualified investors, both covered in our overview of every Panama residency route compared. If you hold two passports or your case is unusual, send us your nationality and we will confirm whether you qualify before you spend anything.
Friendly Nations visa changes: the 2021 reform and the 2026 update
The Friendly Nations visa still exists in 2026, but it is a different program from the one described on many pages written before mid-2021. You now need a substantial economic tie, and you start with two years of provisional residency instead of permanent residency. Decree 416 of 2012 was amended by Executive Decrees 197 of 7 May 2021 and 226 of 20 July 2021.[2]
| Version | Economic tie required | First status granted | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 to mid-2021 | A Panamanian company or a job, plus a local bank balance of about USD 5,000 as proof of solvency | Permanent residency | Grew to about 50, including Taiwan |
| Decree 197 of May 2021 | Genuine employment or USD 200,000 in Panamanian real estate | Two-year provisional residency | 49 (Taiwan dropped) |
| Decree 226 of July 2021 | Adds the USD 200,000 fixed-term deposit, and allows property or deposit to be held through a company or foundation | Two-year provisional residency | 50 (Peru added) |
| Decree 16 of August 2026 | Unchanged | Unchanged | 51 (Ecuador added) |
Figures as of October 2026. The 2026 decree changed only the country list. Requirements and fees from 2021 remain in force.
Older guides often attribute the program to Executive Decree 343 of 2012. The decree Panama has actually amended in 2021 and 2026 is Executive Decree 416 of 13 June 2012, so that is the reference that matters for your application.
Pages promising residency for a company and a USD 5,000 bank deposit describe the rules before 2021. That deposit is no longer a qualifying tie, and a company with no real business does not qualify you on its own. Some pages also announced that the program would close in August 2021. It did not close. It was restructured into the version described on this page.
The economic-tie requirement: a job, property or a bank deposit
You must prove one of three ties to Panama: genuine employment with a Panamanian company, Panamanian real estate with a registered value of at least USD 200,000, or a fixed-term deposit of at least USD 200,000 in a Panamanian bank for at least three years. You choose one. You must still meet it when you apply for permanent residency two years later.
| Route | Minimum | Can be held through | Key documents | Main risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment | A genuine job with a Panamanian employer | Not applicable | Employment letter, employer's Public Registry certificate, Notice of Operations, work permit application | Separate work permit, which can take 6-10 months |
| Real estate | USD 200,000 registered value | You personally, a Panamanian company you beneficially own, or a private interest foundation where you are founder and beneficiary | Public Registry certificate, purchase deed | Title problems, or buying before the unit is registered |
| Fixed-term deposit | USD 200,000 for 3 years, free of liens | Same as real estate | Bank certificate showing holder, amount, term and no liens | Capital locked up, and bank due diligence |
Figures as of October 2026. The balboa (B/.) trades at par with the US dollar, so B/. 200,000 equals USD 200,000.
The employment route
You need a real labor relationship with a company registered in Panama. The usual file includes four documents:
- A notarized letter on company letterhead, signed by the legal representative, stating your position, your salary and the company's commitment to cover repatriation costs.
- The employer's Public Registry certificate.
- The employer's Notice of Operations (aviso de operación).
- Proof that a work permit application has been filed with the Ministry of Labor.
Residency does not authorize you to work. Foreign workers need a separate work authorization from the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL).[4] The work permit has its own cost. It generally takes about 6-7 months in Panama City and 9-10 months in David. Your employer must also register you with the Social Security Fund (CSS).
Some professions are reserved for Panamanians, including medicine, veterinary medicine, law, architecture and engineering. Retail trade is also reserved. A job offer in one of these fields will not carry the application.
Does owning a Panama company count?
No, not on its own. Owning shares in a Panamanian company is not a qualifying tie. A company you own can employ you, but it then has to look like a real employer: actual operations, a Notice of Operations, CSS payroll and a salary that is really paid.
Packages that set up a "special corporation" mainly to issue you a labor contract are risky. The weak point usually appears at the permanent stage, when you must show the job still exists. If you want a Panamanian company for genuine business reasons, start with our guide to registering a Panama company as a foreigner.
The real estate route
The property must be registered in Panama's Public Registry with a value of at least USD 200,000. The figure that counts is the registered value shown on the Public Registry certificate, not the asking price. Financing through a bank in Panama is generally accepted. Expect immigration to ask where the money came from, and keep transfer records showing that the funds came from abroad.
The property can be in your own name or in a Panamanian company where you are the beneficial owner. It can also be held by a private interest foundation where you are both founder and beneficiary. A foundation is the option families often choose for succession, because under Law 25 of 1995 its assets are a separate estate from the founder's personal assets.[5] Foundations pay a single annual fee (Tasa Única) of B/. 350 at registration and B/. 400 in each later year, under article 318-A of the Fiscal Code as amended by Law 28 of 2012.[6][7] See our guide to the Panama private interest foundation for setup and reporting.
Pre-construction units are the most common trap. Until the unit is registered in the buyer's name, it generally cannot support the application, and developers' delivery dates often slip. Keep the property at least until permanent residency is granted. Many advisers recommend holding it for three years.
Our firm handles both the residency file and the purchase, so the title is checked against the Public Registry before your money moves. For the purchase itself, read our guides to buying property in Panama as a foreigner and to Panama property taxes and closing costs, which come on top of the USD 200,000.
The fixed-term deposit route
The deposit must be at least USD 200,000 at a bank holding a general license in Panama. It must have a term of at least three years and be free of liens, which means you cannot pledge it as collateral. The bank issues a certificate stating the holder, amount, term and the absence of liens. Like property, the deposit can sit in a company or foundation you beneficially own.
Opening the account is often the slowest part of this route. Panamanian banks run extensive due diligence, and some are reluctant to take US clients. If you break the deposit before you file for permanent residency, you no longer meet the tie and the permanent application is at risk.
When the Pensionado or Golden Visa fits better
Friendly Nations is the right route mainly for working-age people from listed countries with a real job in Panama, or with USD 200,000 they are happy to place in property or a deposit. For many other readers a different visa is cheaper or faster.
| Friendly Nations | Pensionado | Qualified Investor (Golden Visa) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nationality | 51 listed countries only | Any | Any |
| Qualifying basis | Job, USD 200,000 property or USD 200,000 three-year deposit | Lifetime pension of USD 1,000 a month (plus USD 250 per dependent), or USD 750 with USD 100,000 property | From USD 300,000 in real estate (higher for some property types), USD 500,000 in securities or USD 750,000 on deposit |
| First status | Two-year provisional | Permanent | Permanent |
| Time to permanent card | About 2.5-3 years | From approval | From approval |
| Best for | Workers and USD 200,000 investors from listed countries | Retirees with a lifetime pension | Larger investors who want permanent status at once |
Figures as of October 2026. Qualified Investor thresholds depend on the property type and the date of the investment. Check our Golden Visa guide for the current figures.
If you only want to spend winters in Panama, you may not need residency at all. US and Canadian citizens can stay as tourists for up to 180 days.[8]
Panama Friendly Nations visa requirements: documents for you and your family
Besides proof of your economic tie, the provisional application needs a standard set of personal documents. The ones issued abroad must be apostilled and translated into Spanish.
- Passport from a listed country, generally valid for at least six more months, plus a copy certified by a Panamanian notary
- A second photo ID, such as a driver's license
- National criminal background certificate, apostilled
- Health certificate issued by a doctor in Panama
- Sworn declaration of personal background
- Passport-size photos (usually three to five)
- Notarized power of attorney and application in favor of your Panamanian lawyer
- Certified checks for B/. 250 to the National Treasury and B/. 800 to the National Immigration Service
- The documents for your route: employment, property or deposit
- In some files, a Panamanian bank reference letter and proof of a local address
Criminal background check
You need the police and criminal record from your country of origin or your last country of residence, and it must be authenticated. If you have lived in Panama for two years or more without leaving, you need a Panamanian record instead.[9] The certificate must be national, not local. For Americans, that means the FBI Identity History Summary, not a state or county check.
The FBI charges USD 18, payable by certified check, money order or credit card.[10] FBI-approved channelers can deliver the result faster.[11] The FBI record is a federal document, so it is apostilled by the US Department of State, not by a state Secretary of State. By mail this takes about 5-12 weeks. Apostille services often finish in 7-10 business days.
Recency rules vary in practice. Some officers accept certificates up to six months old, but less than three months old at filing is the safe target.
Health certificate
The health certificate must come from a licensed doctor in Panama and generally be issued within the 90 days before filing. Panama's official checklist for comparable residency categories uses the same three-month limit.[12] Because the doctor must be in Panama, you have to be in the country shortly before your filing.
Apostille and translation
Documents issued abroad must be apostilled in the country of origin or certified by the Panamanian consulate to have legal effect in Panama.[13] If your country does not issue apostilles, the consulate authenticates the document and Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs then authenticates it again.[14] That second step adds time and cost, so use the apostille wherever you can.
Documents not in Spanish must be translated by a Panamanian authorized public translator.[12] The translation must also cover the apostille page.
Names must match exactly across your passport, background check, marriage certificate and bank or employment letters, including middle names and accents. A mismatch triggers a supplemental review.
Spouse, children and parents
You can include your spouse and children under 18. Children aged 18 to 25 can also be included if they show proof of full-time studies and a sworn declaration that they are unmarried. In many cases parents can be added as dependents too.
Each dependent needs the following:
- A recent apostilled marriage or birth certificate (generally issued within the last three to six months).
- Their own criminal record, if they are adults.
- Their own power of attorney, if they are adults.
- Generally, the same two government checks as the main applicant.
Dependents can apply with you or join later.
Most delays come from documents that expire before filing. Set up the economic tie first, then order the criminal record and civil certificates about two months before your trip. Book the Panamanian health certificate during the trip itself.
Friendly Nations visa cost and timeline
A single applicant should budget about USD 5,000-8,000 for the first year as of October 2026, excluding the investment. A couple should budget about USD 7,000-11,000. The government's share is USD 1,050 per person. Most of the rest is legal work, documents and translations.
| Item | Cost (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Certified check to the National Treasury | 250 per applicant | Paid at the provisional filing, generally non-refundable |
| Certified check to the National Immigration Service (repatriation) | 800 per applicant | Paid at the provisional filing |
| Passport registration at the National Immigration Service | About 5 per person | Paid in Panama |
| FBI background check (US applicants) | 18 | Other countries: the national police certificate fee applies |
| Apostilles, Spanish translations and courier | About 400-800 | Criminal record and civil certificates; more with dependents |
| Health certificate from a Panamanian doctor | About 100-200 | Issued within 90 days of filing |
| Photos, biometrics and card issuance | About 150 | At the filing and card pickup |
| Immigration attorney, provisional stage | Market range about 3,500-5,500 | Depends on route and complexity; we quote a fixed fee |
| Each dependent | About 1,050 in checks plus 1,000-2,000 in legal and document costs | Spouse, children, parents |
| Permanent stage, about two years later | Legal fees and new card | Government checks are generally not charged again |
| Economic tie | USD 200,000+ property or deposit, or a genuine job | Property closing costs and work permit costs are extra; the deposit is returned after its term |
| Total first year, single applicant | About 5,000-8,000 | Excluding the investment; couple about 7,000-11,000 |
Figures as of October 2026. Government fees are paid by certified check in balboas, which trade at par with the dollar. Our firm quotes a fixed fee for the whole file, including the permanent stage, after a short consultation.
Timeline from first call to permanent card
- Confirm eligibility and choose the route
We check your passport against the current list and pick the tie that fits your money and plans. This takes a few days. - Set up the economic tie
Register the property in the Public Registry, open and fund the deposit, or have your employer file the work permit application. Depending on the route and the bank, this takes from a few weeks to a few months. - Gather and apostille documents
Order the FBI or national record, civil certificates and apostilles, then have the translations done in Panama. This usually takes 3-6 weeks, or longer if apostilles go by mail. - File in Panama
You get the health certificate, sign before a notary and register your passport, then your lawyer files. You receive a card valid for six months that includes a multiple-entry visa, so you can leave and return. Immigration may hold your passport for about two days. Plan to stay about a week. - Provisional resolution
The National Immigration Service generally decides in 3 to 6 months. You can be abroad during this time. - Collect the two-year provisional card
You return to the immigration office to receive the card. The two-year clock runs from here. - Apply for permanent residency
Your lawyer files before the provisional card expires, with updated proof that the tie still exists. The decision usually takes about 6 months. - Collect the permanent card
This brings the total to roughly 2.5-3 years from the first filing. Afterward, you can apply for the E-Cédula, the identity card for foreign residents.
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From provisional to permanent residency
Once the two-year provisional period is complete, you file a separate application for permanent residency. In it you show that your job, property or deposit is still in place. Permanent residency under this category has no expiration date, so it is the status worth protecting.
What you must show again
The permanent application generally repeats the provisional requirements with up-to-date documents, but without a new criminal record and without new government checks. You also submit your provisional residency card. Depending on your route, you must show one of the following:
- A current employment letter and CSS registration.
- A fresh Public Registry certificate showing you still own the property.
- A new bank certificate for the deposit.
The filing deadline
File for permanent residency in the final months of the provisional period, never after the card expires. Late filing can bring fines, and a long delay can cost you the process, forcing you to start again from the provisional stage. We diary the date from the day your provisional card is issued.
The cards you will hold
- Temporary card in process: issued at filing, valid for about six months, with a multiple-entry visa.
- Provisional residency card: valid for two years after approval.
- Permanent residency card: issued after the second approval.
- E-Cédula: the identity card for foreign residents, issued by the Electoral Tribunal. It is optional, but useful for banking and daily life.
Once you hold the provisional card, you can also apply for a Panamanian driver's license.
How long you can stay away
The Friendly Nations rules set no minimum number of days per year in Panama. Long absences are the risk. Under general immigration law, permanent residence can be canceled if you stay outside Panama for more than two years without authorization from the National Immigration Service. The authority can cancel a resident's permit by reasoned resolution.[15] A visit at least once every two years keeps you on safe ground.
Citizenship later
After five years as a permanent resident you can apply for naturalization. This requires an exam in Spanish on Panama's history, geography and institutions, and approval is at the government's discretion. Panama formally requires naturalized citizens to renounce their prior nationality, which matters if you want to keep your passport. Our guide to Panama citizenship by investment explains why no shortcut exists and what the real path looks like.
Residency and taxes
Holding the visa does not by itself make you a Panamanian tax resident. Tax residency for individuals generally depends on spending more than 183 days in Panama in a fiscal year.[16] Panama taxes only Panama-source income. Rent from your Panamanian property is taxed in Panama, while salary and investment income earned abroad is generally not.
US citizens keep filing US returns wherever they live. If you need a tax residence certificate from the tax authority for banks abroad, the process can take two to three months.[17] See our guide to Panama taxes for expats.
Applying from abroad with a Panama Friendly Nations visa lawyer
Most of the preparation can be done from home, but you cannot complete the Friendly Nations visa without being in Panama. Plan on about a week in the country for the first filing, and usually three to four trips over the roughly three years to permanent residency.
Applications are filed through a Panamanian lawyer acting under your power of attorney. Panama's official residency procedures are built around this model: in the retiree category, for example, the application is filed through a legal representative and each adult dependent grants a separate power.[14]
What you can do from home
- Confirm eligibility and choose your route with your lawyer by video call
- Order the FBI or national criminal record, civil certificates and apostilles
- Send scans so your lawyer can check names, dates and validity before anything is filed
- Fund the property purchase or deposit by wire, once title or bank terms have been checked
- Wait out the provisional decision and most of the two-year period abroad
What requires you in Panama
The health certificate must come from a Panamanian doctor, and the passport registration, notarized signatures, photos and filing happen in person. US and Canadian citizens can enter as tourists for this trip. Bring a passport valid for at least three months, a return ticket, and proof of at least USD 500 in funds if asked at entry.[8]
How many trips to plan
- Filing trip: about a week, ending with the temporary card in hand.
- Provisional card pickup: after approval, usually 3-6 months later. If you are living in Panama by then, this is not a separate trip.
- Permanent filing: near the end of the two-year period.
- Permanent card pickup: after the permanent approval. It can sometimes be combined with another visit.
The exact count depends on your route and on the immigration office's scheduling at the time. We confirm it for your case at the start, so you can book flights around fixed dates.
How we handle a Friendly Nations file
When our firm takes the case, the preparation runs remotely. We review your scans, tell you which documents to order and when so nothing expires, and check the property title or bank terms before you send money. We then plan your filing trip so you spend as few days in Panama as possible.
The work is quoted as one fixed fee after a short consultation. To start, contact us with your nationality and your preferred route.