Move to Panama City, Panama. The routes, mapped.
12 visa routes into Panama, each with its real required-document list, pulled live from the Nomad knowledge graph. Start a plan and we sequence the right one for your situation.
United States to Panama: the money facts
Treaty coverage, double-tax exposure, and what setup actually costs, so you know the financial shape of the move before you commit.
How you can legally move to Panama
12 visa routes into Panama, every route the knowledge graph maps, unranked. The numbers that decide the route: income floor, timeline, filing costs, and who comes with you.
| Route | Income floor | Timeline | Costs | Family & work | About & documents |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business Investor Visa (Visa de Inversionista de Negocio Propio) | Varies | 2 years~24 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A 2-year provisional residency permit for foreigners who establish a Panamanian business with at least $160,000 in capital and five local employees, leading to permanent residency. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +5 more Official source |
| Friendly Nations Visa (Visa de Naciones Amigas) | Varies | 2 years~24 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A two-year provisional residency for nationals of 50 friendly nations who invest $200,000 in real estate or a bank deposit, or hold a Panamanian job contract, leading to permanent residency. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +4 more Official source |
| Professional Permit (Permiso por Razones Profesionales) | Varies | 2 years~16 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A residency permit for skilled foreign professionals with a university degree to work in non-restricted fields in Panama, leading to permanent residency after two years. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +4 more Official source |
| Reforestation Investor Visa (Visa de Inversionista en Reforestaci贸n) | Varies | 2 years~24 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A Panama residency route for investors who deploy at least $80,000 into a certified reforestation project, leading to permanent residency after two years provisional status. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +3 more Official source |
| Student Visa (Visa de Estudiante) | Varies | 1 year~12 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A renewable annual residence permit for foreigners enrolled in an accredited Panamanian school, university, or postgraduate program, with dependents allowed. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +5 more Official source |
| Short-Stay Visa for Remote Workers (Visa de Corta Estancia para Teletrabajadores) | $3,000/mo | 9 months~4 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A short-stay permit for remote workers earning at least $3,000 per month from foreign sources, allowing up to 18 months in Panama tax-free. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +3 more Official source |
| Pensionado Visa (Visa de Pensionado / Jubilado) | $1,000/mo | Varies~12 wks processing | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | Permanent residency for retirees of any age with at least $1,000 per month in lifetime pension income, including broad statutory discounts on everyday spending in Panama. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +2 more Official source |
| Qualified Investor Visa (Visa de Inversionista Calificado) | Varies | Varies~4 wks processing | $5,000 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A fast-track direct permanent residency for investors who deploy at least $300,000 in Panamanian real estate, $500,000 in securities, or $750,000 in a fixed-term bank deposit. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +5 more Official source |
| Tourist Entry (Tarjeta de Turismo / Visa-Free Entry) | Varies | Varies | Varies | Remote work ok, Family ok | A visa-free tourist entry allowing nationals of around 130 countries to stay in Panama for up to 180 days per entry, with no advance application required. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), Onward Return Ticket, Proof Of Funds USD 500 Official source |
| Family Reunification Visa (Visa de Reagrupaci贸n Familiar) | Varies | 2 years~16 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | A residency permit for spouses, children, and dependent parents of Panamanian nationals or Panamanian residents, leading to permanent residency after a provisional period. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Power Of Attorney, Panama Sworn Declaration Personal Background, Spanish Translation Certified, +4 more Official source |
| Permanent Residence (Residencia Permanente) | Varies | Varies~16 wks processing 路 Renewable | $250 fee | Remote work ok, Family ok | Indefinite legal residence in Panama for foreigners who complete provisional residency or qualify directly, granting full resident ID and work rights. Documents: US Passport (6-Month Validity), FBI Background Check 路a, Hague Apostille (US), Panama Health Certificate, Panama Provisional Residency Carnet, Panama Power Of Attorney, Spanish Translation Certified, +1 more Official source |
| Citizenship by Naturalization (Naturalizaci贸n Paname帽a) | Varies | Varies | $500 fee | A path to Panamanian citizenship granted by Presidential decree after 5 years of legal residency, reduced to 3 years for spouses of Panamanians and nationals of Spain or certain Latin American countries. Official source |
Two things to line up before you land in Panama City, Panama
Coverage that satisfies the visa from day one, and data the moment you clear the gate. Both bookable before you fly.
Coverage that crosses borders with you, so a hospital visit abroad never becomes the reason you go home.
Get expat health insurance
via SafetyWingSafetyWing covers you in 175+ countries for ~$45/mo.
See a quoteAffiliate links. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Activate before takeoff and step off the plane already online, no scrambling for a kiosk or a local SIM.
Land with data already working
via AiraloInstall an Airalo eSIM before you fly. It covers 200+ countries and switches on the moment you land.
Get your eSIMUnlimited data for the landing weeks
via YesimYesim runs unlimited plans in 150+ countries, so apartment hunting, maps, and bank calls never hit a cap.
See unlimited plansAffiliate links. We may earn a commission, at no cost to you.
Which route is right for you?
Answer 3 questions and Nomad picks the best-fit visa for your work, timeline, and family, then builds the full document checklist and a 90-day plan to Panama City, Panama.
Free to start. No card required for the plan preview.