Issue · October 2026 · everything a nomad needs, city by city

Nomadzine

The visa · Panama

Panama

Panama has had a purpose-built Short-Stay Visa as a Remote Worker since May 2021, giving nine months plus one nine-month extension to people earning at least USD 36,000 a year from abroad. In practice most remote workers arrive on a 90- or 180-day tourist stay, and those who want to stay longer go straight to Friendly Nations residency rather than the nomad visa, which is a non-resident category that never converts to permanent residence. The application must be filed inside Panama through a Panamanian lawyer, and every document from abroad must be apostilled and under six months old.

    Nomad visa · September 2026YesRoutes4Bases0

Remote jobs open to Panama

Listings whose hiring region includes this country, newest first · apply on the board's own page

Every listing →

The routes

Researched 11 September 2026 · rules as of September 2026 · as published, not legal advice

  1. Nomad visa

    Remote Worker Short-Stay Visa (digital nomad visa)

    Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto (Short-Stay Visa as a Remote Worker), Executive Decree No. 198 of 7 May 2021

    Employees of foreign companies or self-employed people whose work takes effect abroad and who want up to 18 months in Panama without pursuing residency.

    Income floor
    Foreign-source income of at least B/.36,000 (USD 36,000) a year, or its equivalent in foreign currency; the employer letter must show a monthly income of at least B/.3,000 from a foreign source (Executive Decree 198 of 2021, as published by the National Migration Service).
    Duration
    9 months, extendable once for a further 9 months (18 months maximum); the extension requires the full document set again.
    Cost
    B/.250 (USD 250) to the Servicio Nacional de Migración on filing plus B/.50 (USD 50) for the immigration card; lawyers' fees on top, commonly reported at around USD 1,000.
    Processing
    No statutory time published; law firms report about 40 business days after filing, with others citing 30 to 60 business days.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; contract with a foreign transnational company or self-employment in remote mode; functions must take effect abroad; medical insurance covering Panama for the whole stay; criminal record certificate; health certificate; sworn declaration not to accept work or service offers in Panama; commitment to cover repatriation costs.
    Work rights
    Remote work for foreign employers or foreign clients only; the holder signs a sworn declaration not to accept employment or provide services to Panamanian nationals, residents, tourists or companies. No local employment or local clients.
    Dependants
    The decree and the migration service's requirements list make no provision for dependants; practitioner accounts report that family members cannot be attached and must qualify separately.
    Leads to
    No. It sits in the Non-Resident category and does not count toward permanent residence or citizenship.
    Apply
    In person in Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer, at the Special Services window of the Servicio Nacional de Migración in Panama City; PROPANAMA states the applicant must already be in the country.

    Documents Notarised power of attorney to a Panamanian lawyer and application form (stating parents' names and nationalities) · Three photographs · Certified copy of the full passport · Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence (apostilled) · Health certificate from a Panamanian doctor · Sworn declaration of personal background and the application form with repatriation undertaking · Copy of a medical insurance policy valid in Panama for the period of stay · Employees: certificate of the foreign company's existence and a letterhead letter from its legal representative stating role, monthly income of at least B/.3,000 from a foreign source, payment frequency and remote modality · Self-employed: certificate of the applicant's own company registered abroad and a notarised sworn declaration describing clients, services, earnings, source of funds and payment frequency · Proof of foreign-source income: bank certification, or foreign or local bank statements authenticated by the issuing bank

    Official page →

  2. Temporary stay

    Tourist stay (visa-free entry)

    Ingreso como turista under Decree Law 3 of 2008 and Executive Decree 590 of 2017

    Remote workers from visa-exempt countries who want to try Panama for a few months without any filing.

    Income floor
    Proof of economic solvency of at least USD 500 on entry, plus a return or onward ticket.
    Duration
    90 days for most visa-exempt nationalities; 180 days for United States and Canadian passport holders. Extensions are discretionary and applied for at the migration service.
    Cost
    None on entry.
    Processing
    Immediate at the border.
    Eligibility
    Visa-exempt nationality (80-plus countries per the Embassy of Panama), passport valid at least three months, funds and onward ticket. Under Executive Decree 196 of 28 October 2024, holders of a valid visa or residence permit from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, an EU state, Australia, Japan, South Korea or Singapore may enter without a Panamanian visa.
    Work rights
    The published entry rules do not authorise work of any kind; remote work for a foreign employer on a tourist stay is neither expressly permitted nor expressly prohibited, and is widely reported as tolerated. Local employment is not allowed.
    Dependants
    Each family member enters on their own passport under the same rules.
    Leads to
    No.
    Apply
    At the port of entry; extensions at the Servicio Nacional de Migración.

    Documents Passport valid for at least three months · Return or onward ticket · Evidence of USD 500 or more in funds

    Official page →

  3. Residence

    Friendly Nations Visa

    Residencia Temporal para Nacionales de Países Amigos (Executive Decrees No. 197 of May 2021 and No. 226 of July 2021)

    Remote workers from the roughly 50 listed countries who intend to base in Panama for years and can tie up USD 200,000 or take a local job.

    Income floor
    One of: a real-estate purchase of at least USD 200,000 registered in the applicant's name, a fixed-term bank deposit of at least USD 200,000 for three years, or an employment contract with a Panamanian company; as reported by Panamanian law firms describing the 2021 decrees.
    Duration
    Temporary residence for 2 years, then application for permanent residence.
    Cost
    USD 250 to the National Treasury plus USD 800 repatriation deposit to the migration service (about USD 1,050 per applicant); lawyers' fees reported at USD 3,500 to 5,500.
    Processing
    Reported at four to six months from filing to temporary residence approval; a temporary ID card valid six months is issued on filing.
    Eligibility
    Nationality on the Friendly Nations list (includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, most EU states, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Japan, South Korea and Singapore); clean criminal record; health certificate; proof of the qualifying tie.
    Work rights
    Temporary residents may apply for a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, allowing local employment or business; remote work for abroad is not restricted.
    Dependants
    Spouse and children under 18, or up to 25 in full-time education, can be included, with additional fees per dependant.
    Leads to
    Yes. Permanent residence after two years of temporary residence; naturalisation is reported as available after five years of residence.
    Apply
    In person in Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer, at the Servicio Nacional de Migración.

    Documents Power of attorney to a Panamanian lawyer · Certified passport copy and photographs · Apostilled criminal record certificate · Health certificate · Proof of the qualifying investment, deposit or employment contract · Proof of economic solvency

    Official page →

  4. Investor

    Qualified Investor Visa

    Residencia Permanente en calidad de Inversionista Calificado (Executive Decree No. 722 of 2020)

    High-earning remote workers who want permanent residence immediately and can place USD 300,000 or more; used by a minority of nomads.

    Income floor
    Real estate of at least USD 300,000 (reported to rise to USD 500,000 after 15 October 2026), securities of at least USD 500,000 through a licensed Panamanian broker, or a bank time deposit of at least USD 750,000.
    Duration
    Permanent residence granted directly.
    Cost
    USD 5,000 application fee to the National Treasury plus USD 5,000 repatriation deposit to the migration service, per law-firm reports.
    Processing
    Reported as roughly 30 business days; no statutory time verified.
    Eligibility
    Any nationality; investment must be held for at least five years; standard criminal record and health requirements.
    Work rights
    Permanent residents may work locally after obtaining a work permit; remote work for abroad is not restricted.
    Dependants
    Spouse and dependent children can be included with additional fees, as reported.
    Leads to
    Permanent residence at once; naturalisation reported after five years of residence.
    Apply
    In Panama through a Panamanian lawyer at the Servicio Nacional de Migración.

    Documents Power of attorney and application through a Panamanian lawyer · Proof of the qualifying investment and source of funds · Apostilled criminal record certificate · Certified passport copy

    Official page →

Without a visa, by passport

The stay you get on arrival, and whether working remotely on it is tolerated

  • EU / EEA / SwitzerlandVisa-free, 90 daysRemote work for a foreign employer is not addressed in the published entry rules; reported as tolerated but unregulated, so grey. Local work is not permitted.
  • United KingdomVisa-free, 90 daysSame position: grey, tolerated in practice, not authorised in writing.
  • United StatesVisa-free, 180 daysGrey. Practitioners report that in 2026 immigration officers have refused re-entry to people living in Panama on back-to-back tourist stamps.
  • CanadaVisa-free, 180 daysGrey, as for United States passport holders, with the same reported tightening on repeat entries.
  • AustraliaVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • New ZealandVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • JapanVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • BrazilVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • Mexico / Argentina / ColombiaVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • TurkeyVisa-free, 90 daysGrey; not addressed in the published rules.
  • IndiaStamped visa required (consular processing up to 30 business days); holders of a valid US, Canadian, UK, EU, Australian, Japanese, South Korean or Singaporean visa or residence permit may enter without a Panamanian visa for 30 days under Executive Decree 196 of 2024A consular visa does not authorise work; remote work on it is grey. The Decree 196 route is a short visit, not a basis for a long stay.
  • South AfricaVisa required (not on the visa-exempt list); the Decree 196 exemption applies to holders of qualifying third-country visasNot addressed in the published rules; grey on a visitor visa.

Tax

When the country starts counting you as its taxpayer

Residency trigger
Under Article 762-N of the Fiscal Code, an individual is tax resident after more than 183 days, consecutive or not, in Panama in a fiscal year or in the immediately preceding year, or by establishing a permanent home and centre of vital interests (family or economic) in Panama. Owning or renting property alone is not enough (DGI Resolution 201-0354 of 13 January 2016). The residence certificate is applied for through the DGI's e-Tax 2.0 platform, needs a migration movement certificate, and is reported to take about three months.
Special regime
No special newcomer or nomad regime. Panama taxes on a territorial basis: only income produced or having effect inside Panama is taxed (Fiscal Code Article 694), so salary or fees from foreign employers and clients for work with effect abroad are not subject to Panamanian income tax, even for tax residents. Law 526 of 28 May 2026 is reported to introduce economic-substance conditions for foreign passive income from fiscal 2027; its effect on employment and freelance income is not yet clear from published guidance.
Social security
Law 51 of 2005 as reformed by Law 462 of 18 March 2025 requires everyone providing services in Panama, employed or independent, to register with the Caja de Seguro Social; independent workers contribute 9.36 per cent of taxable income to the pension branch and may join sickness cover at 8.5 per cent on at least B/.800 a month. Employer contributions rose to 13.25 per cent from 1 April 2025 and rise again in 2027 and 2029. No published guidance states whether a remote worker paid by a foreign employer must register, and Panama has no social-security totalisation agreements of the certificate-of-coverage type in wide use, so the position for foreign-employer remote staff is unresolved.
Treaties
Panama has 17 double-taxation treaties, including with the United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, France, Italy, Mexico and Singapore; there is none with the United States or Canada. Because Panama does not tax foreign-source income, treaties mostly matter for proving a change of tax home to the previous country of residence, for which the DGI certificate is the evidence.

Practicalities

Bank account
Possible for non-residents but slow. Banks ask for a passport with entry stamps, a second ID, proof of address, a bank reference letter dated within 30 days, proof of income and source of funds, and a Panama connection; opening deposits are reported from USD 10,000 upward at several banks.
SIM card
Prepaid SIMs from Tigo, Más Móvil and Digicel are sold widely; sources disagree on whether a passport must be shown at purchase, so expect to be asked for one.
Health insurance
Mandatory for the remote worker visa: the policy must cover Panama and stay valid for the whole period of stay. Not required for a tourist stay.
Address registration
No separate municipal registration; the residence application itself records the address, and applicants for residency receive a temporary ID card valid six months while the file is processed.
Tax number and certificate
Tax residence certificates are requested from the Dirección General de Ingresos through e-Tax 2.0 and require a migration movement certificate showing more than 183 days; processing reported at about three months.
Driving licence
Foreign licences are accepted for the first 90 days of a tourist stay; longer-term residents and visa holders are reported to need a Panamanian licence.
Overstay penalties
B/.50 (USD 50) per month or part-month of overstay, B/.100 for those married to a Panamanian or with Panamanian children, payable at the migration office on Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro before departure; leaving unpaid brings a reported entry ban of two or five years. A fine waiver ran from 15 October 2025 to April 2026 for people who filed a regularisation application.
Entry funds
Officers may ask for evidence of at least USD 500 and a return or onward ticket.

Panama: a real remote-worker visa, but the tourist stamp and Friendly Nations residency do most of the work

Where remote workers base and which route they actually use

Panama City's Casco Viejo, El Cangrejo and San Francisco districts hold most remote workers, with a smaller cluster in Boquete in the highlands and in Bocas del Toro. The draw is the US dollar economy, direct flights to North America and Europe, and a tax system that leaves foreign earnings alone.

The remote worker visa created by Executive Decree 198 in May 2021 is legally clean but little used. It gives nine months plus one nine-month extension, costs USD 300 in government fees plus a compulsory lawyer, and every foreign document must be apostilled and under six months old, so the extension means repeating the whole file. It is a non-resident category and never leads to permanent residence.

The comparison most applicants make is with the tourist stamp. A United States or Canadian passport already gives 180 days, and most European, British, Australian and Latin American passports give 90 days, so the visa buys a few extra months at real cost. Those planning to stay for years tend to skip it and file for Friendly Nations residency instead, which needs USD 200,000 in property or a three-year deposit, or a local job, and converts to permanent residence after two years.

What applicants report about the process

All filings go through a Panamanian lawyer at the migration service's Special Services window in Panama City, and the applicant must be in the country. Law firms quote about 40 business days for the remote worker visa once the file is complete, though assembling apostilled police certificates, employer letters and authenticated bank statements from abroad usually takes longer than the processing itself.

Friendly Nations files are reported at four to six months to approval. The temporary ID card issued on filing is valid only six months, so applicants whose files run long must renew it. Employees need a letterhead letter from the foreign company's legal representative; the self-employed replace it with a notarised sworn statement listing clients, services, earnings and payment frequency, which some freelancers find intrusive.

Applicant accounts and law-firm bulletins in 2026 report immigration officers refusing re-entry to people who have been living in Panama on consecutive tourist stamps with only short trips abroad. There is no published rule on how many entries are too many, so the risk is discretionary.

Money, tax and daily admin

Panama taxes only income produced inside Panama. A tax resident who earns entirely from a foreign employer or foreign clients for work with effect abroad owes no Panamanian income tax, and this is the main financial reason people stay. The DGI issues a tax residence certificate after more than 183 days, but only after checking migration movement records, and the certificate is reported to take about three months.

Social security is the unsettled area. Law 462 of March 2025 restated that everyone providing services in Panama must register with the Caja de Seguro Social and set the independent workers' pension rate at 9.36 per cent, but no published guidance says whether that reaches a foreigner paid by an employer abroad. Panama's 17 tax treaties exclude the United States and Canada.

Bank accounts are the slowest part of settling in. Non-residents can open them, but banks want reference letters, proof of income, source of funds and a Panama connection, and several ask for opening deposits from USD 10,000. Many remote workers keep foreign accounts and use them locally, since the currency is the US dollar.

What is changing

The migration side has been stable since 2021; the notable recent moves are the October 2024 decree letting holders of US, Canadian, British, EU, Australian, Japanese, Korean or Singaporean visas enter without a Panamanian visa, and the overstay fine waiver for people regularising their status between October 2025 and April 2026.

On tax, law-firm bulletins report that Law 526 of May 2026 adds economic-substance conditions to foreign passive income from fiscal 2027. Employment and freelance income are not the target, but the direction is toward more scrutiny of the territorial exemption. The Qualified Investor Visa's USD 300,000 property threshold is reported to rise to USD 500,000 after 15 October 2026.

Researched from migracion.gob.pa · propanama.gob.pa · embassyofpanama.org · migrantinfo.iom.int · bal.com · bal.com · kraemerlaw.com · kraemerlaw.com · fmm.com.pa · fmm.com.pa · the authority