Panama Visa Requirements for 2026: Tourist, Work, and Residency

(PANAMA) Panama’s entry rules in 2026 are simpler for many travelers, but details still vary by nationality, documents, and intended stay length. Executive Decree No. 196, issued October 28, 2024, widened visa exemptions and created an easier path for some people who normally need a visa.

For short trips, most visitors enter with an entry stamp for 90 days, while citizens of the United States (🇺🇸) and Canada (🇨🇦) typically receive 180 days. For longer stays, Panama is expanding investor residency pathways, led by the Qualified Investor Visa and a government target of 150 approvals per month by the end of 2026.

The first decision: do you qualify for visa-free entry or not?

Start by placing yourself into one of these entry tracks — this determines required paperwork and processing time.

• Visa-exempt visitors (most nationalities listed by Panama): enter for tourism without applying in advance.
• U.S. and Canadian passport holders: generally receive 180 days on arrival.
• Most other visa-exempt nationals: receive up to 90 days (reduced from 180 days in October 2021).
• Nationals who normally require a visa: may enter visa-free under Executive Decree No. 196 if they hold a valid, used visa or permanent residency from the United States, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, the UK, Singapore, or any EU state.

That last point is a practical breakthrough: a traveler with a passport that ordinarily requires a visa but who has a used U.S. or EU visa can often skip the consulate process and fly directly to Panama.

What immigration officers and airlines check at the airport

Even with visa-free access, Panama expects visitors to prove they are genuine short-stay travelers. Prepare for document checks both at boarding and on arrival.

Bring these items every time:
– Passport validity: Decree No. 196 accepts 3 months validity in qualifying cases, but 6 months is recommended.
– Proof of solvency: Minimum $500, shown via cash, card statements, or an employment letter.
– Onward or return ticket: Airlines enforce this strictly; digital tickets are acceptable.

If you cannot show these documents, airlines may refuse boarding or immigration may deny entry at the border.

Important: Always carry clear, contemporaneous evidence for solvency and travel plans. Border decisions are often made on the spot.

Tourist entry options (including Decree No. 196 exemptions)

Panama effectively offers three tourist pathways. Under Executive Decree No. 196, many individuals who would otherwise need a pre-approved visa instead use visa-exempt entry for an initial stay with extension options.

1) Visa-exempt entry stamp (fastest)

• Expected timeframe: same day (granted at the airport).
• What happens: an immigration officer stamps your passport with the permitted stay.

2) Stamped tourist visa (consulate-based)

• Expected timeframe: varies by consulate.
• Typical stay granted: 30 days.
• What happens: apply at a Panamanian consulate before travel.

3) Authorized tourist visa (pre-approval)

• Expected timeframe: up to 60 business days for processing, plus document prep time.
• What happens: requires a Panamanian sponsor letter and supporting documents (e.g., utility bill, bank statement), followed by approval through migration authorities.

Under Decree No. 196, many who previously needed options 2 or 3 can instead use option 1 for an initial 30-day entry, with the ability to extend.

Extending a short stay and the 18-month remote worker route

If you want more time in Panama after arrival, apply before your authorized stay expires.

Tourist extensions (“Prórroga de Turista”)

• Where: Tumba Muerto immigration office in Panama City.
• Practical note: appointments are treated formally; appropriate attire (long sleeves and pants) is recommended.
• Outcome: up to 60 additional days.

Remote worker stay (up to 18 months)

Panama offers a remote-worker option that provides 9 months + a 9-month extension for eligible digital nomads:
– Income requirement: $36,000+ per year
– Additional requirements: insurance and an affidavit confirming you will not work for local employers
– Fee: $250

This option is useful for people testing life in Panama without immediately switching to formal residency.

Working in Panama: what changes once you’re employed locally

Tourist status does not permit local employment. Working in Panama requires a work visa and adherence to labor quotas.

Key rules:
– Foreign workers normally limited to 10% of a company’s workforce, or 15% for specialists.
– Processing time: commonly 40–90 days.
– Employers must submit certified payroll information.
– Renewals: file 60 days early.

Plan arrivals to align with job start dates so you avoid falling out of status.

Residency choices and the investor residency expansion

Panama’s residency system emphasizes long-term stability with relatively relaxed physical presence rules. Many categories allow residency to remain active with one day in Panama every two years, alongside solvency requirements.

• General physical-presence rule: one visit every two years for many residency categories.

Friendly Nations Visa (professionals and families)

Basic requirements:
– $5,000 deposit in a Panamanian bank, or $200,000+ in real estate
– Clean criminal record and a health certificate
Process: 2-year temporary residency, then eligibility for permanent residency.

Pensionado (retiree) residency

Key features:
– Immediate permanent residency
– Pension income requirement: $1,000+ per month
– Additional: +$250 per dependent
This route suits retirees who split time across countries, due to the low-presence requirement.

Qualified Investor Visa (Panama’s “golden visa” track)

This program is central to Panama’s investor-residency expansion and offers immediate permanent residency with specific investment thresholds:

• $300,000 minimum in real estate (extended until October 2026)
• $500,000 in securities
• $750,000 time deposit for 5 years

Family coverage includes spouse, children, and parents. Reported performance:
– 237 approvals through September 2025
– 96% approval rate
– Government target: 150 monthly approvals by end-2026

Timeframe and process details:
– Typical processing: 30–90 days, some cases up to 4 months
– Applicants can apply remotely but must complete biometrics within 2 years
– Investment maintenance: annual documentation

A broader incentive: a low-presence naturalization path after 5 years, with the President personally approving citizenships. Analysis by VisaVerge.com attributes North American interest to the program’s speed and predictability.

The application journey in five steps (tourist, work, or residency)

Follow these steps to minimize delays and confusion:

1. Choose the correct track and timeline

– Tourist entry: usually immediate.
– Authorized visas: can take 60 business days.
– Work and investor cases: often take weeks — build a buffer for apostilles and translations.

1. Prepare core documents early

– Common documents: passport copies, photos, solvency evidence, proof of travel plans.
– Residency additions: criminal records (valid for 6 months and apostilled) and a health certificate.

1. File with the right authority and pay the correct fees

– Short-stay visas: via consulates or pre-approval.
– Residency filings: through Panama’s migration system.
– Start with the Panama National Migration Service (SNM) for guidance: https://www.migracion.gob.pa/

1. Attend biometrics or in-person checks when required

– Tourists: usually finished at the airport.
– Residency applicants: expect biometrics and ID issuance, and a required visit timeline for investor filings.

1. Maintain status after approval

– Track expiry dates and keep investment/income conditions current.
– Respect physical-presence rules (e.g., one visit every two years where applicable).
– For workers: renew 60 days early.

Practical mistakes that cause delays at the border

Most issues are avoidable; common mistakes occur on travel day:

• Arriving without a return/onward ticket, even when visa-exempt.
• Showing weak solvency evidence, despite the $500 minimum expectation.
• Assuming a remote job automatically qualifies you for remote-worker status without meeting the $36,000 income, insurance, and affidavit requirements.
• Treating investor residency as a one-time transaction rather than an ongoing investment requiring maintenance and documentation.

Key takeaway: Panama remains welcoming in 2026, but officials expect travelers and residents to prove they meet rules in real time, at the counter, with the correct documents.