Country Snapshot

A dynamic intercontinental hub linking the Americas, Panama is notable for its strategic logistics position, dollarised economy, and growing services sector.

Population: 4.3 million.

Languages: Spanish (English widely used in business and tourism).

Economy: Service-oriented (shipping, logistics, finance, tourism), strong growth record.

Currency: U.S. dollar (officially dollarised use of USD and Panamanian balboa).

Life in Panama:

Panama: Strategic Location, Competitive Cost of Living, and Expat-Friendly Lifestyle

Panama offers year-round warm climate, modern infrastructure centred on Panama City, and easy air/sea links across the Americas — making it attractive for entrepreneurs, retirees, and families. The country’s dollarised economy and business-friendly policies support a robust services sector (shipping, finance, tourism), while ongoing development in logistics and real-estate keeps opportunities for investors active. Public and private healthcare is well developed in urban centres, and English is commonly spoken in commercial and expatriate communities.

Why Panama is attractive for clients:

• Strategic geography & dollarised economy provide stability and ease for international transactions.

• Flexible residency routes (Friendly Nations, Pensionado, investment options) suit retirees, entrepreneurs, and investors.

• Lower cost of entry for some programs (e.g., Pensionado) compared with many Western alternatives.

Programs Offered:

Panama presents several well-established residence routes that appeal to different client profiles: business/investment, retirees, professionals, and nationals of “friendly” countries.

Residency by Investment (Real Estate / Financial Options)

Panama offers investor routes tied to real-estate purchases, capital investments, or bank deposits—sometimes marketed as “residency by investment.”

Typical investment options:

• Real estate: Investment of US$300,000 in Real Estate.

• Stock market / financial instruments: higher minimums US$500,000 or other structured investments.

• Bank deposits: fixed-term deposit options of US$750,000.

Notes

· These figures and program requirements are subject to change; always verify the exact thresholds and holding periods at the time of application.

Friendly Nations Visa (Business/Residence Route)

A fast, popular route for citizens of Panama’s designated “friendly nations” who wish to obtain residency by demonstrating economic or professional ties to Panama.

Overview & Benefits

• Typically starts with temporary or provisional residency, with faster pathways to permanent residency and later naturalisation.

• Family inclusion: spouse and dependent children can be included.

Core Requirements (typical)

• Proof of economic ties: employment contract, local company formation, or qualified investment. Many applicants form a Panamanian corporation and show business activity or a local job offer.

• Some administrative fees and standard documents (passport, police certificates, birth/marriage certificates; often apostilled).

Processing & Pathway

• Processing speed depends on documentation and legal counsel; Friendly Nations holders often may apply for permanent residency after a defined period (varies by case).

Why clients choose it:

It is relatively direct business/residency route for qualifying nationalities and scalable for entrepreneurs who want to operate in Panama.

Pensionado / Retiree Program

Designed for retirees or individuals with a lifelong pension income — one of the world’s most attractive retiree residency schemes.

Key Facts

• Minimum guaranteed lifetime pension income: US$1,000/month for the principal applicant; US$250/month per dependent (typical thresholds cited in official and embassy guidance).

• Immediate permanent residency status is usually granted under the Pensionado route.

Benefits

• Preferential discounts across many local services (transport, healthcare, entertainment), simplified residency maintenance (often minimal local presence).

Why clients choose it:

low financial threshold for many retirees, permanent residency upon approval, and a welcoming expat ecosystem.

Reforestation & Agricultural Investment Visa

Panama operates special investor routes encouraging reforestation and environmental projects.

Typical structure

• Investment in approved reforestation projects (program thresholds around US$350,000–360,000), sometimes structured with minimum maintenance fees. Processing timelines vary from 60 – 180 days.

Why clients consider it:

an investor residency option aligned with ESG/green objectives; can deliver residency while supporting approved environmental projects.

Common Practical Details (applies across routes)

• Residency for family: Most programs permit spouse and dependent children; parents may be included in specific circumstances—each case requires assessment.

• Physical presence requirement: Varies by program — Pensionado often has relaxed presence rules; other investor/business routes may require proof of activity or periodic visits. Verify per route.

• Health & insurance: Applicants must demonstrate good health/clean criminal record; some routes require health insurance or proof of financial means to cover healthcare.

• Language: Spanish is the official language; however, many processes are managed in Spanish and English is widely used in business — local counsel and translation of documents are standard.

• Path to citizenship: Naturalisation requirements typically include prolonged legal residency (commonly multiple years) and other legal conditions; Friendly Nations and other permanent routes can lead to citizenship after fulfilling residency and legal requirements. Timeframes vary.