Start with your situation
Panama offers several residency routes, and the best one depends on your nationality, income source and goals. Here’s how the main options compare.
The popular routes
- Friendly Nations Visa — for citizens of many countries, based on economic or professional ties.
- Pensionado — for retirees with a qualifying lifetime pension, with generous discounts.
- Qualified Investor Visa — a faster route based on a significant investment.
- Digital Nomad Visa — a shorter-term option for remote workers.
Choosing well
Retirees with a pension often prefer Pensionado; younger professionals frequently use Friendly Nations; investors and business owners look at the investor route. An immigration attorney will match your profile to the right category and current requirements.
Next steps
Read our full residency guide and gather your apostilled documents early — that’s where most delays happen.
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