Panama

Visa and residency reference data is available for Work (Employer-Sponsored), Permanent Residency, Investor, and 4 more.

• Work (Employer-Sponsored): SNM residence permit for foreign personnel hired by private companies within the 10% ordinary-personnel quota.
• Permanent Residency: SNM permanent-residence follow-on route for nationals of specified countries with friendly, professional, economic, or investment ties to Panama after the provisional PAÍSES ESPECÍFICOS stage.
• Investor: SNM provisional residence route for nationals of specified countries who qualify through the investment basis listed on the official PAÍSES ESPECÍFICOS requirements sheet.
• Retirement: SNM pensionado residence permit for retirees with a lifelong foreign pension or retirement payment.
• Digital Nomad: SNM short-stay remote worker visa for foreign employees or independent contractors working remotely for foreign business activity.
• Student: SNM temporary residence permit for foreign nationals who will undertake regular full-time studies at recognized public or private educational institutions in Panama.
• Tourist / Visa Waiver: SNM tourist visa route for travelers who need a Panamanian tourist visa before entry.

• Spanish(Official)

Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution

3 source-backed travel advisories are available for Panama.

• Canada: Take normal security precautions - Take normal security precautions in Panama.
• United Kingdom: No destination-wide FCDO travel warning - FCDO travel advice currently has no destination-wide warning for Panama. Review the full FCDO travel advice before travelling, including safety, entry, health, and insurance guidance.
• United States: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution - Exercise increased caution in Panama due to crime and potential for civil unrest. Some areas have increased risk. Read the entire travel advisory. Do not travel to: Parts of the Mosquito Gulf due to crime; Parts of the Darién Region due to crime. Country Summary: Crime occurs in Panama, including theft and residential break-ins. Crimes of opportunity such as pickpocketing and purse snatching can happen in tourist areas. The Embassy receives occasional reports of residential break-ins, especially during the holiday season. Demonstrations periodically occur due to local issues and have disrupted some normal travel patterns in the past, including the flow of goods and services to some parts of the country.