Panama · Digital nomad visa
Panama digital nomad visa: requirements for Americans
Short answer
The main route is the Short-stay remote-worker visa (Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto). Remote employees of foreign companies, and genuinely self-employed people, whose work and income come from abroad.
- Money needed: At least $36,000 a year; an employer letter must show at least $3,000 a month
- How long it lasts: 9 months, plus one renewal of 9 months
- Leads to: Nothing directly: you'd need to qualify for another category
Key facts
- Money needed
- At least $36,000 a year; an employer letter must show at least $3,000 a month
- How long it lasts
- 9 months, plus one renewal of 9 months
- Leads to
- Nothing directly: you'd need to qualify for another category
- Apply from
- Inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer
- Processing time
- No official target Not in the official checklist; real waits Not yet verified
Checked against the law Rules read in the remote-worker decree and the immigration office's checklist.
Still being checked Whether family can join, and whether any tax exemption applies to remote workers.
What you need
- Passport: authenticated copy, plus 3 photos and a notarised power of attorney
- Employer letter: your role, pay, how often you're paid and the remote arrangement
- Company proof: a certificate that your foreign employer exists; freelancers show their own business and clients
- Bank proof: statements or a bank letter linking foreign payments to your work
- Health: insurance valid in Panama for your whole stay, and a recent medical certificate
- Criminal record check: apostilled, with a translation by a Panamanian public translator
- Fees: $250 to apply and $50 for the visa card. Other costs Not yet verified
Good to know
- No local work: no jobs, services or business with anyone in Panama.
- Family: this visa has no way to add family members Not established yet.
- Not a tax break: after 183 days in a year you can be a tax resident.
Every Panama residency route, compared → The full Panama guide →
Questions people ask
How much income do I need for Panama's digital nomad visa?
At least $36,000 a year; an employer letter must show at least $3,000 a month
How long does it last?
9 months, plus one renewal of 9 months
Does it lead to permanent residence or citizenship?
Nothing directly: you'd need to qualify for another category
Where do I apply?
Inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer
How long does processing take?
No official target (Not in the official checklist); real waits (Not yet verified)