Business & investor visas
Panamanian Friendly Nations Visa
A residence route for nationals of countries Panama considers friendly, who can show economic ties through employment, real estate or a bank deposit.
Expert reviewed Official guidance referenced
Under review — check current rules
The friendly-nations country list, the minimum real-estate/deposit values (commonly cited near US$200,000) and the temporary-to-permanent timeline come from secondary sources and were not confirmed on a live SNM page; verify against Executive Decree 197 and current SNM requirements.
Important information
Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Panama government website before you apply.
- Official name
- Visa de Paises Amigos (Friendly Nations)
- Route type
- Business/talent - temporary residence leading to permanent residence
- Eligibility
- Nationals of countries on Panama's friendly-nations list with an economic tie to Panama
- Economic tie
- Employment, real estate, or a fixed-term bank deposit
- Minimum real-estate and deposit values (commonly cited around US$200,000) were not confirmed on a live SNM page.
Who it is for
- Nationals of countries on Panama's friendly-nations list
- Applicants who can prove an economic or professional tie to Panama
- People planning to build toward permanent residence in Panama
Requirements
- Passport valid for at least the required period
- A second valid photo ID
- National criminal-record certificate, apostilled/authenticated
- One qualifying economic tie: employment, real estate, or fixed-term deposit
- Application filed by a licensed Panamanian immigration lawyer
What you can do
- Obtain temporary residence, then apply for permanent residence
- Live in Panama; work with the appropriate work permit
- Progress toward citizenship by naturalisation over time
How to apply
- Confirm your nationality is on the friendly-nations list
- Choose and document one qualifying economic tie
- Gather apostilled personal documents
- File the temporary-residence application with SNM through a Panamanian lawyer
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.
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