Panamanian visa resources
Why Panama Requires a Licensed Immigration Lawyer
For most residence categories, Panamanian law requires applications to be filed by a licensed Panamanian lawyer - applicants cannot submit residency applications to SNM on their own.
Important
A distinctive feature of Panama's system is that, for most residence categories, applicants must be represented by a licensed Panamanian immigration lawyer. The Servicio Nacional de Migracion does not accept self-filed residency applications in these categories; the lawyer files the application together with a notarised power of attorney.
This affects planning and cost: professional legal fees are effectively unavoidable for residence routes such as Friendly Nations, Qualified Investor, Pensionado, marriage-based and permanent-residence applications. Short-stay non-resident visas and simple tourist entry are the main exceptions where representation may not be needed.
What this means for applicants
- Budget for legal fees on top of government fees for residence categories
- Sign a notarised power of attorney authorising the lawyer to file
- Choose a lawyer licensed to practise in Panama
- Simple tourist entry generally does not require a lawyer
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.