Last updated: October 2026
2026 update: On August 31, 2026, Panama added Ecuador to the Friendly Nations list through Executive Decree 16. The decree took effect on September 1, 2026, bringing the number of eligible countries to 51.
If you're a citizen of the United States, Canada, most European Union member states or one of about 50 other countries with close ties to Panama, there's a residency path designed for you: the Friendly Nations Visa.
The Friendly Nations Visa is a Panama residency program for citizens of 51 countries that have friendly diplomatic, professional, economic and investment relations with Panama. You can qualify through one of three routes:
Applicants first receive two years of provisional residency. They can then apply for permanent residency, which may later open the door to citizenship.
It's one of the most popular routes to Panama residency because it offers more than one way to qualify. That flexibility attracts remote professionals, retirees and investors who don't fit neatly into a single category.
But "friendly nations" doesn't mean "no requirements." Since the 2021 reforms, applicants must prove a real, documented economic or professional tie to Panama, not just hold a passport from an eligible country. Here's what qualifies today, what doesn't, and how the process works in practice.
The Friendly Nations Visa (Visa de Países Amigos) was created by Executive Decree 416 of June 13, 2012. It set up a permanent residency subcategory for citizens of countries that maintain friendly, professional, economic and investment relations with Panama. For years, it was one of the most accessible residency programs in Latin America.
In 2021, two decrees reshaped the program:
Before these reforms, forming a Panamanian corporation was often enough. Now applicants must show a genuine job, a genuine investment or a genuine deposit, not a structure that exists only on paper.
Yes. The program is active and was expanded in 2026: Executive Decree 16 of August 31, 2026 added Ecuador to the list of eligible countries.
As of September 1, 2026, citizens of these 51 countries are eligible:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Uruguay.
A notable exclusion is Italy. Italian citizens have a separate residency category under a bilateral agreement with Panama, with its own procedure.
The list is set by executive decree, and it has changed several times: Taiwan was removed in 2021, Peru was added in 2021 and Ecuador in 2026. Future decrees could change it again.
There isn't one way to qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa. There are three, and the right one depends on your situation.
You have a job offer or employment contract with a Panamanian company, along with a work permit issued by Panama's Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL). The employer must show that the position is real and the company is operating, not a shell entity created only to sponsor a visa.
There's no minimum investment for this path. Owning a Panamanian company, on its own, no longer counts as proof of economic solvency. That option was removed in 2021.
You buy titled real estate in Panama with a value of at least US$200,000. This path is popular with retirees and investors who want a tangible asset alongside their residency.
You place a fixed-term deposit of at least US$200,000 with a bank in Panama, for a minimum term of three years. This is often the most practical path for applicants who don't want to buy property or relocate for a job right away. If you're setting up banking in Panama, see our guide on opening a corporate bank account in Panama.
Specific requirements vary by path, but most applications include:
The Friendly Nations Visa works in two stages:
It can, through a separate process called naturalization, governed by Article 10 of Panama's Constitution:
In every case, applicants must formally declare their intention to naturalize, expressly renounce their nationality of origin, and show knowledge of Spanish and basic Panamanian geography, history and political organization. Naturalization is a discretionary government decision, not an automatic right once the residency period is met. It's handled separately from the Friendly Nations Visa.
A common question is how this program compares to Panama's Qualified Investor Program. The Qualified Investor Program is the route tied to the Special Passport under Law 493 of 2025.
If you're weighing both, the right choice usually comes down to three things: your nationality, how much you can invest, and whether the Special Passport matters for your goals.
We work with foreign nationals on all three qualifying paths (employment, real estate and fixed-term deposit) to structure applications correctly from the start. This includes:
51 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most EU member states, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru and, since September 1, 2026, Ecuador. Italy isn't on the list; Italian citizens have a separate bilateral category.
Yes. Executive Decree 16 of August 31, 2026 added Ecuador, effective September 1, 2026. Ecuadorian applicants follow the same procedure, costs and stages as every other eligible nationality.
US$200,000, either in titled real estate or in a fixed-term deposit held for at least three years with a bank in Panama. The employment path has no minimum investment.
Yes. A spouse and dependent children can apply as dependents of the main applicant.
No. Since Executive Decree 197 of 2021, owning a company on its own no longer counts as proof of economic solvency.
The employment path is tied to a work permit from the Ministry of Labor. If you qualify through real estate or a bank deposit and want to work locally, you'll need to apply for a work permit separately.
Your investment has to remain in place while authorities verify it during the provisional stage, and the deposit must be held for its full three-year term. Selling or withdrawing early can affect your move to permanent residency, so plan before you make any changes.
No. The Friendly Nations Visa is a residency program limited to citizens of eligible countries. The Special Passport under Law 493 of 2025 is tied to the Qualified Investor Program, which is open to all nationalities.
Possibly, through naturalization under Article 10 of the Constitution. The general requirement is five consecutive years of residence, or three years with a Panamanian spouse or Panamanian children. Nationals of Spain and Latin American countries follow reciprocity rules. In all cases, you must renounce your nationality of origin.
Choosing the right path can mean the difference between a smooth approval and months of delays. If you're deciding between employment, real estate and a fixed-term deposit, talk to us before you commit.
Email our immigration team at info@jj-associate.com or schedule a consultation to discuss which route fits your situation.
Considering the investor route instead? Read our guide to Law 493 and Panama's Special Passport for Qualified Investors.
Holding your investment through a Panamanian company or foundation? Make sure that entity stays compliant with our guide to Panama's Beneficial Owner Registry.
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