Panama digital nomad visa
Panama is the easy on-ramp to Latin America for remote workers — a US-dollar economy, fast Caribbean and Pacific access, and a modern, connected base in Panama City. The short-stay remote worker visa (the country's digital nomad route) asks for solid income and must be filed through a local lawyer, but Panama's territorial tax system means your foreign income isn't taxed here. Best for a 9-to-18-month stay rather than settling.
Short Stay Remote Worker Visa at a glance ✓ Verified 2026
- Income requirement: ~$3000/month
- Visa cost: ~$300
- Length of stay: up to 18 months
- Processing time: 30–45 business days
- Official source: government site
Requirements
- Foreign-source income of at least $36,000/year ($3,000/month), from an employer or clients outside Panama
- A work contract with a foreign company, or proof of self-employed remote work for clients abroad
- Private health insurance valid in Panama for the stay
- Valid passport with at least six months' validity and three passport photos
- Clean criminal background certificate
- A licensed Panamanian immigration lawyer to file the application — you can't submit directly
How to apply
- Confirm you meet the $36,000/year foreign-income requirement
- Engage a licensed Panamanian immigration lawyer — filing through one is legally required
- Gather documents: passport, bank statements, work/client contracts, health insurance, criminal record
- Your lawyer files with the Servicio Nacional de Migración and pays the fees (~$250 + $50 card)
- On approval (about 30–45 business days), receive the 9-month visa, renewable once for 18 months total
Moving abroad means more than the visa — sort your travel insurance (many visa applications require proof of coverage), set up borderless banking, and land with data working.
First nomad visa? Our digital nomad visa guide explains how qualifying, applying, and taxes work across every country.
Frequently asked questions
Panama law requires immigration applications to be filed by a licensed Panamanian attorney — you can't submit the remote worker visa directly to immigration yourself. Budget for legal fees on top of the roughly $300 in government charges.
Not on foreign income. Panama uses a territorial tax system, so income earned from sources outside Panama isn't taxed locally — a major draw of this visa. You may still owe tax in your home country depending on your citizenship.
The visa is granted for nine months and can be renewed once for another nine, for a maximum of 18 months. It's a short-stay route, not a path to permanent residency.
Dependents can generally be included with additional documentation and income evidence. Confirm the current per-dependent requirements with your immigration lawyer.
More visas in Americas
Visa rules, income thresholds, and fees change — always confirm the current requirements on the official government source (linked here) before applying. This page is informational, not immigration advice.