🇿🇲→🇵🇦Zambia→Panama

180 daysmultiple entry

Short-term tourism and leisure for nationals of exempt countries. Entry is granted at the border without prior application.

USA and Canada nationals receive up to 180 days; other exempt nationalities (100+ countries) receive up to 90 days under Resolution 22706. Minimum passport validity 3 months. Must show proof of economic solvency (B/.500 / USD 500) and a return ticket. Nationals of non-exempt countries must obtain a stamped or authorized visa from a consulate before travel.

90 daysup to 60d processing

Tourist/visitor visa for nationals requiring prior SNM (National Migration Service) authorization, typically where no local consulate is available.

Fee is USD 50 application + USD 90 (Western Union); total ~USD 140. Processing up to 60 business days. Same documentation as stamped visa. Authorization is granted by SNM headquarters; applicant must then present authorization at port of entry.

90 daysup to 30d processing

Tourist/visitor visa for nationals of countries not covered by visa-free exemptions. Obtained at a Panamanian consulate before travel.

Fee is USD 50 application + USD 90 (Western Union); total ~USD 140. Processing up to 30 business days. Requires: visa application form, passport copies, flight reservation, government-issued ID, 3 passport photos, proof of funds (USD 500 minimum), hotel reservation. Must apply in person at nearest Panamanian consulate.

90 days

Permits short-term business activities in Panama such as meetings, negotiations, and conferences without taking up local employment.

Listed as a non-resident short-stay visa category on the SNM Permisos Migratorios page. Specific fee and processing time not published on official web pages; requirements are available as downloadable PDFs from migracion.gob.pa.

single entry

Permits foreign nationals to transit through Panama en route to another destination without entering the country proper.

Required for nationals of countries that do not qualify for visa-free transit. Exemptions exist for holders of valid Panamanian visas or qualifying third-country visas (US, Canada, UK, EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Singapore). Must hold onward travel documentation. As of 2025 Decrees 21 and 22 (August 2025), transit visa requirements were amended for Haitian and Cuban nationals.

90 dayssingle entry

Short-stay visa for foreign nationals traveling to Panama specifically to receive medical treatment at a Panamanian healthcare facility.

Listed as a short-stay non-resident visa category on the SNM Permisos Migratorios page. Specific fees and documentation requirements available in downloadable PDFs from migracion.gob.pa. Typically requires a letter from the treating Panamanian medical institution.

multiple entry

Permanent residency for foreign nationals legally married to a Panamanian citizen.

Official SNM permanent-resident checklist 'Casado con Panameño'. Also covers parents of Panamanian children and dependents of permanent residents under the family reunification categories listed by SNM. Processing handled by SNM. Specific fees and required documents available via downloadable PDFs on migracion.gob.pa.

multiple entry

Temporary residency permit that allows qualifying family members (dependents) of legally resident foreign nationals to join them in Panama.

Official SNM temporary-resident checklist 'Permiso de Residente Temporal por Reagrupación Familiar'. Covers dependents (spouse, children) of foreign nationals who already hold a valid temporary or permanent residency in Panama.

Allows foreign nationals to reside in Panama for the duration of an accredited academic program at a recognized Panamanian institution.

Official SNM temporary-resident student permit checklist ('Temporal por Razones de Educación'). Covers standard students as well as exchange program participants and Fulbright scholarship recipients. Permit is tied to enrollment in the educational institution. Specific fees and processing times available via downloadable PDFs on migracion.gob.pa. Executive Decree 3 of February 6, 2026 created a permanent residency pathway for students after completing their studies.

multiple entry

Permanent residency for foreign university-educated professionals who will practise a profession in Panama that is not constitutionally reserved for Panamanian nationals.

Permanent-resident 'Por Leyes Especiales' category under Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 2008. Requires a university degree recognised/revalidated in Panama, registration with the relevant professional board where applicable, and proof of economic solvency (Panamanian bank account). The profession must not be one reserved exclusively for Panamanian citizens by the Constitution or law. Does not require an employer sponsor. Path to naturalization after 5 years of permanent residency.

Temporary residency for foreign nationals contracted to work on specific government-awarded projects in Panama.

Tied to the duration of the government contract. Permit lapses when the contract ends.

Temporary residency permit for executives and specialists working for multinational companies headquartered or operating in Panama's Multinational Company Headquarters (SEM) regime.

Temporary resident category under Panama's SEM (Sedes de Empresas Multinacionales) law. Companies must be registered under Law 41 of 2007. Includes accompanying dependents. Processing handled by SNM.

Non-resident permit for foreign technical or temporary workers engaged by Panamanian employers for a defined project or term.

Listed as a non-resident work-related permit on the SNM Permisos Migratorios page. Specific fees and processing times are in downloadable requirement PDFs on migracion.gob.pa. Other non-resident work permits include those for sailors, entertainment workers, domestic workers, transient/event workers, banking professionals, and special commercial/investor categories.

multiple entry

Residency for foreign nationals who invest in a government-certified reforestation or forestry-plantation project in Panama.

SNM 'Por Razones Económicas' investor category under the immigration regulations (Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 2008). The investment must be in a reforestation / forestry-plantation project certified by the Ministry of Environment (MiAmbiente). Offered in tiers: a temporary-resident forest-investor permit at a lower threshold (commonly cited around USD 80,000; see separate checklist https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/PERMISO-TEMPORAL-INVERSIONISTAS-FORESTAL.pdf) and a permanent-resident forest-investor permit (from about USD 100,000, with immediate permanent residency around USD 350,000). Investment must be maintained for at least 5 years or the residency is cancelled. Verify current exact amounts against the official checklist PDF.

multiple entry

Permanent residency for foreign nationals who invest their own capital in a Panamanian company that employs Panamanian workers.

Permanent-resident 'Por Razones Económicas' category under Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 2008. Requires a personal investment in a Panamanian business (commonly cited minimum around USD 160,000) plus employment of at least five (5) Panamanian workers registered with social security and paid at least the minimum wage. Investment capital must originate from abroad. Path to naturalization after 5 years of permanent residency. Verify current exact amounts against the official checklist PDF.

multiple entry

Permanent residency for nationals of approximately 50 'friendly nations' who can demonstrate economic ties to Panama.

Established by Executive Decree 226 of July 20, 2021. Open to nationals of approximately 50 'friendly' nations. Requires proof of economic ties to Panama (employment with a Panamanian company, ownership of a Panamanian business, or real estate purchase) and a bank balance of at least USD 5,000 in a Panamanian bank. Grants permanent residency. After 5 years continuous permanent residency, eligible for naturalization. Eligible nationalities include: Germany, Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, South Korea, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Spain, USA, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Paraguay, Poland, Portugal, UK, Czech Republic, Serbia, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Uruguay (approx. 50 nations per Decree 226 of 2021).

multiple entry

Grants immediate permanent residency to foreign retirees who can demonstrate a lifetime monthly pension income from an official or private pension source.

Grants immediate permanent residency (not a temporary visa). Requires proof of lifetime monthly income of at least USD 1,000 from a government pension, social security, military pension, or private pension plan. Income threshold reduces to USD 750/month if applicant purchases Panamanian real estate worth at least USD 100,000. Available to anyone 18 years or older regardless of nationality. Path to citizenship after 5 years of permanent residency. Widely considered one of Panama's most popular residency programs. Accompanied by significant discount benefits (Pensionado card) on healthcare, transport, hotels, and entertainment.

multiple entry

Permanent residency pathway for foreign nationals already residing in Panama who do not meet standard permit requirements, provided they meet humanitarian or demographic criteria.

Official SNM permanent-resident checklist for General Migration Regularization (PRP-RMG, Decree 235). Periodic amnesty/regularization programs. The 'Crisol de Razas' category represents Panama's historical immigration policy welcoming migrants of diverse backgrounds. Activated periodically by executive decree. Not a continuously available visa type.

multiple entry

Permanent or temporary residency for investors, executives, and workers operating within Panama's special economic zones including the Colón Free Zone and Panama Pacífico.

Separate permit regimes exist for the Colón Free Zone, Panama Pacífico Special Economic Area, export processing zones, and film/audiovisual industry investors. Panama Pacífico is governed by Law 41 of 2004. Specific investment and employment thresholds apply per zone.

Temporary humanitarian protection for foreign nationals who cannot safely return to their home country, including asylum seekers and refugees.

Official SNM checklist for the Humanitarian Protection Permit (Permiso de Protección de Seguridad Humanitaria, 2026 decree). Panama is a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. Refugee/asylum applications are processed by the National Office for Refugees (ONPAR) under MIRE. Short-stay humanitarian assistance visa is also listed as a non-resident category on the SNM page.

multiple entry

Permanent residency for foreign nationals who fund a Panamanian fixed-term bank deposit generating a guaranteed monthly interest income, without a lifetime pension.

Permanent-resident 'Políticas Especiales' category under Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 2008. Distinct from the Pensionado/Jubilado program: instead of a lifetime pension, the applicant places a 5-year fixed-term deposit (CD) with the Banco Nacional de Panamá (or an authorized Panamanian bank) whose interest yields a guaranteed monthly income (commonly cited minimum around USD 850/month). Grants permanent residency; renews with the deposit term. Verify current exact amounts against the official checklist PDF.

multiple entry

Temporary then permanent residency for foreign nationals who demonstrate economic solvency through investment in Panamanian real estate or fixed-term bank deposits.

Requires investment of at least USD 300,000 in real estate and/or a Panamanian bank fixed-term deposit (or mixed investment). Grants 2-year temporary residency first, then permanent residency after 2 years. Three sub-options: fixed-term deposit, real estate investment, or mixed investment. Available to all nationalities. Citizenship pathway after 5 years of permanent residency.

270 daysvalid 270d

Allows foreign remote workers employed by or contracted with foreign transnational companies to live and work remotely from Panama for up to 18 months.

Created by Executive Decree 198 of May 7, 2021. Initial stay 9 months, renewable once for a further 9 months (total maximum 18 months). Minimum annual income requirement: B/.36,000 (USD 36,000) from foreign sources. Applicant must be physically present in Panama to apply at SNM Special Processing Window. Must not work for Panamanian companies or local clients. Foreign-source income is not subject to Panamanian income tax under Panama's territorial tax system. Also referenced on ProPanama official site.

multiple entryup to 30d processing

Grants immediate permanent residency to foreign nationals making a qualifying investment in Panama via real estate, securities, or fixed-term bank deposit.

Established by Decreto Ejecutivo 722 (amended by Decrees 109 and 193 of 2024). Grants immediate permanent residency upon approval. Three investment modalities: (1) Real estate: USD 300,000 minimum (valid until October 15, 2026, then increases to USD 500,000); (2) Securities/stocks on Panama Stock Exchange: USD 500,000 minimum for at least 5 years; (3) Fixed-term bank deposit: USD 750,000 minimum for at least 5 years. Investment must originate from abroad and be maintained for at least 5 years. Processing approximately 30 business days. After 5 years of permanent residency, eligible for naturalization. Administered by SNM and MICI.

multiple entry

Visa-free or facilitated entry for holders of diplomatic passports under bilateral agreements, and visas for diplomatic personnel not covered by exemptions.

Diplomatic passport holders of Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Indonesia, Philippines, Republic of China (Taiwan), and Venezuela receive visa-free entry despite those nationalities' ordinary passports requiring visas. Diplomatic personnel accredited to Panama receive MIRE-coordinated courtesy visas. Special commercial/investor visas and former diplomat categories also exist under SNM permit system.