The Friendly Nations Visa remains one of Panama's most popular residency programs for citizens of qualifying countries, including the United States and Canada. However, much of the information available online is outdated. Many articles, videos, and forum discussions still describe requirements that no longer apply, which can leave you with an outdated picture of the program. This guide explains what changed, who still qualifies, and how to find out where you stand before you start gathering documents.
What Changed Since 2021
Before August 2021, you could qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa under a much simpler set of requirements. The program granted immediate permanent residency, and a modest bank deposit was often enough to establish a qualifying connection to Panama.
The program changed significantly after that point. Today, you must demonstrate a qualifying professional or economic connection to Panama, and the process now begins with two years of provisional residency before you can apply for permanent residency, a sharp shift from the immediate permanent residency the program once offered.
Because of this shift, content published before the change, including many older articles, videos, and forum posts, no longer reflects how the program actually works. Anyone researching the Friendly Nations Visa in 2026 should confirm that the source they are reading was written, or recently updated, with the current rules in mind.
The Three Pathways to Qualify Today
Under the current program, you establish your qualifying connection to Panama through one of three pathways.
- Employment. You need a valid employment contract with a company legally established in Panama, along with Social Security registration (CSS) and a work permit from the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL). There are two ways to structure this:
- Company sponsored. A Panamanian company, or the local branch of a foreign company registered to operate in Panama, offers you a position and employs you directly. What you will need:
- Valid employment contract with a registered Panamanian company
- Work permit approval
- Social Security registration
- Payroll compliance
- Employer must demonstrate legitimate business activity
- Corporate self sponsorship. You form or acquire a Panamanian corporation and structure it to legitimately employ you. When done correctly, this gives you full business control and a path to permanent residency within the same structure. Our team can help you set this up correctly from the start. What the authorities expect to see:
- Proper corporate formation and maintenance
- Demonstrable business purpose
- Active payroll setup
- Work permit approval
- Social Security compliance
- Company sponsored. A Panamanian company, or the local branch of a foreign company registered to operate in Panama, offers you a position and employs you directly. What you will need:
- Real estate investment. You purchase Panamanian real estate with a registered value of at least 200,000 USD, free of liens, either in your personal name or through a qualifying corporate structure.
- Fixed term bank deposit. You place at least 200,000 USD into a fixed term deposit with a general license bank in Panama, held for a minimum of three years.
Whichever pathway applies to you, the process begins with provisional residency, typically lasting two years, before you can apply for permanent residency.
If none of the three pathways above match your situation, for example if you receive a qualifying pension or work remotely for a company based outside Panama, another residency program may be a better starting point. Take a few minutes to explore all visa options and find the one that fits your circumstances.
Can Americans and Canadians Still Apply
Yes. If you are a citizen of the United States or Canada, you remain eligible under Panama's Friendly Nations program. The list also includes the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and most countries in the European Union, among more than fifty eligible countries in total.
Nationality alone, however, is not enough. You must also satisfy the current legal requirements described above and demonstrate a qualifying connection to Panama through one of the three pathways.
For a complete overview of eligibility requirements, the full list of eligible countries, and application procedures, visit the Friendly Nations Visa page.
View the full list of eligible countries
Americas
- Argentina
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Mexico
- Paraguay
- Peru
- United States
- Uruguay
Europe
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa
- Australia
- Hong Kong
- Israel
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Singapore
- South Africa
- South Korea
This list reflects the countries most commonly recognized as eligible under the current Friendly Nations program. Country lists can be updated by the Panamanian government, so if your country is not shown here, or you want to confirm your specific situation, use the eligibility check on the Friendly Nations Visa page or get in touch with us directly.
Is the Friendly Nations Visa Still Worth It
For many professionals, business owners, investors, and individuals seeking a long term relocation option, the answer is yes.
The Friendly Nations Visa continues to provide a pathway to permanent residency, and after five years of permanent residency, you may apply for Panamanian citizenship.
Panama remains one of the most attractive residency destinations in Latin America, due to its stability, territorial tax system, modern infrastructure, and strategic location between North and South America.
Common Misconceptions
The current requirements lead to a number of misunderstandings. Here are the questions we hear most often.
No. This is one of the most common misconceptions about the Friendly Nations Visa. Before August 2021, a modest bank deposit was often enough to qualify. Under the current program, you must demonstrate one of three qualifying connections to Panama: employment with a Panamanian company, a real estate investment of at least 200,000 USD, or a fixed term bank deposit of at least 200,000 USD held for three years.
No. You can begin the residency process while continuing to live at your primary residence outside Panama. An in person visit to Panama is required at certain stages of the process, but full time relocation is not required to start or maintain your application.
Yes. A spouse and dependent children can be included under your residency application as dependents.
Every application is different, depending on which pathway applies to you and how organized your supporting documents are. However, when the process is properly planned, document preparation can often be completed within a matter of weeks.
How to Determine Eligibility
The first step is confirming whether your nationality is on Panama's Friendly Nations list. Citizens of the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and many European countries continue to qualify. You can check your nationality instantly using the Friendly Nations eligibility checker.
If your nationality qualifies, the next step is determining whether your professional or economic connection meets the current program requirements. For a complete picture of where you stand and which of the three pathways fits your situation, book a strategy call with our team.
Helping clients obtain Panama residency since 2015, with a 100% success rate across more than 500 applications, backed by our in house team of licensed Panamanian immigration lawyers and local residency coordinators.