Panama Friendly Nations Visa (Países Amigos)

The Friendly Nations route is residence through a genuine economic tie with Panama, not a donation: the property or the deposit stays yours. The Panamanian balboa (B/.) is at par with the US dollar, so B/. 200,000 is the same as US$200,000.

What is the Panama Friendly Nations visa?

The Panama Friendly Nations visa, known in Spanish as Países Amigos, is a residence permit reserved for nationals of 51 listed countries. It was created by Executive Decree 416 of 13 June 2012 and amended by Executive Decrees 197 of 7 May 2021, 226 of 20 July 2021 and 16 of 31 August 2026. The current requirements are on the Servicio Nacional de Migración (SNM) requirement sheet PPT-PE, read on 9 October 2026. The route grants a two-year provisional residence permit first and then permanent residence.

Friendly Nations gives residence, not nationality and not a passport. Panama has no citizenship by investment; for the difference, see residency versus citizenship.

Which countries qualify for Panama's Friendly Nations visa in 2026?

Nationals of 51 countries qualify for the Panama Friendly Nations visa in 2026, as listed in article 2 of Executive Decree 416 of 2012 as amended. Executive Decree 16 of 31 August 2026 added Ecuador, in force from 1 September 2026; the text of Decree 16 is published by the SNM. Eligibility follows your nationality, so check your passport against the table.

Germany, Switzerland, Austria, the United Kingdom, the United States and Canada are all on the list. Italy is not: Italian nationals have their own treaty route, which is permanent from the grant and needs no investment, explained on our Panama residency for Italians page. Taiwan, Iceland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Colombia, Venezuela and India are not on the list either (checked against the decree text on 26 September 2026). Not sure whether your nationality qualifies? Ask a Mirabello specialist to check it before you commit capital.

What economic tie does the Friendly Nations visa require?

The Friendly Nations visa requires one of three economic ties with Panama: real estate worth at least B/. 200,000, a B/. 200,000 fixed-term deposit with a three-year term, or an employment relationship with a Panamanian company. Any one of the three is enough.

• Real estate of at least B/. 200,000. Local bank financing is permitted. The property may be held in your own name, through a company of which you are the final beneficial owner, or through a private interest foundation. The SNM sheet states no holding period for this option.
• A B/. 200,000 fixed-term deposit, free of encumbrance, with a term of three years.
• An employment relationship with a Panamanian company. The sheet sets no investment amount for this option, but working in Panama needs its own permit (see below).

The two years of the provisional permit are a permit period, not a holding period. To see which tie suits your capital and plans, book a free consultation.

How does the application work, step by step?

• 1. Confirm eligibility. Your nationality must be on the list of 51 countries.
• 2. Establish the economic tie. Buy the property, open the three-year deposit or secure the Panamanian employment.
• 3. Apply for the provisional permit on SNM sheet PPT-PE, with the evidence of the tie, a criminal-record certificate and the government cheques.
• 4. Hold the provisional permit for two years.
• 5. Apply for permanent residence on SNM sheet PPP-PE, which repeats the requirements except the criminal-record certificate and the cheque.

No official processing time is published for either stage, so we confirm the current timeline for your case rather than quote a figure.

What does the Friendly Nations visa cost in government fees?

The Friendly Nations provisional permit carries two government payments by certified cheque: B/. 250 to the National Treasury and B/. 800 to the Servicio Nacional de Migración, according to SNM sheet PPT-PE. The economic tie itself, legal fees, translations and document legalisation are separate costs. For a costed plan for your family, speak to a Mirabello specialist.

Can you work in Panama with Friendly Nations residence?

Friendly Nations residence does not by itself give the right to work in Panama. The recitals of Executive Decree 16 of 2026 state that the permanent residence does not exempt the holder from a work permit from the Ministry of Labour (MITRADEL) under the authorised categories, and does not grant the right to practise professions regulated by special laws. If you plan to work locally, the work permit is a separate application.

Can you include your family?

Family members can be included in a Friendly Nations application as dependants. Each dependant files a letter of responsibility from the main applicant and proof of the relationship: a marriage certificate, birth certificates or judicial proof of guardianship. Dependants aged 18 to under 25 also show proof of full-time study and a sworn declaration that they are single. The main applicant proves economic solvency with an income-tax return showing at least B/. 1,000 a month plus B/. 100 for each dependant, or with a current employment letter, a payslip or social-security record and a copy of the work permit.

Do you have to live in Panama?

No minimum stay is set for the Friendly Nations route, and we found no presence rule for the two-year provisional phase. Once you hold permanent residence, it may be cancelled after an absence from Panama of more than two years, unless the absence is justified and authorised by the SNM Director (Decreto Ley 3 of 2008, article 31(3)). We read the 2008 text and have not yet checked later amendments, so we confirm the current position before you plan a long absence. Time in Panama matters separately for naturalisation and for tax residence.

Does Friendly Nations residence lead to Panamanian citizenship?

Friendly Nations residence can lead to Panamanian citizenship through ordinary naturalisation under article 10 of the Constitution: five consecutive years of residence, an express declaration renouncing your nationality of origin, and proof of Spanish and of basic knowledge of Panama's geography, history and political organisation. The period is three years with a Panamanian spouse, or with children born in Panama to a Panamanian parent. Under reciprocity, nationals by birth of some listed countries may qualify sooner: two years of permanent residence for Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru and Spain, and three years for Uruguay. We confirm how the provisional period counts for your case. Read more in our guide to Panama fast-track residency and citizenship by nationality.

Does Panama tax income from abroad?

Panama taxes only Panama-source income, at progressive rates of 0% up to US$11,000, 15% from US$11,000 to US$50,000 and 25% above that. Foreign-source capital gains are not taxed under this territorial rule, and there is no inheritance or estate tax. Tax follows tax residence, not the permit, so your current country may still tax you while you remain resident there. This is general information, not tax advice.

Friendly Nations or Qualified Investor: which route fits you?

Friendly Nations suits nationals of a listed country who want a lower entry amount and can wait two years for permanent status; the Qualified Investor visa suits investors who want permanent residence from day one. The Panama Qualified Investor visa grants permanent residence directly under Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026, from US$300,000 in new first-sale property.

Decree 17 sets no deadline on these amounts; see our analysis of the Qualified Investor thresholds in 2026. If you are retired with a pension, the Panama Pensionado visa grants permanent residence on income rather than capital. For a side-by-side view, see our golden visa and residence by investment guide and the retirement and passive-income residency guide. If you are weighing Friendly Nations against Qualified Investor, book a free consultation and we will model both for your family.

What changed in 2026, and which claims are out of date?

• "The list has fewer than 51 countries." Out of date. Decree 16 of 31 August 2026 added Ecuador from 1 September 2026, bringing the list to 51.
• "A bank deposit of about US$5,000 is enough." Not on the current SNM sheet. The economic tie is B/. 200,000 in property, a B/. 200,000 three-year deposit or Panamanian employment.
• "You get permanent residence straight away." No. The route starts with a two-year provisional permit.
• "Permanent residence lets you work." No. A MITRADEL work permit is still needed.
• "Italians qualify." No. Italy is not on the list; Italians use the treaty route.
• "It leads to a passport by investment." No. Panama has no citizenship by investment; nationality comes only through naturalisation.

Ask Mira, by Mirabello

For a first answer at any hour, ask Mira, by Mirabello, the AI advisor of Mirabello Immigration Intelligence. Mira reads the same verified programme data as this page and can check whether your nationality is on the list. A specialist then confirms the details that decide your case.

How Mirabello Consultancy helps

Mirabello Consultancy confirms your eligibility against the decree list, helps you choose the economic tie that fits your capital, prepares the file for the provisional and permanent stages, and coordinates the application in Panama through licensed local counsel. To start, book a free, confidential consultation.