Moving to Panama

Decreto Ejecutivo 226 of 20 July 2021, Decreto Ley 3 of 22 February 2008 and Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008. The property and the deposit may be held personally, by a company or by a private foundation in which the applicant is the ultimate beneficial owner. The requirements contain no list of friendly countries.

Ley 9 of 24 June 1987, Decreto Ley 3 of 22 February 2008, Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008, articles 200–203 as amended by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 of 2 March 2009. Spouses may combine their pensions to reach the minimum of 1,000 balboa together.

Ley 9 of 24 June 1987, Decreto Ley 3 of 22 February 2008, Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008, articles 196–199 as amended by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 of 2 March 2009. In the Migración Panamá requirements the category is designated as temporary residence (PPT-RR), although it is listed under permanent residence. Withdrawing the deposit at any time after the first five years and breaching Ley 9 de 1987 forfeit the benefits and rights conferred by that law.

Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008, articles 191–195 as amended by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 of 2 March 2009, Decreto Ley 3 of 22 February 2008. The property may be registered to a private foundation or to a joint-stock company with registered shares; bearer shares are not accepted. If the property costs more than 300,000 balboa, the balance may be funded by a mortgage from a local bank. The amounts for the Inversionista Macro Empresa and Inversión Forestal subcategories are published separately.

Decreto Ejecutivo 198 of 7 May 2021, Decreto Ley 3 of 2008, Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008. Income from abroad is evidenced by a bank certificate or by a statement from a foreign or Panamanian bank bearing the issuing bank's stamps and showing the transfer of funds. Volunteers on social programmes and participants in student exchanges are granted the extension without paying for immigration services.

Decreto Ley 3 of 22 February 2008, Decreto Ejecutivo 320 of 8 August 2008, articles 150–155 as amended by Decreto Ejecutivo 26 of 11 March 2009. For a minor the application is filed by the parents or guardian, adding a birth certificate and a certified copy of the responsible person's identity document. Separate subcategories apply to participants in NGO programmes approved by MEDUCA, to Fulbright scholars and to cadets of public security agencies.

The permanent residence section has separate categories of its own — Casado con Panameño, Dependiente de Residente Permanente and Extranjeros con Hijos Panameños — each with its own requirements.

Decreto No. 13 of 1 August 2025: the Electoral Tribunal's basic knowledge exam is compulsory. Exempt are nationals of Spain and Latin American countries whose country exempts Panamanians (a certified statement is required), and those who studied the required subjects at schools and universities in Panama.