PanamaStudy

Student residence permit in Panama

The permit gives a foreign national the right to live in Panama while studying full time at an institution recognised by the relevant ministry. The category is designed for daytime students: you must enrol on every subject on the curriculum and attend classes during the day. The permit does not allow work — the exception is a placement or internship required by the educational institution. The applicant evidences identity, solvency and admission, and the permit is renewed annually, with official grades.

Source: Servicio Nacional de Migración (Panamá) — Permisos Migratorios

Who files the application

The procedure is much the same for all foreign students, but the documents for minors are prepared differently.

An adult student files for themselves

A criminal record certificate from the country of origin or residence is mandatory
The power of attorney and the application are drawn up in the applicant's own name
Solvency is evidenced by the student or by the responsible person — through a scholarship, funding or a bank letter

For a minor, the parents or guardian file

A criminal record certificate is not required, given the age
A birth certificate and a certified copy of the responsible adult's identity document are also needed
The power of attorney must state the name and nationality of the applicant's parents

When the programme will not suit

You are travelling to Panama on an exchange, placement or internship programme run by a non-profit approved by MEDUCA and you are aged 18 to 30

The permit for participants in educational NGO programmes approved by MEDUCA — a separate category with its own list of documents

You are studying on a Fulbright scholarship

A separate permit for participants in the Fulbright cultural and educational exchange programme

You are studying as a cadet or scholarship holder of a public security agency

A separate category for cadets and scholarship holders of the security agencies — its term is tied to the length of training at the agency itself

You want to study part time, without enrolling on every subject on the curriculum, or on an evening timetable without confirmation from the institution

You must enrol on the full daytime curriculum, or obtain an official certificate from the institution stating that an evening timetable is how this particular programme is arranged

You plan to work formally in Panama rather than only complete a placement required by the educational institution

One of the employment types of temporary residence is needed instead of the education one

What it costs

Application fee in favour of the National TreasuryPaid by a certified bank cheque (cheque certificado).	250 USD
Renewal of the permit — no fee and no criminal record certificateOn renewal the fee and the criminal record certificate are not requested, but official credit results for the previous year are added.	0 USD
Duplicate carné if lost or damagedThe National Immigration Service's general rate for reissuing the carné: 15 for loss and a separate 15 for damage to the document.	+15 USD

Paid separately

Repatriation deposit — For most temporary and permanent residence categories it is 800 in favour of the National Immigration Service, but the law expressly exempts students from this deposit.

Documents to gather

The full pack is filed under a notarised power of attorney; for minors the list is supplemented with documents about the parents or guardian.

A notarised power of attorney and application — the power of attorney must state the name and nationality of the applicant's parents
Three photographs
A certified copy of the passport (by a notary or an authorised body)
A criminal record certificate — for adult applicants
A medical certificate
A completed declaration of personal details form
A bank cheque in favour of the National Treasury
A letter of admission from the educational institution
A receipt or cheque for payment of tuition — original or copy
A certificate from the institution with the applicant's details, the length of the programme, the study shift and the list of subjects enrolled on under the curriculum
A separate certificate from the institution if the programme runs in the evening shift
Proof of solvency — a scholarship document, a funding certificate or a bank letter on the solvency of the applicant or the responsible person for an amount covering study and living costs
A letter of responsibility — where a third party is responsible for the student
Proof of the applicant's place of residence
For minors — additionally a birth certificate and a certified copy of the responsible adult's identity document (a Panamanian identity card or a notarised copy of a valid migrant carné in Panama)

How the process runs

The order combines the requirements of the specific education permit with the National Immigration Service's general rules on considering applications.

1
Assembling documents and drawing up the power of attorney
A notary draws up the power of attorney and the application — the power of attorney must state the name and nationality of the applicant's parents. In parallel, photographs, a certified copy of the passport, a medical certificate, a declaration of personal details, a letter of admission, a receipt for tuition, a certificate from the institution about the programme and proof of solvency are gathered.
2
Paying the fee and filing the application
The applicant pays the bank cheque in favour of the National Treasury and files the full pack with the National Immigration Service. Where the filing is made through the personal account on the service's website, the system first issues a quotation, which is paid at the office, and the receipt is handed in to the certification department.
3
Consideration of the application
up to 60 working days
The National Immigration Service must decide a temporary residence application within no more than sixty working days. If the pack is incomplete or deficient, the applicant is given a further fifteen working days to put it right after being notified.
4
Getting the decision and the carné
After the check the service notifies the outcome by email, and the applicant collects the resolution and the resident carné in person at the office.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work is prohibited. The exception is placements and internships required by the educational institution.

Renewal and the grace period

The renewal is filed with the same pack of documents as the initial permit, but without the criminal record certificate and without the bank cheque. Official credit results for the previous year of study must also be attached.

Frequently asked questions about Student residence permit

Can I work while studying on this permit?

No, the permit is issued exclusively for study, and work is prohibited for its whole duration. The exception is a compulsory professional placement or internship required by the educational institution itself.

Can I study on an evening timetable?

As a general rule you must enrol on every subject on the curriculum in the day shift. An evening timetable is allowed only where the study programme itself is arranged that way, and this must be confirmed by a separate certificate from the educational institution.

Do I have to pay the fee and file a criminal record certificate again on renewal?

No. The renewal is filed with the same pack of documents except the criminal record certificate and the bank cheque, but official credit results for the previous year of study are added.

How long does a temporary residence application take to consider?

As a general rule the National Immigration Service must decide a temporary or permanent residence application within no more than sixty working days. If the pack of documents is incomplete or deficient, the applicant is given a further fifteen working days to put it right after being notified.

Do I have to pay the repatriation deposit, as for other types of temporary residence?

No. The law expressly exempts students from the repatriation deposit, which for most other temporary and permanent residence categories is 800 in favour of the National Immigration Service.

Other ways to move to Panama

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Panama.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.