PANAMA FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA; COMPLETE GUIDE 2025
Panama Friendly Nations Visa was first introduced in 2012 to encourage foreign investment in Panama. This program stands out as one of the most popular visa programs that provides citizens of 50 friendly nations, a streamlined path to permanent residency, work permit as well as Panama citizenship and passport.
Citizens of the Friendly Nations Visa are not required to maintain strict physical presence in Panama, which makes it convenient for visa holders to do business remotely. In addition, Friendly nations citizens can apply for Panamanian citizenship and passport after 5 years of permanent residency. At Panama Legal Center, we assist citizens of 50 friendly nations to obtain their permanent residency.
✅ Benefits of the Friendly Nations Visa
Panama has long been recognized as one of the most attractive destinations for expats, investors, and retirees and offers many residency visa programs to investors. Summary of the Friendly Nations Visa benefits are listed below;
✔ Permanent Residency: Citizens of 50 friendly nations can apply and receive permanent residency, allowing them to live, and do business in Panama.
✔ Work Permit: Friendly nations visa holders can apply and obtain work permit in Panama.
✔ Path to Citizenship & Panama Passport: After five years of residency, citizens of 50 friendly nations are eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship and obtain Panama passport.
✔ Tax Benefits: Panama does not tax investors that their income is derived from abroad.
✔ Business Opportunities: Investors can benefit from special business opportunities available to them in Panama.
✅ HOW TO OBTAIN FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA?
This visa program allows citizens of 50 “friendly nations” to apply for permanent residency once they establish financial ties with Panama. Friendly nations Visa applicants may choose from one of the three (3) following programs in order to qualify for Friendly Nations Visa.
✔ Employment Program:
Applicants need to be employed by a Panamanian company
✔ Real Estate Investment Program:
Applicants need to invest a minimum of $200,000. in real estate properties in Panama.
✔ Fixed Term Deposit Program:
Applicants need to deposit a minimum of $200,000. in a local Panama bank for 3 years.
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✅ Who Is Qualified to Apply For Friendly Nations Visa?
To qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa, applicants must be citizens of one of the countries included on Panama’s official “friendly nations” list. These include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, all European Union countries, and several Latin American nations. In addition to nationality criteria, applicants must demonstrate economic ties to Panama as follows;
- Employment in Panama: Citizens must be employed by a Panamanian company
- Investment in Panama: Citizens are required to invest in Panama real estate or deposit a minimum amount of $200,000. with a local bank in Panama.
✅ Required Documents
Applying for the Friendly Nations Visa requires several documents including:
- Valid passport with at least six months of validity remaining
- Apostilled Police background check from the applicant’s country of residence
- Proof of financial ties (by employment or investment in Panama)
NOTE: All foreign documents must be apostilled and authenticated Panamanian consulate.
How Friendly Nations Visa Process Works?
The application for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa typically involves several steps:
- Initial Consultation: Our lawyers discuss eligibility of the applicants and advise them of the required documents.
- Entry into Panama: Applicants must enter Panama as tourists to begin their visa process.
- Documents: Gather all the required documents including proof of financial ties.
- Submission of required documents: Our attorneys submit your visa application to the Immigration office for approval.
LIST OF 50 FRIENDLY NATIONS
Andora, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, San Marino, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, South Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States of America, Uruguay.
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✅ Friendly Nations Visa; Residency Process
PROVISIONAL VISA RESIDENCY: Upon your arrival in Panama, and passport affiliation with the Panama immigration office, our attorneys submit the required documents for residency approval. Upon the immigration review and approval, clients will be photographed and granted a provisional visa I D that is valid for 6 months.
PERMANENT VISA RESIDENCY: Within 4-6 months, immigration office advises Panama Legal Center’s attorneys that applicant’s residency request has been approved, and client need to fly back to Panama to be photographed. Permanent residency will be granted to friendly nations citizens after 2 years.
WHAT IS PANAMA TAX RESIDENCY?
To qualify for a tax residency certificate; Friendly nations visa citizens must be residing a minimum of 183 days in Panama.
Requirements for tax residency certificate
- Notarized copy of your passport
- E-Cedula
- Proof of address in Panama
- Proof of business activity that generates income in Panama
- Proof of residency status
- Details of tax treaty
- Tax year certificate
WE ASSIST OUR CLIENTS WITH TAX RESIDENCY CERTIFICATE
✔ E-CEDULA ID CARD:
Applicants can apply for the E-Cédula (Panama official identification card) after receiving their permanent residency. The E-cedula is issued by the Panama Tribunal Electoral and must be renewed at the expiration date. At, Panama Legal Center, our attorneys would assist clients to get their E-Cedula by soliciting an appointment to process the E-Cedula issuance.
How to Open a Bank Account in Panama?
Our immigration lawyers assist Friendly Nations Visa citizens to open a bank account in a local bank in Panama. Panamanian banks require a valid passport, proof of income, bank references, and proof of Panama residency to open bank account.
Why Choose Our Immigration Lawyers?
✅Licensing, Testimonials and Professional Reputation
Panama Legal Center’s attorneys are fully licensed to practice immigration law in Panama and testimonials of our clients speak for our reputation and quality of our legal services. TESTIMONIALS
✅ Expertise in Panama Immigration Law
Our attorneys have more than 15 years of experience handling hundreds of immigration cases such as friendly nations visa, investors visa and pensionado visa.
✅Strong Communication Skills
Our trusted attorneys have strong communication skills and strive to maintain clear communication throughout the process.
✅Personalized Approach
Our attorneys, we recognize personalized attention is the key and we provide customized solution that aligns with client’s profile.
Friendly Nations Visa & Permanent Residency
We, at Panama Legal Center understand the friendly nations visa requirements and qualification process to successfully assist friendly nations citizens to obtain residency. Our immigration attorneys, with more than 15 yrs of experience ensure that applicants comply with the Panama law in order the visa application is approved.
We suggest consulting with our immigration attorneys to find out if you qualify for friendly nations visa.
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EMAIL: customer@panamalegalcenter.com
WHATSAPP: +(507)6404-0388