PANAMA PROFESSIONAL VISA; COMPLETE GUIDE 2025

The professional visa grants residency and work permit to certain individuals who hold specific university degrees such as bachelor, master and doctorate.  Our expert immigration lawyers will advise professionals whether they are eligible to apply for Panama professional visa or not. We analyze & evaluate your degree, diploma and field of study in order to assess your qualifications and conform with the Panama immigration laws.

 The great news is that, no need for a company to sponsor you or have a current employment to apply for professional visa.  The professional visa initially grants professionals temporary residency for 2 years as well as work permit. After 2 years, our immigration attorneys will apply and obtain permanent residency for professionals.  

PANAMA PROTECTED PROFESSIONS

• Accounting
• Agricultural Sciences
• Barbering and Cosmetology
• Chemical Laboratory Technicians
• Chemistry
• Chiropractors
• Computer Science
• Dental assistant
• Economy
• Engineer
• Engineering and Architecture
• Journalism
• Law
• Medical Assistant
• Medical radiology
• Medicine/Doctor
• Nursing
• Nutrition
• Odontology (Dentists)
• Pharmacy
• Physiotherapy
• Professor
• Psychology
• Public Relations
• Social Work
• Sociology
• Speech Therapy, therapists and similar
• Veterinary

If you are not sure whether your degree qualifies you to obtain professional visa, we suggest to consult with one of our Panama immigration lawyers now!

DOCUMENTS & ELIGIBILITY OF PROFESSIONAL VISA

Once your degree qualifies you and have received homogolation and equivalency from Universidad de Panama, you can  apply for professional visa.  Professional applicants must submit the following documents to the immigration office via their attorneys.

• Valid passport 
• Five passport-size photos
• Apostiled copy of your university diploma, along with academic transcripts.
• Certification of University of Panama
• Proof of professional experience, if applicable.
• Police clearance report ( to be apostiled) 
• Proof of financial solvency, such as a bank reference letter.
• Panama Health certificate
• Proof of payment of government fees 
• Visa application form with official government stamps.

HOW TO QUALIFY & OBTAIN PROFESSIONAL VISA? 

Our expert immigration attorneys can qualify you and obtain your professional visa in Panama.  You need to consult with us and we’ll inform you if you can apply for professional visa. Panama has specific regulations on professions permitted to foreign nationals and certain careers are reserved for Panamanian citizens only. However, there are limited professions that allow foreign professionals to obtain professional visa residency through the Panamanian immigration office.

Professional Visa Processing Time

Professional visa approval may take few months and it depends on applicant’s documentation. Most visa applications would take between 2 -6 months to be approved from the time we submit your professional visa application.

In order to submit for professional visa, it is required to submit your degree and transcript of your credits to the University of Panama for validation process (equivalency and homologación). This process may take between 3 to 5 months depends on academic credentials, type of university, etc.  A fee of $500. is required to be paid to the University of Panama for equivalency and homoglocion.  

Can I obtain permanent residency with my professional visa? 

 YES. Once we apply for your professional visa, immigration office will grant temporary visa to you and after 2 years, we can apply and obtain permanent residency for you.

Can I obtain Panama Passport?

Generally speaking, foreign nationals who are permanent resident of Panama can apply to become Panama citizens and also obtain Panama passport after 5 years.  Professionals who are considering  to relocate to Panama, we suggest to consult with our expert immigration lawyers for eligibility, documentation and compliance.

CAN MY DEPENDENTS RECEIVE RESIDENCY VISA?

Yes, dependents such as a spouse and minor children can be included in the application for the professional visa. However, it is required that apostiled marriage certificate and birth certificates of minor children to be submitted with the application.

APPLY FOR PROFESSIONAL VISA TODAY! 

Applying for the Panama Professional Visa includes submitting properly verified documents.  Our expert immigration attorneys assists professionals throughout the process, guarateeing the visa application meets all immigration requirements. 

CONSULT WITH OUR EXPERT ATTORNEYS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE ELIGIBIE FOR PROFESSIONAL VISA