Panama Digital Nomad Visa 2026: Income, Documents, Fees

Who it is for

The Servicio Nacional de Migración (SNM) requirements sheet describes the Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto, a short-stay visa for remote workers, as created within the non-resident (No Residente) migration category. It says the applicant must work remotely (teleworking), either under a contract with a foreign company of transnational character (the sheet says 'como operativo') or as a self-employed worker, and that the work must have its effects abroad, not in Panama. The income must come from a foreign source, with an annual amount of not less than B/.36,000.00 or its equivalent in foreign currency. ProPanamá says Executive Decree 198 of 7 May 2021 created the visa; the Procuraduría de la Administración's Infojurídica legal information system lists it in Gaceta Oficial 29290-A of 20 May 2021.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto propanama.gob.pa: Visa para Nómadas Digitales infojuridica.procuraduria-admon.gob.pa: Infojurídica, Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021

Income proof and the employer letter

For a worker under contract with a foreign company, the SNM sheet lists a company letter signed by the legal representative. It must give the applicant's general data, position and functions, a monthly income of not less than B/.3,000.00 or its equivalent in foreign currency, how often it is paid, and that it comes from a foreign source. It must also state the work mode (remote work) and a commitment to cover return or repatriation costs. The sheet also lists proof that the foreign company exists. All applicants, including the self-employed, must prove that their income comes from abroad with one or more of these: a bank certification showing that the income comes from abroad and is linked to the declared work, or a statement from a foreign or local bank, with the issuing bank's authentication seals, showing the transfer of the funds and its link to the declared work.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto

If you are self-employed

For a self-employed or independent worker, the sheet says the applicant must meet the same requirements except numerals 10 and 11 of its list (the foreign-company certificate and the company letter), and provide other documents instead. These are a certificate of the applicant's own company, duly registered abroad, through which the business will be done, and a sworn declaration before a notary describing the business relationship with clients. The declaration must include full names, the general data of the applicant and the clients, the services provided, how much is earned, the source of the funds and how often payments are received.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto

Insurance and other documents

The sheet lists a notarised power of attorney and application (the power must contain the parents' name and nationality); three photographs; a certified copy of the passport (notarised or authenticated); a criminal record certificate; a health certificate; the sworn personal-background declaration form; and the application form with a commitment to bear return or repatriation costs. A copy of a medical insurance policy is also listed; it must keep cover in the national territory and be valid for the period of stay. ProPanamá says the criminal record certificate, and the company letter if issued abroad, must be legalised by Apostille or through a consulate. Under Executive Decree 198, all documents issued abroad must meet article 247 of Executive Decree 320 of 8 August 2008: apostille, or authentication by Panama's embassy or consulate in the issuing country and by Panama's Ministry of Foreign Affairs; translation by a public translator authorised in Panama if not in Spanish; and a conversion into dollars, by a competent entity, of any foreign-currency amount.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto propanama.gob.pa: Visa para Nómadas Digitales propanama.mici.gob.pa: Decreto Ejecutivo No. 198 de 7 de mayo de 2021, Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 29290-A gacetas.procuraduria-admon.gob.pa: Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 26104, Decreto Ejecutivo No. 320 de 8 de agosto de 2008

How to apply and what it costs

ProPanamá says the application is presented at the Ventanilla de Trámites Especiales of the SNM headquarters, through a legal representative (apoderado legal), and that the applicant must already have entered Panamanian territory. It also says an applicant of restricted nationality must first request an authorised visa and then apply under this modality. Executive Decree 198 says a foreigner whose nationality has no visa-waiver agreement, or is restricted, must undergo the corresponding checks before approval. The SNM sheet lists a payment of B/.250.00 in favour of the Servicio Nacional de Migración and says the cost of the corresponding card (carné) is B/.50.00.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto propanama.gob.pa: Visa para Nómadas Digitales propanama.mici.gob.pa: Decreto Ejecutivo No. 198 de 7 de mayo de 2021, Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 29290-A

How long it lasts and renewal

The SNM sheet says the visa lasts nine (9) months and can be extended once for the same period. ProPanamá describes it as granted for a maximum of 9 months, extendable for 9 more. To request the extension, the sheet says the applicant must meet the same requirements as for the first application, including the income documents of its article 4: the bank certification or the bank statement. The visa sits in the non-resident category: article 46 of Executive Decree 320 of 2008, as modified by Decree 198, says a short-stay visa is for a foreigner who enters Panama without the intention of establishing residence there.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto propanama.gob.pa: Visa para Nómadas Digitales propanama.mici.gob.pa: Decreto Ejecutivo No. 198 de 7 de mayo de 2021, Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 29290-A infojuridica.procuraduria-admon.gob.pa: Infojurídica, Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021

Restrictions

The SNM sheet says that once granted, the visa gives the right to work in remote-work mode in Panama, and the holder will not need to carry out any additional procedure or obtain any permit from another state entity, whether to work or to reside in the country. The sheet lists a signed sworn declaration that the applicant does not accept a job or service offer in the national territory, with nationals, residents, tourists or companies, to carry out business in Panama. Executive Decree 198 says the visa is cancelled if the holder comes to represent the foreign company for local activities.

migracion.gob.pa: Requisitos para solicitar visa de corta estancia como trabajador remoto propanama.mici.gob.pa: Decreto Ejecutivo No. 198 de 7 de mayo de 2021, Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 29290-A infojuridica.procuraduria-admon.gob.pa: Infojurídica, Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021

What this page does not cover

This page does not cover processing times, family members or dependants, tax treatment, the minimum amount of medical insurance cover, or the list of nationalities that need prior checks. Check the official pages for them.