Panama's remote worker visa lets people employed by or contracting with companies outside Panama stay up to 9 months, renewable once for 9 more. You need at least $36,000 a year in foreign income. Panama uses the US dollar and taxes only Panama-source income.
Checked against the sources at the end on November 3, 2026. This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and fees change, so confirm with the official source before you apply.
At a glance
| Item | What to know |
|---|---|
| Visit first | Up to 180 days as a tourist |
| Route for remote workers | Short-stay visa for remote workers (Executive Decree 198 of 2021) |
| Money you need to show | At least $36,000 a year ($3,000 a month) from work outside Panama |
| Length | Up to 9 months, renewable once for up to 9 more |
| Government fees | $250 government fee to the National Migration Service, plus lawyer, apostille and translation costs |
| Timeline | Not published |
| Where you apply | From inside Panama, through a Panamanian lawyer who files in person at the National Migration Service (SNM) |
| Family | Not clearly covered; ask SNM which category applies to a spouse or children |
| Long-term residence | The remote worker visa doesn't lead to residency. Longer routes include the Pensionado visa (a lifetime pension of at least $1,000 a month) and the Friendly Nations visa, which now requires a job or investment in Panama |
| US taxes | Still due every year. See our US taxes and banking guide |
Who qualifies
Panama's remote worker visa lets people employed by or contracting with companies outside Panama stay up to 9 months, renewable once for 9 more. You need at least $36,000 a year in foreign income. Panama uses the US dollar and taxes only Panama-source income.
- Remote employees of companies outside Panama: yes.
- Freelancers and business owners: yes.
- Income: At least $36,000 a year ($3,000 a month) from work outside Panama. That's about $3,000 a month.
Documents
Order US documents first: apostilles and FBI checks are the slowest part.
- Passport and a power of attorney for your Panamanian lawyer
- Police certificate (FBI check, apostilled)
- Health certificate and photos
- Letter or certificate from your foreign employer or company
- Bank statements showing the foreign income
- International health insurance valid in Panama for your whole stay
- Receipt for the $250 fee
Step by step from the US
- Check your numbers: at least $36,000 a year from outside Panama, with bank statements to show it.
- Order your FBI background check and apostille it, along with your employer letter.
- Buy international health insurance valid in Panama for your whole stay.
- Arrive and hire a Panamanian lawyer to file at the National Migration Service.
- Plan ahead for renewal before the 9 months end; you can renew once.
Taxes
- Panama taxes only Panama-source income, so pay from abroad generally isn't taxed there
- No US-Panama income tax treaty or totalization agreement
- US citizens still file a US return every year. The foreign earned income exclusion is up to $132,900 for 2026; the foreign tax credit is the alternative. See our US taxes guide.
Common mistakes
- Planning to file it yourself: a Panamanian lawyer files it
- Bringing US documents without apostilles
- Treating the renewal as automatic: you get one, and it isn't guaranteed
Where to live in Panama
Our city guides cover costs in dollars, neighborhoods, live weather and the time difference: Panama City.
Moving with a partner or kids? See Moving abroad with family.
Sources
Checked on November 3, 2026. Where sources disagree, we say so above.
- Servicio Nacional de Migración de Panamá (official)
- Digital Nomad World: Panama digital nomad visa (checked against PROPANAMA, Oct 7, 2026)
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