Are you looking for a simple way to obtain permanent residency in Panama? The Friendly Nations Visa is exactly what you need. This updated 2025 guide shows how, with our legal support, you can secure your visa in as little as 3 days. Let’s explore the process together.
The Friendly Nations Visa in Panama is a residency-by-connection program that allows citizens of eligible countries to apply for Panamanian residency through professional or economic ties. Originally offering immediate permanent residency, Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa was modified in 2021. Currently, applicants are granted a two-year provisional residency, and after that provisional period, they become eligible to apply for permanent residency in the country.
Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa Program underwent significant changes in 2021. Therefore, if you’re considering this path, it’s essential to understand the updated 2025 requirements, the application process, and the most efficient way to obtain it.
The Panama Friendly Nations Visa is one of the most accessible and cost-effective ways to obtain legal residency for citizens of countries with which Panama maintains strong economic ties. It doesn´t require you to live in Panama full time, making it an attractive option for professionals, remote workers, and investors. This program has long been a preferred choice among expats seeking to relocate to Panama and start a new life in the country.
The most important requirement for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa is to be a citizen of one of the countries eligible for this immigration program. As of 2025, more than 50 countries qualify for the FNV, including the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Below is the full Panama Friendly Nations Visa list in detail.
If your country is not on the list, you may not qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa, but you can explore other visa options on our Panama Visa page. On the other hand, if you are from one of the eligible countries, congratulations, you may already be just one step away from starting a new life in Panama, provided you meet the new requirements set by the government.
Since the changes to the Friendly Nations Visa in August 2021, many expats remain unsure about what exactly has changed with Panama’s program. To make it clear, we’ve prepared a simple overview for you:
As a result, these changes were introduced to reduce abuse of the system and ensure applicants are genuinely integrating into Panama’s economy.
After the 2021 reforms, the requirements for the Panama friendly nations visa, also known as the friendly visa panama, became stricter and applicants must now prove genuine ties to the country. Today, applicants for the Friendly Nations Visa must demonstrate a real connection to Panama, which generally falls into one of three categories:
Job offer from a Panamanian company: You can qualify if a Panamanian company with real operations in the country offers you employment. The company must be legally established, registered with the Social Security system, and employ at least 10 Panamanian workers as required by labor law.
Fixed-term deposit: Place a $200,000 Certificate of Deposit (CD) in a Panamanian bank for a minimum of 3 years. The funds must remain untouched during this period.
Real estate investment: Make a real estate investment of at least $200,000 (bank financing is allowed). After 2 years, you must demonstrate that the property is still in your name in order to apply for permanent residency.
WarningCertain “immigration attorneys” still recommend creating a company in your own name and applying as its employee to obtain the Friendly Nations Visa. This practice was abolished in August 2021, and many applicants who pursue it face rejection or are deemed ineligible for permanent residency. If the sponsoring company lacks genuine substance, a physical office, and registered Panamanian employees, it may even result in penalties. The Immigration Office clearly establishes only three valid pathways to qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa (sometimes written as the friendly nation visa panama), which can be verified on the official website of Migracion. For this reason, it’s crucial to work with a qualified panama friendly nations visa lawyer who will safeguard your application and ensure your residency is approved without complications.
While opening a company in your own name is no longer a valid way to obtain the Friendly Nations Visa without the $200,000 investment, there is still a proven and fully legal alternative. Agroup Consulting was the first firm to implement this solution, and today we are ready to share it with you.
In general, the Panama Friendly Nations Visa cost can vary depending on your situation and the service provider you choose.
Here’s a breakdown of the friendly nations visa costs:
Keep in mind, these are just estimate. If you work with a friendly nations visa lawyer, you’ll get precise cost estimates and guidance to avoid unnecessary expenses.
As of 2025, the Panama Friendly Nations Visa process remains the same. Below are the key steps when applying with Agroup Consulting.
Under Panamanian law (Decree Law No. 3 of 2008, Article 28), all visa applications must be filed through a licensed immigration attorney. Our Panama immigration attorneys will guide you from the first consultation, making sure every requirement is met, and stay with you until your residency is officially approved.
Since this visa allows applicants to qualify through different paths, choosing the right one is essential. Our team reviews your profile and guides you toward the route that is most cost-effective, straightforward, and best aligned with your case.
The next step is to collect the required documents for your visa, such as police clearance certificates, proof of financial solvency, and, if applying with family, marriage and birth certificates. All documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish. Don’t worry, our team will guide you step by step in obtaining these documents and the necessary apostilles in your home country.
Once your documents have been reviewed and approved by our attorneys, we will schedule your first trip to Panama. You should plan to stay at least three days in Panama City to complete the visa application process. Upon arrival, our team will pick you up from the airport and have all documents ready for your signature. Within a maximum of three days, we will accompany you to the National Immigration Service to file your application.
Within three days, we make sure your visa application is filed and you receive a provisional residency card valid for six months. During this period, you can either stay in Panama or return to your home country. Once the Immigration Office finishes processing your 2-year temporary residency card, our team will notify you and personally accompany you to “Migracion” to collect it.
After maintaining your temporary residency for two years, you become eligible to apply for permanent residency. Before your temporary card expires, our attorneys will reach out to begin the process. The procedure is similar to your initial application: you will first receive a provisional residency card valid for six months while the Immigration Office reviews your case. Once your permanent residency is issued, our team will notify you and personally accompany you to the National Immigration Service (Migración) to collect it. With this final step, your immigration process is officially complete.
Warning:The steps outlined above reflect the process carried out exclusively by our attorneys, backed by more than 15 years of experience and a record of 0% visa rejections. Thanks to this expertise, most applications are finalized in just 3 days. Working with traditional firms often results in longer waiting times, and incomplete documentation can significantly increase the risk of delays or even a visa denial.
At Agroup Consulting, we work with top Panama immigration attorneys specializing in the Friendly Nations Visa. With over 15 years of experience, a 0% denial rate, and the trust of more than 100 expats in Panama, our firm delivers trusted services that help you secure residency with complete confidence.
Ultimately, the Friendly Nations Visa Panama is still one of the most straightforward and affordable ways to gain legal residency in Latin America. Despite the friendly nations visa panama changes, the program remains attractive for expats, investors, and professionals looking to relocate to a dynamic, low-tax country.
If you’re from one of the Friendly Nations Visa countries and ready to start your journey, then this is the visa for you. Furthermore, With the right guidance, your transition to Panama can be smooth, fast, and successful. As a result, you can focus on building your new life without stress.
The Panama residency Friendly Nations program ideal for:
With low taxes, warm weather, and a strategic location, Panama continues to attract foreigners who want a better life in Latin America. The Panama friendly nations visa program is your legal door in.
USA
“I visited Panama back in 2021 and completely fell in love with the place. Unfortunately, by the time I was ready to come back in 2022 the $10K visa option was no longer available. I really wasn’t looking to invest $200K just to get residency. Agroup connected me with a great lawyer who helped me find a legal way to get the visa without that big investment. I’d definitely recommend this firm.”
United Kingdom
“Many thanks for your support with both my visa and the property purchase. I truly appreciated the professionalism throughout. I hope we’ll have the chance to work together again in the future.”
Canada
Yes, you can still qualify for the Panama Friendly Nations Visa without making a $200,000 investment in real estate or a bank deposit. Through our Job-Offer option, eligible applicants can obtain residency under a valid Panamanian employment offer. This pathway does not require you to buy property or open a local bank account with a large deposit. Instead, we handle the process by registering your employment, coordinating with Panama’s immigration authorities, and ensuring full legal compliance. It’s a faster, more affordable alternative for professionals seeking residency without upfront investment.
Once your 2-year provisional residency expires, you can apply for permanent residency in Panama. This process involves submitting a new application through your attorney, updating your personal documents, and proving that you have maintained legal status during the provisional period. Once approved, permanent residency allows you to live in Panama indefinitely, with no further renewals required.
The Friendly Nations Visa process typically takes 6 to 9 months from start to provisional residency approval, depending on how quickly your documents are prepared and which immigration office you file through. The initial step, gathering and legalizing documents, takes about 2 to 4 weeks. Once submitted to Panama’s immigration authority, applications are usually approved within 4 to 6 months in Panama City or 5 to 7 months in regional offices like David. After approval, it takes an additional 2 to 8 weeks to receive your residency card. Applicants can apply for permanent residency after holding provisional status for two years, which adds another 4 to 6 months to the total timeline when the renewal process starts. While some firms promise “fast-track” options, the realistic, document-based process spans roughly 7 to 12 months in total.
Yes, but you must apply for a separate work permit after receiving your provisional residency. The Friendly Nations Visa grants you residency status, but it does not automatically include the right to work in Panama. To be legally employed, you must submit a work permit application to the Ministry of Labor (MITRADEL) after your visa is approved.
Yes, you can include your spouse, children under 18, and children up to 25 if they are full-time students and financially dependent on you. You may also include dependent parents. Required documents include apostilled marriage or birth certificates, proof of dependency, and additional application fees per dependent. Including family members under the Friendly Nations Visa is common and fully allowed under Panamanian immigration law.
Yes, under Panamanian law, applications for the Friendly Nations Visa must be submitted by a qualified, licensed lawyer. This is not optional: SNM (National Migration Service) only accepts visa files formally presented by a licensed attorney. The legal basis is in Panama’s immigration regulations, which require qualified lawyer representation for most residency permits, including the Friendly Nations Visa. Attempting to apply without one will result in automatic rejection.
The Friendly Nations Visa is available to citizens of over 50 countries that maintain friendly economic and professional ties with Panama. This includes the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, most European Union countries, Australia, New Zealand, and several Latin American nations. The official list is determined by Panama’s immigration authority and may be updated, so we recommend checking with a legal advisor or consulting the most recent government resolution to confirm your country’s eligibility.
It was a legal residency option for citizens of Friendly Nations who didn’t want to invest $200,000. Until mid‑2021, applicants could qualify by depositing $5,000 in a Panamanian bank and showing a job offer or their own company. This granted a 2-year provisional residency. However, this option is no longer available under the current immigration law. Today, the standard options require a $200,000 investment or verified employment with a Panamanian company
At Agroup Consulting, we’ve helped hundreds of clients through the friendly nations visa process, from the first consultation to final residency approval.
Let our team guide you through the legal steps, costs, and requirements so you can focus on building your future in Panama.
