Start your path to legal Panama citizenship, our clients are approved in as little as a couple of days.
Panama offers one of the most flexible and rewarding citizenship options in the world. Whether you’re relocating for lifestyle, investment, or family reasons, securing citizenship in Panama can open doors to global freedom, low taxes, and long-term stability.
Panama citizenship gives you full legal rights as a national of the Republic of Panama. This includes the ability to live, work, vote, and hold a Panama passport. There are multiple legal paths to become a citizen, including birth, descent, marriage, investment, and naturalization.
The benefits of Panama citizenship go far beyond a travel document. Here’s why so many people are choosing this destination for their second passport:
Whether you want to get citizenship through investment or family ties, the long-term benefits are powerful.
There are several legal paths to becoming a Panamanian citizen. Here’s a breakdown of each option based on Panama nationality law.
If you’re born in Panama, you automatically receive Panama nationality, even if your parents are foreign nationals. This is one of the simplest paths under the Panama citizenship law.
If one or both of your parents were born in Panama, you can apply for Panama citizenship by descent, even if you were born abroad. This also applies to those claiming Panama citizenship by parents or grandparents in many cases.
For investors, the government offers a legal path called citizenship by investment. While it’s not as fast as some other countries, you can qualify for Panama naturalization after five years of residency (or three in special cases) by investing in:
You can’t technically “buy Panama citizenship” or “buy Panama passport” directly, but investment is a valid step in the naturalization process.
If you’re married to a Panamanian citizen, you may qualify for Panama citizenship by marriage. After living together legally in Panama for at least three years, you can start the process to become a citizen.
This is the most common route for expats. To qualify, you must:
To apply for citizenship, you must meet certain legal and procedural requirements:
To get started, the law requires that you hire a Panamanian immigration lawyer. This is not optional, applications must be filed by a licensed attorney under Panama’s naturalization law.
Once you’ve selected your legal advisor, here’s how the full process works:
A Panamanian attorney is required to prepare and submit your application.
You must apply for one of the approved visa types (Friendly Nations, investment, marriage, etc.).
Stay legally in the country for 3 to 5 years depending on your category.
All documents must be translated to Spanish and apostilled in your home country.
Take Citizenship Test
Your lawyer will file your full citizenship application with the Tribunal Electoral.
Upon approval, you will get your Panama ID and Republic of Panama passport.
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.
Meet the lawyers who will guide your journey, experts in Panamanian immigration law, fluent in English, and dedicated to helping remote professionals like you make a successful move to Panama. You’re not just hiring a service, you’re gaining trusted legal allies.
If you’re looking for a second passport, low taxes, and a safe place to live or invest, getting citizenship in Panama may be the smartest move for your future.However, if you’re not sure about this visa, you should see what other applicants are saying. Reading real experiences from clients can help you decide if this is the right path for your goals.
Panama generally allows dual citizenship in practice, though it doesn’t officially recognize it under all circumstances. The key is not to renounce your previous nationality unless required. Many Americans and Europeans keep both passports without issue.
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Yes. While Panama doesn’t officially promote dual nationality, it allows it in practice. Many people keep their original passport and also hold a Panama second passport.
You must legally reside in Panama for five years (or three if married to a Panamanian) before applying. The naturalization approval process typically takes 12–24 months after submission.
There’s no direct way to buy Panama citizenship. However, investment residency options can lead to citizenship over time if you fulfill the required conditions and live in Panama legally.
While Panama’s law technically requires renouncing your prior nationality during naturalization, in practice, many applicants retain dual citizenship. Panama does not enforce the renunciation unless it’s also confirmed by the applicant’s original country — making dual citizenship widely accepted in real-world cases.
Panama is among the most accessible countries for citizenship through legal residency, thanks to its Friendly Nations Visa and low physical presence requirements. Other relatively easy options include Argentina, Mexico, and Paraguay — but Panama stands out for its fast processing, tax benefits, and global access.
To get permanent residency in Panama, you must apply under a qualifying visa such as the Friendly Nations Visa. This typically requires citizenship from an eligible country, a local economic connection (like property ownership, a business, or employment), a clean police record, and a local bank deposit.
