Countries › Panama › Guide › 8. Immigration › Panama's remote worker visa: B/.36,000 of foreign income, nine months renewable once, B/.250 fee and no local work

Panama's remote worker visa: B/.36,000 of foreign income, nine months renewable once, B/.250 fee and no local work

Last verified: 2026-10-29 · Status: Stable

Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 created a short stay visa for remote workers employed by a foreign company or self employed through a foreign business, whose work takes effect abroad and who earn at least B/.36,000 a year from foreign sources. It lasts nine months, renewable once for the same period, costs B/.250 plus B/.50 for the card, and lets the holder work remotely and stay without any other permit. Health insurance valid in Panama is required, and the visa is cancelled if the holder starts representing the foreign company in local activities.

Panama's currency, the balboa (B/.), is at par with the US dollar, which circulates as legal tender; the Superintendencia de Bancos states that the balboa's value is on a par with the US dollar (checked 29 October 2026). USD figures therefore equal the balboa figures.

Key facts

Remote worker visa: minimum annual foreign income	36000 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 1, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Remote worker visa: minimum monthly income in the employer letter	3000 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 2, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Remote worker visa: duration	9 monthsDecreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 1, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Remote worker visa: migration fee	250 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 2, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Remote worker visa: card cost	50 PABDecreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 1, as of 2026-10-29 · in force
Exchange rate used for USD conversions	1 PAB per USDBalboa at par with the US dollar (Superintendencia de Bancos), as of 2026-10-29 · in force

The rule

1. The remote worker short stay visa, in the non resident category, is open to foreigners who have a contract with a foreign transnational company or are self employed, work remotely, perform functions that take effect abroad and earn foreign source income of at least B/.36,000 a year. Once granted, the holder may work remotely in Panama without any other procedure or permit to work or stay. It lasts nine months, renewable once for the same period, and the card costs B/.50.
Cost to do it: B/.250 migration fee plus B/.50 card (US$300), plus health insurance and legal fees.
Example: Income B/.3,000 a month (B/.36,000 a year). / US$3,000 a month (US$36,000 a year).Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 7 de mayo de 2021 (Gaceta Oficial 29290-A), art. 1, 2021-05-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29

2. Besides the common requirements of Decreto Ley 3 art. 28 except its fee and deposit numeral, the applicant files: the application form with a commitment to pay return costs; three photos; health insurance valid in Panama for the whole stay; proof of the foreign company's existence; a company letter stating position, functions, monthly income of at least B/.3,000 from foreign sources, remote modality and repatriation commitment; a sworn statement not to accept job or service offers in Panama; and payment of B/.250 to the Servicio Nacional de Migración.Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021, art. 2, 2021-05-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29

3. Self employed applicants replace the company documents with proof of their own business registered abroad and a notarized sworn statement describing their clients, services, fees, source of funds and payment frequency. All applicants prove foreign income with a bank certificate or an authenticated bank statement showing the transfers.Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021, arts. 3 and 4, 2021-05-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29

4. The extension requires the same documents again. Nationals without a visa waiver agreement or of restricted nationality undergo the corresponding checks. If the holder starts representing the foreign company in local activities, the visa is cancelled.Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021, arts. 5, 6 and 7, 2021-05-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29

5. Short stay visas may be requested by foreigners entering without intention to settle, for up to nine months; the remote worker visa may be extended only once for the same period.Decreto Ejecutivo 320 de 2008 art. 46 as worded by Decreto Ejecutivo 198 de 2021 art. 8, art. 46, 2021-05-07 official text · verified 2026-10-29

Worked example

A software developer paid US$4,000 a month by a US company (US$48,000 a year) applies: B/.250 plus B/.50 (US$300) in government payments, nine months of stay, then one nine month extension, 18 months in total.
Advising a Panamanian client on the side would breach the sworn statement and could be treated as unauthorized work.

Step by step

Collect the employer letter (or self employed sworn statement), foreign company proof, bank evidence of foreign income and Panama valid health insurance.
Apostille and translate foreign documents; get a criminal record and health certificate.
File through a lawyer and pay B/.250; collect the card for B/.50.
Before month nine, file the single extension with fresh documents; plan a residence route if you want to stay longer.

Common traps

The visa is not residence: time on it is a short stay and it cannot be extended more than once.
Income must be foreign source and paid by the foreign employer or clients; local clients or a local payroll defeat the test.
Representing the foreign employer in local business activities cancels the visa.
Tax residence is a separate question; see the taxes section.

Sources

← Retiring to Panama: the pensionado residence with a B/.1,000 lifetime pension, the rentista retirado with Banco Nacional deposits, and the Ley 9 de 1987 import benefitsWorking in Panama as a foreigner: matching a residence permit to the job, the professional residence, international company executives, SEM staff and employer fines →

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