Procedure guide · Immigration and citizenship
Panama Pensionado Visa (Retirement Visa)
Requirements, documents, costs and steps to get permanent residency in Panama as a retiree or pensioner with a lifetime pension.
- Minimum pension
- USD 1,000 a month
- Residency
- Permanent
- Process
- Through a Panamanian lawyer
- Updated
On this page
In short
The Pensionado Visa grants permanent residency in Panama to anyone receiving a lifetime pension of at least USD 1,000 a month, or USD 750 a month if they also own a home in Panama worth more than USD 100,000. A Panamanian lawyer files the application with the National Immigration Service.
Requirements
- Receive a lifetime pension or retirement income of at least USD 1,000 a month, paid by a government agency or a private company.
- Or receive a lifetime pension of at least USD 750 a month and own a home in Panama worth more than USD 100,000.
- A valid passport.
- No criminal record.
- Proof of good health with a medical certificate issued in Panama.
- File the application through a Panamanian lawyer.
What does this visa give you?
- Permanent residency in Panama and a resident ID card.
- Access to the discounts that Panamanian law grants to retirees and pensioners, for example on transportation, leisure, restaurants and medical services.
- A tax exemption to import your household goods and a vehicle, within the limits set by law.
It is not a work permit: if you want to work in Panama, you need a separate permit.
Required documents
Passport
Full copy authenticated by a notary in Panama.
- Apostille or legalisation
Pension certificate
Issued by the paying entity: amount, lifetime nature and start date.
- Apostille or legalisation
Criminal record certificate
From your country of origin or residence.
Health certificate
Issued by a doctor in Panama.
Passport-size photographs
- Apostille or legalisation
Marriage and birth certificates
Only if you include your spouse or children as dependents.
Public Registry certificate for the home
Only for the option with property.
Step by step
01
Gather the documents in your home country
Request the pension certificate and the criminal record, and have them apostilled or legalized.
02
Travel to Panama
You need to be in Panama to start the process.
03
Your lawyer files the application
With the National Immigration Service, with the translated documents. While it is being processed, you receive a provisional ID card.
04
Collect your permanent resident ID card
Once the application is approved, Immigration issues the final card.
05
Apply for the foreigner identity card (cédula)
With your residency approved you can apply for it at the Electoral Tribunal. It makes dealing with banks and other procedures easier.
Costs
- Official government feesThe ID card and processing costs still apply.
- Exempt from the USD 250 fee and the USD 800 repatriation deposit
- Lawyer's feesThe application is filed by a Panamanian lawyer.
- Depends on the case
- Apostilles, translations and health certificateDepends on your home country and the number of documents.
- Variable
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum age for the Pensionado Visa?
No. What is required is that the pension is for life and reaches the minimum amount, not a specific age.
Can I work in Panama with the Pensionado Visa?
It does not include a work permit. If you want to work in Panama you need a separate permit; investing in or holding a stake in a company is possible, but you should review it with a lawyer.
Can I include my family?
Yes, by showing an additional USD 250 a month for each dependent. Spouses can combine their pensions to reach the minimum. Children receive a temporary permit up to age 25 if they are studying, but not permanent residency or pensionado status. For other relatives, see family reunification.
Is my pension taxed in Panama?
As a general rule, Panama taxes only Panamanian-source income, and a pension paid from abroad is usually not taxed there (territorial taxation). How it is taxed in your home country depends on its law and any applicable treaties (see receiving your foreign pension).
What if I don't have a lifetime pension?
If you live on your savings, consider the retired investor residency, which requires interest income from a fixed-term deposit in a state bank, or the economic solvency residency.