Panama has positioned itself as one of the most attractive destinations for remote workers since the launch of its visa, which allows you to live and work in the country for 9 months.
Panama is a unique and exotic country that offers great networking and professional opportunities for digital nomads.
Therefore, I could not miss the opportunity to talk about the Panama digital nomad visa, and today, I’ll be covering the application requirements, the steps to apply for it, and even the advantages and disadvantages that it offers.
Before we start, here’s a brief summary to get you started with some important information!
- The visa has a relatively long list of requirements to apply for it.
- All procedures are carried out in person.
- The waiting time to obtain the visa is approximately 40 days.
- The duration of the visa is 9 months, and can be extended for the same amount of time.
- It is a visa suitable for all remote workers whose work originates outside the country.
How to apply for the Panama digital nomad visa?
To obtain a Panama digital nomad visa, you need to apply in person, either in your country of origin, or in Panama if you are already there, of course!
To make your life a little easier, I have compiled all the steps you need to follow to obtain the visa. Let’s take a look!
- Make an appointment with the embassy or consulate of Panama. In the following link, you will find contact information for the various Panamanian embassies around the world.
- Gather all the necessary documentation to present. I will tell you about this in detail later!
- Go to your appointment and fill in the application form in person. You will also have to hand in your supporting documents!
- Pay the corresponding fees and wait for the visa approval.
It’s as easy as that! Although, I do have a spoiler for you: Panama’s immigration office is already developing a digital portal to carry out the process online.
Visa delivery time
Once your visa application has been submitted, the waiting time for a decision is estimated to be around 40 working days.
However, if you meet the requirements and have followed each step correctly in the application process, you will have nothing to worry about!
How does the Panama digital nomad visa work?
In recent years, more and more digital nomads are choosing to live and work remotely in different countries around the world, and many countries continue to join this wave!
Panama is one of them, and since 2021 it has allowed digital nomads to work remotely in the country, as long as they fulfil a series of requirements.
Among the most relevant are: having a contract with a foreign company or working independently with clients abroad, having health insurance for the duration of the stay, and having sufficient income to subsist in the country.
In addition, it allows remote workers to stay in the country for a maximum of 9 months, although it is extendable for a further 9 months, making a total of 18 months residing in Panama!
The main objective of this visa is to encourage business tourism and teleworking in the country. For this reason, Panama has decided to join the list of countries with visas for digital nomads.
✅ Pros of the digital nomad visa for Panama
- Digital nomads working for foreign companies do not have to pay taxes.
- The visa allows you to live and work in Panama for a total of 9 months, which is renewable for another 9 months.
- Living expenses in the country are low.
- There are great networking options and an excellent internet infrastructure.
- There are no restrictions regarding nationality or activities performed as a remote worker.
❌ Cons of the digital nomad visa for Panama
- It has a long list of requirements to be fulfilled to obtain the visa.
- The waiting time is estimated at 40 days.
- The application can only be made in person.
Panama digital nomad visa requirements
The requirements to apply for the visa are presented on the official website of the Republic of Panama, but here I will summarise and explain the most important points for you.
Take note!
- Have a passport valid for 3 months from the date of entry into the country.
- Fill in the application form issued by the Panamanian embassy or consulate.
- Have certified copies of your passport.
- Present 3 passport-size photographs (51 x 51 mm).
- Have proof of sufficient funds, at least USD 36,000 per year, and provide proof of these funds with bank statements.
- Have a clean criminal record and a medical certificate proving good health.
- Take out medical insurance to cover your entire stay in Panama.
- Have an affidavit of refusal to accept any work in Panama.
- Present the following documents if you work for a foreign company:
- Type of work carried out.
- Monthly income.
- Affidavit with commercial operations, services offered, characteristics of clients, and expected income.
- Evidence of the existence of the company outside Panama.
- Valid employment contract.
- In addition, you must remember that all documents issued abroad must be notarised and apostilled.
What activities are permitted and prohibited?
In relation to permitted and prohibited activities in the country, there is only one condition: that any work must originate from outside Panama.
This means that under the Panama digital nomad visa, you may only work for companies located outside of Panama, or, if you are self-employed, for a portfolio of clients located outside of Panama.
What nationalities are allowed to apply?
With regard to nationalities, Panama does not impose any restrictions. It is enough to be of legal age and prove an income of at least 36,000 US dollars per year.
Is it possible to apply for the digital nomad visa if you are in Panama?
Currently, it is not possible to apply for the visa online, which means that it is necessary to go to the Panamanian embassy or consulate in your country to complete all the procedures.
However, Panama offers the possibility for digital nomads to apply directly from within the country if they are already there — a great advantage!
Can I bring a partner or children with me on the digital nomad visa for Panama?
To find out if you can bring a partner or children with you on the Panama digital nomad visa, you need to contact the Panamanian embassy or consulate. If they approve, they will provide you with the necessary documentation.
Is travel insurance mandatory for Panama?
As you’ve seen from the requirements, having travel insurance for the duration of your stay is a prerequisite to applying for the Panama digital nomad visa.
In fact, the official Panama tourism website stresses the importance of travelling to the country with a policy that covers any issues, medical or otherwise!
Thus, I couldn’t leave without providing you with the best travel insurance to Panama for digital nomads like us. Let’s take a look!
Best travel insurance for Panama
To select the best travel insurance for digital nomads travelling to Panama, it is essential to take into account not only the characteristics of the country, but also the way of life of digital nomads.
After years of travelling and carrying out research, I’ve found that the best policy to insure your trip to Panama is the following.
Get a 5% discount on Heymondo until 11/09/2024. Get in quick!
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- Fill in your trip info
- Click on “Calculate Price”.
- All done! The discount will be applied automatically.
Some of the most useful benefits of Hey Mondo travel insurance for digital nomads include:
- 24/7 assistance platform.
- Repatriation and early return.
- Travel expenses for a family member if you are hospitalised for over a week.
Comparison of insurance policies to Panama
In addition to this policy, there are many others that can cover your stay in Panama as a digital nomad that you should know about. It never hurts to see what other insurance companies have to offer and what their prices are!
Here is a comparative table so you can find the ideal policy for you.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️⭐️ | ⭐️⭐️ | |
Long Stay Premium | Cap Adventure | IATI Insurance | Nomad | Explorer | |
Price for 3 months | 210€ | 174€ | 338€ | 126€ | 195€ |
Discount in September 2024 | – 15% | – 15% for families | – 5% | ❌ | ❌ |
Activate Discount | Activate Discount | Activate Discount | Get a Free Quote | Get a Free Quote | |
Legal assistance | 12.000€ | 13.000€ | 3.000€ | ❌ | ❌ |
Medical expenses | 500.000 € | 1.000.000€ | 200.000€ | 222.600€ | £10,000,000 |
Hospitalization | 200.000€ | Actual costs | 500.000€ | 250.000€ | £10,000,000 |
Theft or loss of luggage | Optional | 2.500€ | 2.000€ | 2.670€ | £2000 |
Repatriation | Actual costs | Actual costs | Actual costs | 17.800€ | Actual costs |
Sports activities | Optional | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ |
Phone theft | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
Camera or drone theft | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ |
Recommended | All types of stays | All types of stays | All types of stays | Digital nomad | All types of stays |
Review | HeyMondo insurance | Chapka insurance | IATI travel insurance | SafetyWing insurance | Word Nomads Insurance |
Discounts | Promo Code HeyMondo | Promo Code Chapka | Promo Code IATI |
How to travel to Panama at the best price?
Now that you have all the information you need to apply for the digital nomad visa for Panama, all that remains is for me to share my tips to save money on your travels!
After years of travelling, I’ve compiled a number of tricks to save money while abroad.
Today, I’ll tell you what they are to help you save money on your journeys as a digital nomad. They take a little time and effort on your part, but trust me, they can make a world of difference!
How to find cheap flights to Panama
Perhaps one of the most expensive aspects of travelling to Panama is the flight, as life in the country is relatively cheap. To find the cheapest flights, I always use a VPN. VPNs allow you to relocate your device on different servers to find cheaper flights — great news!
In September 2024, get an immediate 70% discount on AtlasVPN
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Once you’ve got your VPN, head over to Skyscanner to find flights at reduced prices!
How to find cheap accommodation in Panama
Accommodation is undoubtedly one of the top concerns of every digital nomad. After all, travelling to Panama on a nomad visa means spending a long time in the country, so finding bargains is crucial — so remember to check out Booking, and their Genius option!
Access Booking.com now and get discounts of up to 15% in September 2024 by becoming a Genius user.
There are also ways to save money when booking your accommodation with Booking. The first of which is becoming a Genius user, something you get from making 2 bookings (Genius level 1), and 5 bookings (Genius level 2).
As a Genius user in Booking.com, you can enjoy:
- Discounts on room rates.
- Free breakfast.
- Upgrades to superior room categories.
- Free parking.
- Late check-out.
- Welcome gifts.
In addition, there are hotels in Booking.com that directly offer you a 10 to 15% discount on your rate for being a Genius user.
Access to get discounts of up to 15% by becoming a Genius user.
Finally, Booking.com has a Minimum Price Guarantee program, so if you find a cheaper price for your hotel on any other website, they’ll match it!
How to book activities in Panama at the best price
When you travel as a digital nomad, it’s not all about work! That’s why we’re always on the lookout for activities and things to do at our destination. In the case of Panama, you’ll find plenty of exciting of options at low prices, thanks to GetYourGuide’s discounts.
GetYourGuide is an indispensable tool for organising any trip to any destination. It’s a platform that helps you book tourism and leisure activities for your trip.
With GetYourGuide, you can book your activities online to avoid queues, and take advantage of a discount for online bookings. This way, you save time and money, so you can enjoy more activities during your trip!
Which bank card to use in Panama
Finding the right card to use abroad is no easy task, as many of them charge nasty fees. It’s taken me several years, but I have now found the perfect card! This card will allow you to save on your travels when making transactions and transfers overseas.
If you travel frequently, the Revolut Metal Card is another great way to save money. For starters, they offer you unlimited currency exchanges without paying any fees!
This Card allows you to make unlimited domestic transfers free of charge, and withdraw up to £800 a month from international ATMs.
If you spent £650 abroad in a month using a standard card, and withdrew £350 at ATMs, you would have paid around £44 in fees.
With the Revolut Metal card, you would have paid £0 in fees.
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Countries with digital nomad visas in September 2024
Panama has now joined the list of countries with visas for digital nomads. Want to know more? Take a look at this comparative table of all these countries, where I’ve highlighted the most important features of each one!
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Planet-Nomad.com | |||||
41 / 195 | Trend in | Duration | Tax | Mandatory insurance | Proof |
COUNTRIES | September 2024 | in month | to pay | See recommanded | of income |
Anguila | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Antigua Barbuda | 24 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Aruba | 3 | $75 | Yes | No | |
Barbados | 12 | $2000 | Yes | Yes | |
Bermuda | 12 | $260 | Yes | Yes | |
Brazil | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cape Verde | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Colombia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Costa Rica | 24 | $550 | Yes | Yes | |
Croatia | 12 | $155 | Yes | Yes | |
Curaçao | 6 | $300 | Yes | No | |
Cyprus | 12 | $65 | Yes | Yes | |
Dominica | 18 | $900 | Yes | Yes | |
Ecuador | 24 | $450 | Yes | Yes | |
United Arab Emirates | 12 | $610 | Yes | Yes | |
Estonia | 12 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Georgia | 12 | $35 | Yes | Yes | |
Germany | 36 | $100 | Yes | Yes | |
Grenada | 12 | $1500 | Yes | Yes | |
Greece | 12 | $90 | Yes | Yes | |
Hungria | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Iceland | 6 | $60 | Yes | Yes | |
Indonesia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Italy | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Latvia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Cayman Islands | 24 | $1470 | Yes | Yes | |
Seychelles Islands | 12 | $50 | Yes | Yes | |
Malta | 6 | $315 | Yes | Yes | |
Malaysia | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes | |
Mauritius | 12 | $0 | Yes | Yes | |
Mexico | 12 | $45 | Yes | Yes | |
Montserrat | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Norway | 48 | $630 | Yes | Yes | |
Panama | 9 | $300 | Yes | Yes | |
Portugal | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Czech Republic | 12 | $165 | Yes | Yes | |
Romania | 12 | $125 | Yes | Yes | |
Saint Lucia | 12 | $70 | Yes | Yes | |
Spain | 🆕 | 🆕 | – | – | |
Sri Lanka | 12 | $500 | Yes | Yes | |
Thailand | 🆕 | 🆕 | Yes | Yes |
If you want to know more about these visas for digital nomads, I recommend you to click on this link to my article specifically dedicated to the subject. You will find more useful information, and an updated map of the countries.
Now, all that is left is for me to wish you best of luck in your application for the Panama digital nomad visa!
