LIVE & RELOCATE · PANAMA

USD economy. Friendly residency. 3 hours from Miami.

Panama uses the US dollar as its official currency, eliminating exchange-rate risk for USD-denominated investors. Strong banking secrecy tradition (within OECD-compliant frameworks). Strategic position connecting the Americas with a 3-hour flight to Miami. Politically stable since 1990s; pro-foreign-investment legal environment. Friendly Nations Visa offers permanent residency to citizens of 50+ countries through investment or qualifying employment.

RESIDENCY

Multiple residency paths

Multiple residency paths: Friendly Nations Visa (most common, requires investment ~$200K minimum or local employment), Panama Forestry Visa, Pensionado Visa (retirees with $1,000+/month income), and direct investment-based residency. Permanent residency converts to citizenship eligibility after 5 years.

Relocation guide →

TAX

Territorial tax system

Panama operates a territorial tax system: only Panama-source income is taxed. Foreign-source income (dividends from foreign companies, capital gains on foreign investments, salary earned abroad) is generally tax-free for residents. Real estate gains within Panama are taxed at progressive rates with substantial exemptions for primary residence. Annual property tax exemption available for new construction up to 20 years.

Legal & tax overview →

We use cookies for analytics. Necessary cookies are always on. You can change this anytime in the footer.