Panama requires $36,000 income for the 18 month Visa de Corta Estancia

Panama's remote-worker visa and Tocumen flight network

Panama runs 430 weekly direct flights to 24 cities in North America and 363 weekly direct flights to 22 cities in Central America and the Caribbean, per the country's tourism authority. Direct connections from Europe and South America also route through Tocumen International Airport, the hub the government markets as the "Hub of the Americas."

The remote-worker track, formally the Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto, was created under Executive Decree No. 198 of May 7, 2021. It runs nine months and can be extended once for another nine months, the Servicio Nacional de Migración said. The migration site was last updated in 2026 and continues to list the program as active.

Who the rules cover

The visa targets foreign employees and self-employed workers earning foreign-source income, so telework from Panama City is permitted without a separate work or residence permit from another agency. Tourists benefit indirectly because Tocumen's route density cuts connection times across the Americas.

Travelers bringing pets face a separate process. Tocumen publishes its own animal-entry rules, including advance notification and health paperwork. Yellow fever vaccination isn't a routine entry requirement, though tourism officials advise checking health guidance before departure.

Costs, income floor and paperwork

Applicants must show foreign-source income of at least B/.36,000 per year (roughly $36,000, as the balboa is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar), health insurance valid in Panama, a clean criminal record and signed affidavits with passport documents.

Fees are set by the migration authority:

• Application: B/.250
• Visa card: B/.50
• Self-employed applicants: proof of a foreign-registered business plus a sworn statement covering clients, services, income and payment frequency
• Employees: proof of foreign employment and salary

Renewal requires reapplying before the initial nine-month term expires. Permit holders who let the visa lapse lose the single extension and must restart the process.

For airport logistics, pet rules and connecting flight planning, check Tocumen's official notices before booking. More nomad news on Latin American visa tracks is posted weekly.

Read our full Panama guide for the complete picture.