Residency through income
Retired Rentier Visa
For those able to place a fixed-term deposit with Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros whose interest -and interest alone- produces monthly income of at least US$850. It also gives access to the Panamanian Special Passport.
What it involves
What this category is
Granted to foreign nationals who place funds in a fixed-term deposit at a Panamanian state bank -Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros- so that the monthly income comes exclusively from the interest on that deposit.
The central condition is that the fixed-term deposit certificate remains free of liens, guarantees or mortgages for a minimum of 5 years.
Legal basisLaw 9 of 24 June 1987
Who it is for
- People with available capital who prefer bank income over an operating investment.
- Those who want to live in Panama without depending on a pension or local employment.
- Those seeking access to the Panamanian Special Passport for travel.
- Families adding dependents to the same deposit.
Key figures
The numbers and timelines that matter
- Minimum monthly income
- US$850, from interest only
- Where it is deposited
- Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros
- Deposit term
- Minimum 5 years, free of liens
- Validity
- 5 years, renewable for the same period
- Work permit
- Does not allow work as an employee
- Path to citizenship
- Naturalization after 5 years of continuous residency
Documentation
Required documents
Every foreign document must be submitted translated into Spanish and legalized through an apostille or Panamanian consular authentication.
- Notarized power of attorney and application.
- Five photographs.
- Notarized copy of the passport.
- Criminal record certificate.
- Certificate of good health issued by a physician licensed in Panama.
- Sworn statement of personal background.
- Bank certification evidencing the deposit amount, the interest generated, the term and that it is free of liens.
- Copy of the fixed-term deposit certificate authenticated by the bank.
- For dependents: letter of responsibility, proof of family relationship and proof of address in Panama.
- For dependents over 18: single-status certificate and proof of studies.
How we work
The process, stage by stage
Setting up the deposit
The fixed-term deposit is opened at the state bank and the bank certification evidencing the monthly interest is obtained.
Preparing the file
The power of attorney and application are notarized, and criminal record, health certificate and dependents' documents are gathered.
Filing
The application is filed with the immigration authority together with payment of the corresponding fees.
Decision and special passport
Once the visa is approved, the holder and dependents may immediately apply for the Panamanian Special Passport.
Additional considerations
- If the funds are withdrawn early or the deposit is encumbered, both the visa and the associated special passport are lost.
- The criminal record certificate does not need to be repeated at renewal.
- It does not allow work as an employee, but it does allow investing and owning a business.
- The Panamanian Special Passport -also called the Panama Traveler Passport- states the holder's country of origin alongside their resident status and does not grant Panamanian citizenship. Its validity matches that of the deposit certificate, up to 5 years and extendable, and it gives visa-free access to more than 80 countries.
- Depending on the prevailing interest rate, reaching US$850 per month usually requires a deposit of around US$350,000.
The amounts, timelines and requirements on this page summarize the immigration rules in force at the time of review and may change by decree. This information is general, does not constitute legal advice and does not guarantee approval of any application: each case must be assessed individually.
Content reviewed in July 2026
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