Residency through income
Retiree and Pensioner Visa
One of Panama's most established residency programs. It grants permanent residency to people receiving a lifetime pension or retirement income, with no age limit, along with a broad set of discounts for resident pensioners.
What it involves
What this category is
A program created in the 1980s that grants permanent residency to foreign nationals receiving a lifetime pension or retirement income paid by a government entity or by a regulated private entity.
There is no minimum or maximum age to apply. What matters is that the income is for life and can be documented, not the applicant's age.
Legal basisExecutive Decree 320 of 2008
Who it is for
- Retirees with a lifetime state or private pension.
- Recipients of a lifetime disability or survivor's pension.
- Couples in which one spouse receives the pension and wishes to include the other.
- Those with somewhat lower income who supplement it by purchasing a home in Panama.
Key figures
The numbers and timelines that matter
- Minimum income
- US$1,000 per month, for life
- Alternative
- US$750 per month, plus the purchase of a property in Panama worth at least US$100,000
- Spouse included
- US$250 in additional monthly income, or joint income
- Estimated timeline
- 3 to 6 months
- Outcome
- Permanent residency
- Work permit
- Not included
Documentation
Required documents
Every foreign document must be submitted translated into Spanish and legalized through an apostille or Panamanian consular authentication.
- Passport valid for at least 6 months.
- Five passport-type photographs, 2x2 inches.
- Apostilled criminal record certificate, valid for 6 months.
- Letter from the paying entity certifying the lifetime income, apostilled, valid for 6 months.
- Health certificate issued in Panama.
- Signed sworn statement.
- Proof of address in Panama: a utility bill, lease agreement or hotel letter.
- If the pension is private: letter from the administrator, certificate of the company's existence, certificate authorizing it to administer pensions, and the last three bank statements evidencing payment, all apostilled and valid for 6 months.
- If including a spouse: apostilled marriage certificate and evidence of the additional US$250 in monthly income.
How we work
The process, stage by stage
Document gathering
We prepare and apostille the pension letter, the criminal record certificate and the rest of the file.
Travel to Panama
The application is filed and the photo registration for the temporary residency card is completed.
Waiting for a decision
The immigration authority reviews the file, usually within 3 to 6 months.
Final card
Once permanent residency is approved, a second visit is arranged to collect the final card.
Additional considerations
- The program grants discounts of 15% to 50% on healthcare, restaurants, transport, entertainment and hotels.
- It includes a one-time exemption from import taxes on household goods of up to US$10,000.
- It allows an exemption from import taxes on one vehicle every two years.
- It does not grant a work permit: taking up employment in Panama requires a separate, additional process.
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
Let us assess whether this category fits your case
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