What changed in Panama

Gains on crypto sold through foreign exchanges are untaxed, with no holding period needed

Crypto tax and legal status

Local incorporation is easy, and foreign-source profit stays untaxed

Moving your company

Panama's only 'special regime' is its universal territorial system, and it never expires

Personal income tax

Panama's non-taxation doesn't shield you from home-country reporting

Crypto tax and legal status

No exit, wealth or inheritance tax touches your crypto either

Crypto tax and legal status

Private investor vs professional trader isn't codified for crypto

Crypto tax and legal status

Staking, mining and yield follow the same source rule, with no bright line

Crypto tax and legal status

Gains sourced through a Panama-based platform or business aren't clearly settled

Crypto tax and legal status

Crypto is legal to hold and trade, but Panama has no dedicated regulatory framework

Crypto tax and legal status

Public healthcare (CSS/MINSA) follows contributions, not residency status

Healthcare coverage

Pensionado status unlocks some of the world's most generous lifestyle discounts

Pension

You won't accrue a Panama state pension without local contributions

Pension

A new economic substance rule bites passive holding structures from 2027

Moving your company

Panama has no CFC rules or thin-capitalisation rules

Moving your company

Managing your foreign company from Panama is mostly a home-country question

Moving your company

A local company usually isn't required for residency

Moving your company

Buying Panama real estate carries its own taxes, even without a wealth tax

Leaving home: exit tax and ties

No wealth, inheritance, gift or entry tax in Panama

Leaving home: exit tax and ties

Keeping permanent residency needs barely any physical presence

Permanent residency and citizenship

Naturalising means renouncing your current nationality

Permanent residency and citizenship

Naturalising takes 5 years of continuous permanent residency

Permanent residency and citizenship

Two lesser-known routes: Self Economic Solvency and Forestry Investor

Residency routes

The Qualified Investor visa grants immediate permanent residency

Residency routes

Friendly Nations Visa eligibility for your nationality isn't confirmed

Residency routes

Your nationality qualifies for the Friendly Nations Visa

Residency routes

The Pensionado visa is Panama's flagship retirement route

Residency routes

Plan on private healthcare, tourist and short-stay status don't include it

Healthcare coverage

Panama's social security agreement coverage for your country isn't confirmed

Social security

No Panama social security (CSS) contribution duty without a local employer

Social security

Your employer has no Panama payroll obligation

Employer payroll obligations

Panama-source income is taxed at ordinary progressive rates

Personal income tax

Whether on-soil remote work counts as foreign-source isn't formally settled

Personal income tax

No tax treaty means no formal tie-breaker if a dispute ever arises

Personal income tax

A tax treaty backs you up if Panama and home ever both claim you

Personal income tax

Foreign-source income is exempt from Panama tax, resident or not

Personal income tax

Past 183 days you likely become a Panama tax resident, but that matters less than you'd think

Tax residency

Unlikely to become a Panama tax resident on this stay

Tax residency

Serving the Panama market needs its own work permit

Right to work

The Short Stay Remote Worker visa is a rare, clean legal pathway

Right to work

Remote work on a tourist entry sits in a grey zone

Right to work

Past 180 days you need more than tourist status

Immigration and visa

Past your visa-free window, the Short Stay Remote Worker visa is the route

Immigration and visa

Your nationality's Panama entry requirement isn't confirmed

Immigration and visa

Visa-free entry to Panama for up to 90 days

Immigration and visa

Visa-free entry to Panama for up to 180 days

Immigration and visa