Friendly Nations residence regime (Panama)
Panama's permanent-residence route reserved for nationals of a listed group of friendly countries.
Panama's Friendly Nations route, rewritten in 2021 to require a local job, a property purchase or a fixed deposit, gained Ecuador as an eligible country on 31 August 2026.
Last refreshed: 4 October 2026
What does Panama's Friendly Nations visa now ask of applicants?
Timeline for Friendly Nations residence regime (Panama)
Mentioned in: Brazil moves nomad visas to e-visa only
Nomads & CommunitiesBackground
Ecuador joined the list of eligible countries on 31 August 2026 through Executive Decree 16. The regime, known in Spanish as Países Amigos, is a permanent-residence subcategory for nationals of countries that keep friendly, professional, economic and investment relations with Panama.
Executive Decree 416 of 13 June 2012 created it. Decrees 197 and 226 of 2021 rewrote it from 7 August 2021: applicants receive two years of provisional residence first and must show a job with a company in Panama, property worth at least US$200,000, or a fixed-term deposit of at least US$200,000 held for three years. After two years they may apply for permanent residence.
Panama's National Migration Service, under the Ministry of Public Security, runs the route. It is distinct from the Qualified Investor route, whose property floors Executive Decree 17/2026 reset in September 2026.