Brazil has issued temporary visas, the digital nomad visa included, electronically only since 1 September for nationals of countries exempt from its visitor visa1. Applicants upload documents online and receive the visa by email, without handing in a passport. Americans, Canadians and Australians are excluded, because Brazil requires them to hold a visitor visa. Italy made a similar move in June, putting both its short-stay (Type C) and national long-stay (Type D) visa applications, its Digital Nomad Visa included, fully online, although applicants still give biometrics in person. Panama's Executive Decree 17/2026, published in the official gazette on 16 September, sets the qualified-investor residence threshold at $300,000 for new property bought from a developer and $500,000 for resale property, practitioners report2.
Brazil moves nomad visas to e-visa only
Brazil has issued temporary visas, the digital nomad visa included, only electronically since 1 September for visa-exempt nationals. Panama has reset its investor-residence thresholds at $300,000 and $500,000.
Brazil's digital nomad visa is now electronic-only for nationals of visa-exempt countries.
Deep Analysis
Brazil now handles visas for work, study and digital nomads by email for people who do not need a normal tourist visa. You upload your documents online and get the visa back by email. You do not hand in your passport. Panama changed the price of its investor residence. Buying a new flat from a developer needs $300,000. Buying a resale home needs $500,000. People who applied before the change keep the old rules.
Brazil changed the administrative channel only. Applications go through one system with document upload, the visa is emailed, and nothing is handed over at a consulate. The digital nomad category, VITEM XIV, was created by CNIg Normative Resolution 45/2021, so the new channel changes how a visa is issued, not who qualifies.
Panama's Decree 17 replaces the earlier decree for the Qualified Investor permanent-residence route and prices asset types differently: $300,000 for new property bought from the developer, $500,000 for resale property and for securities, $750,000 in fixed-term deposits at private banks, and $500,000 at national or savings banks. The Balboa is at par with the US dollar, so the figures read directly in dollars.
The transition rules limit the shock. Files already lodged follow the old rules, and investments or binding contracts made before the decree may use the old regime if the application comes within six months.
- Consequence
Brazilian temporary-visa applicants from visa-exempt countries must use the online system and cannot apply at a consulate counter.
Immediate · Reported - Opportunity
Investors can lock the old Panamanian rules if they applied, or signed binding contracts, before the decree and file within six months.
Short term · Reported - Consequence
Panama's two thresholds favour new construction over resale stock.
Medium term · Suggested
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