What is the Pensionado Visa?
The Pensionado Visa is Panama’s residency program for retirees with a guaranteed lifetime pension. It is regulated by Decree Law 3 of 2008 and administered by Panama’s National Immigration Service. Unlike most countries that require years of temporary status first, Panama grants permanent residency from day one upon approval.
It is the path most US, Canadian, and European retirees choose when settling in Panama, in large part because Panama uses the US dollar and sets no minimum or maximum age for the program.
Who qualifies
- A guaranteed lifetime pension of at least $1,000 USD per month — from a government, social security, military, international organization, or a legally operating private company
- An additional $250 per month per dependent (spouse, and unmarried children under 25 who are full-time students)
- A lower threshold of $750 per month applies if you purchase Panamanian real estate valued at $100,000 or more
- A clean criminal record from your country of origin, apostilled
- A medical certificate confirming good health
- A valid passport
US Social Security and the Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) both qualify as pension income.
Benefits beyond residency
Panama’s retiree discounts are written into law (Law 6 of 1987) and enforced by the consumer-protection agency ACODECO — these are legal entitlements, not promotions:
- 50% off entertainment (cinema, theater, sporting and cultural events)
- 30% off public transportation
- 25% off domestic airline tickets, restaurants, and utility bills
- 20% off medical consultations, prescriptions, and professional services
- 15% off hospital stays (where no insurance applies) and dental and eye exams
How we handle it
Our in-house legal team manages the entire process, from your home country through to your Panama residency card. Typical processing is 3 to 6 months.
- Document review and apostille coordination from your home country
- Certified Spanish translations of all required documents
- Filing with Panama’s National Immigration Service
- A staff attorney on your case — not a subcontractor
- Issuance of your permanent residency card
- Setup of your Panama cédula (national ID) once approved
To keep your residency active, you only need to visit Panama at least once every two years.
Note: Government fees, pension thresholds, and program rules can change. We confirm the current requirements for your specific situation during your free consultation before you commit to anything.