Panama's Friendly Nations Visa: Which Passports Qualify
Every other visa program covered on this site is open to any nationality that meets the income and documentation requirements. Panama's Friendly Nations Visa is the one exception — it's restricted to citizens of a specific list of countries Panama maintains reciprocal relationships with.
Why this program works differently
Most nomad visas on this site — Portugal's D8, Spain's Digital Nomad Visa, Mexico's Temporary Resident Visa — evaluate you on income and documentation, not on which passport you hold. Panama's Friendly Nations Visa is structured around bilateral relationships instead: it's only available to citizens of countries on Panama's specific qualifying list, alongside meeting the program's economic or professional-tie requirements covered in the main Panama visa guide.
The qualifying list changes
As of 2026, roughly 50 countries qualify, spanning most of the EU, the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, South Africa, and a substantial list of Latin American nations including Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay. This reflects the program's 2021 restructuring (Executive Decree 197), which tightened both the country list and the qualifying requirements from an earlier, looser version. That history is exactly why this page still recommends confirming directly with Panama's National Immigration Service before assuming your nationality qualifies — Panama has added and removed countries from this list more than once since the program's creation, so treat the list above as accurate as of this check, not as permanent.
If your passport isn't on the list
This doesn't mean Panama is closed to you — it means the Friendly Nations route specifically isn't available, but the Short Stay Visa for Remote Workers covered in the main Panama guide evaluates applicants on income and remote-work documentation instead of nationality, the same way most other programs on this site do.
Why this matters beyond Panama specifically
Panama is the clearest example on this site of a program where nationality itself — not just income or documentation — is a qualifying factor, but it's not the only place this comes up in subtler ways. Some countries' visa processing speed or specific document requirements vary informally by nationality even when the formal rules don't distinguish. If you're methodically comparing visa routes, it's worth checking each program's page for any nationality-specific notes rather than assuming every program treats every passport identically.
This is informational, not advice. Visa, tax, and immigration rules change, and a general guide can't account for your specific situation. Before you act on anything here, confirm current details with the relevant embassy, consulate, or a licensed immigration or tax professional. See our editorial policy for how we verify what we publish.