Panama

01The country in 30 seconds

Panama uses the US dollar and has a real visa program for remote workers earning $3,000+ a month.

Russians don't need a visa to enter — just a passport, and you get 90 days. But this program is not residency. It's a temporary permit, 18 months max.

Facts checked as of September 2026.

02Who it's for

This guide is for people who earn $3,000+ a month remotely and want longer legal status than a 90-day tourist stay.

If you earn less, this won't work. The income threshold is fixed, and you need a bank certificate to prove it.

If you want long-term residency for many years, Panama is not the best pick here. Russia is not on the Friendly Nations Visa list, and the remote worker visa is not residency — it's capped at 18 months.

03Entry & visa

You don't need a visa to enter. Russia has been visa-exempt in Panama since 2014. You just fly in and get 90 days as a tourist.

For longer legal status, there's a separate program: Visa de Corta Estancia como Trabajador Remoto (Short-Stay Visa for Remote Workers). It's officially a "No Residente" category — not residency.

The legal basis is Decreto Ejecutivo No. 198, from May 7, 2021. Some articles mention "Resolución No. 011" — that document doesn't exist in any official Migración source. Use Decreto 198 as the real reference.

The income threshold is $3,000/month ($36,000/year), proven with a bank certificate. The visa is valid for 9 months and can be renewed once, for another 9 months.

The government fee is B/.50 + B/.250 (the Balboa is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar), filed with Servicio Nacional de Migración.

The paperwork is the same for every nationality: a notarized power of attorney for a lawyer, an apostilled criminal record, a health certificate, and in-person filing. There's no full online process for anyone — this isn't Russia-specific.

04Residency & legalization

Panama does have real residency programs — like the Friendly Nations Visa, one of the fastest paths to permanent resident status. But Russia is not on that friendly-nations list.

The remote worker visa is not residency. It doesn't turn into permanent status automatically, and once it ends you need to pick a different category.

If you want to stay in Panama long-term, look at other programs — for example investor visas or marrying a Panamanian citizen. Those have their own separate rules.

05Work & taxes

Panama uses a territorial tax system — only income earned inside Panama is taxed. Salary from foreign clients is generally not taxed by Panama.

The remote worker visa explicitly lets you work for foreign clients while living in Panama. You can't work for local Panamanian clients or run a local business on this visa.

This Panamanian visa doesn't cancel your Russian tax obligations. Russian tax residency depends on days spent in Russia — sort that out before you move.

06Banks, cards & money

Panama runs on US dollars, and ATMs give out dollars. Mir cards don't work here at all — not in shops, not at ATMs. You need a regular Visa or Mastercard from a bank that isn't sanctioned.

For the visa itself, you need a bank certificate proving your income. If your Russian bank is cut off from SWIFT, that certificate might not be accepted abroad. The decree allows an alternative: a Panamanian bank statement showing the incoming wire instead.

Opening a personal account as a non-resident is slow and hard — 2 to 4 weeks, lots of documents (passport, reference letter from another bank, proof of source of funds), and often a deposit of $5,000-$10,000. Some banks refuse non-residents outright.

07Renting a place

In Panama City, a 1-2 bedroom apartment in a regular neighborhood costs about $900-$1,700 a month. In upscale waterfront areas like Punta Pacifica or Costa del Este, prices start around $1,500 and go up.

In Boquete and Bocas del Toro, housing is cheaper, but there's less choice and the internet is less reliable, especially on the islands.

Look for long-term rentals through local agencies or trusted groups (Facebook Marketplace, Encuentra24), not the first ad you see. Never wire a deposit before seeing the place in person or on a video call with a real agent.

08SIM card & internet

Local carriers are Tigo and +Movil. A physical SIM costs $2-5, and local plans run $15-30 a month.

Travel eSIMs cost roughly $3-8 a day, or you can get a package like 10-20GB for $12-27 a month — handy for your first days before you get a local number.

Home internet in Panama City and Boquete is fast, among the best in Central America. On the islands in Bocas del Toro, speed and reliability are worse.

09Healthcare & insurance

Private health insurance for foreigners costs about $100-$300 a month, depending on age and coverage. Cheaper basic plans start around $30-40.

A regular doctor visit at a private clinic costs $30-50. A specialist costs $75-100. That's roughly 10 times cheaper than the US for similar care.

Panama also has public healthcare, but most foreigners use private clinics — faster service, and staff often speak English.

10Transport

Panama City has a metro (fast and cheap), Metrobus buses, and Uber — works the same way as the app you already know.

Buses connect cities, and there are short domestic flights to David, near Boquete.

Driving your own car is more complicated. Before a long stay, check the current rules on using a foreign license — ask a local lawyer or check with Panama's transit authority directly.

11Safety & important laws

Panama is generally safe for tourists and expats, but petty crime exists — pickpocketing and car break-ins happen in tourist spots.

Avoid the Darién region (Colombia border) and the Mosquito Gulf — there's real drug-trafficking activity there. Tourist areas like Casco Viejo and Punta Pacifica have heavy police presence and are considered safe.

Panama has strict drug laws. Even a small amount can lead to real prison time. Don't take the risk.

12How much money you need per month

Total: $1,500-2,300 per month for one person (visa costs not included)

13Step-by-step moving plan

1. Check the current visa requirements on the Servicio Nacional de Migración website before planning dates.
2. Gather documents: apostilled criminal record, health certificate, bank certificate proving $3,000+/month income.
3. Hire a Panamanian lawyer for power of attorney and filing — doing this alone is nearly impossible.
4. Buy a flight and enter Panama as a tourist (no visa needed, 90 days).
5. File the remote worker visa application through your lawyer at Servicio Nacional de Migración.
6. While waiting for a decision, rent short-term housing and get a local SIM or eSIM.
7. Open a Panamanian bank account (or arrange a wire transfer for your certificate), and set up a non-Mir card in advance.
8. Get private health insurance.
9. Once the visa is approved, move to a long-term rental and settle in.
10. 1-2 months before the first 9-month period ends, apply for the renewal for another 9 months (18 months total max).

14Useful links & Telegram

• Servicio Nacional de Migración — official requirements
• Migración Panamá — decrees and resolutions 2021
• Numbeo — cost of living in Panama City
• US Embassy Panama — travel advisory
• Wikipedia — Visa policy of Panama