SOLUTIONS IN ONE PLACE
Move. Invest. Retire.
We protect what matters in Panama.
Practical help from your first questions through the final legal step.
Make Panama Home
Residence options for retirees, investors, families, professionals and eligible applicants.
Invest With Protection
Due diligence, contracts, property transactions, company support and legal review before you invest.
Legal Support That Stays With You
Contracts, civil matters, family concerns, powers of attorney, property administration and trusted local representation.
QUESTIONS ANSWERED CLEARLY
Before you move to Panama, get the answers that matter.
Open a question to see a concise starting point. Your exact requirements depend on nationality, immigration category and personal circumstances.
Most residence applications require a valid passport, police record, health certificate, photos, immigration forms, legal representation and documents proving the basis of the application (for example pension, investment, employment or family relationship). Foreign documents may need apostille or consular authentication and, when applicable, official Spanish translation.
The official immigration requirements include proof of a lifetime pension of at least B/.1,000 per month. Additional income of B/.250 per dependent is generally required. A reduced pension threshold may apply in a specific property-ownership scenario. The application also includes standard immigration documents such as passport, police record and health certificate.
Yes, Panama has residence routes linked to qualifying investment. One current category for Qualified Investors requires a minimum B/.300,000 investment from foreign-source funds, subject to the specific rules and approved investment structures. Other investment-based residence categories may also exist. We first determine which route fits the investment you actually plan to make.
Before paying or signing, verify title and registered owner, liens or encumbrances, cadastral information, property-tax status, access rights, permits where relevant, corporate ownership if a company is involved, and the exact terms of the purchase agreement. Independent legal due diligence is essential before transferring substantial funds.
In many situations, immigration residency and authorization to work are separate legal matters. The applicable work-permit category depends on your residence status, profession, employer and other factors. We can review both tracks together so your immigration status and employment plans are aligned.
Many residence categories permit eligible dependents, but the financial and documentary requirements vary. We review marriage and birth certificates, dependency rules, age limits and additional solvency requirements before preparing the filing.
Yes. A pre-arrival review can identify which documents should be obtained abroad, which need apostille or authentication, how long they may remain valid, and what should be prepared before travel. This can save time and reduce unnecessary trips.
Legal information on this website is general and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Immigration, labor, tax and investment rules can change; current requirements must be confirmed before filing or investing.
INVEST · LIVE · GROW
Panama: more than a destination — a strategic decision.
Explore monetary stability, business opportunities and immigration pathways with a legal strategy tailored to your goals.
Illustrative legal and investment overview. Eligibility, taxes, permits and immigration requirements depend on each case and must be verified under current Panamanian law before acting.
INVEST WITH CLARITY
Invest in Panama with your eyes open — and your interests protected.
We help foreign investors understand the legal structure behind a property, company or qualifying investment. The objective is simple: identify risk before money moves, document the transaction correctly and align the investment with your residence and long-term goals.
PRIVATE LAW · ESTATE & CORPORATE PLANNING
Protect what you build. Decide what happens next.
Contracts, corporations, private interest foundations, wills and testamentary guardianship require more than a template. We structure each instrument around Panamanian law, the client's assets, family situation and long-term objectives.
Contracts
Drafting, review, negotiation and risk analysis for civil and commercial agreements.
Corporations
Formation, corporate governance, resident-agent support and compliance review.
Private Interest Foundations
Asset and succession planning through Panama's Private Interest Foundation regime, where appropriate.
Wills & Succession
Panamanian wills, legacies, heirs, executors and testamentary succession planning.
Testamentary Guardianship
Planning for the designation of a guardian by will where Panamanian family law permits it.
Questions clients ask us
Panamanian civil law starts from consent, a certain object and a lawful cause, while particular transactions may require additional formalities, notarization or registration. We review the specific transaction rather than relying on a generic form.
Because governing law, property registration, guarantees, tax consequences, remedies and enforceability may differ from the client's home country. A bilingual document does not by itself solve those legal differences.
A corporation under Law 32 of 1927 is a separate legal vehicle that can be used for lawful business, investment and asset-holding purposes. Its usefulness depends on the client's objectives, tax position and compliance obligations.
Yes. Panama maintains beneficial-owner, due-diligence and accounting-record obligations under legislation including Laws 129 of 2020 and 254 of 2021. In 2026 the MEF also began a process to dissolve certain long-suspended legal entities, so corporate status and compliance should be checked before using an old entity.
It is a legal structure governed principally by Law 25 of 1995 and commonly used for private asset and succession planning. It is not simply a corporation and should be designed around its foundation charter, regulations, foundation council, beneficiaries and compliance duties.
Not automatically. A foundation can be an important succession-planning tool, but the correct structure depends on which assets are held by it, the foundation documents, family circumstances and any assets that remain personally owned.
Article 699 of the Civil Code defines a will as the act by which a person disposes, for after death, of all or part of his or her property. It is personal: Article 702 provides that its formation cannot be delegated to an agent.
The Civil Code regulates, among others, holographic, open and closed wills, as well as special forms such as military, maritime and wills made abroad. Each form has its own validity requirements.
Panama's Family Code provides for testamentary guardianship. Articles 394–400 regulate this route; Article 396 permits a father or mother to name by will a guardian for minor children and persons covered by the statutory rule. The appointment is subject to the Family Code, judicial control and registration requirements.
Law 402 of 2023 adopted the new Civil Procedure Code, in force generally since October 11, 2025. It modernized civil procedure and expressly regulates testamentary succession, including the presentation and opening of wills. The substantive rules of wills remain in the Civil Code, while the procedure is now governed by the new procedural framework.
Legal framework reviewed: Civil Code; Family Code (Law 3 of 1994); Civil Procedure Code (Law 402 of 2023); Commercial Code; Law 32 of 1927; Law 25 of 1995; and applicable transparency/compliance legislation. Information is general and must be verified for each matter.
PANAMA LEGAL INTELLIGENCE · 2026
The rules are moving. Your strategy should move first.
A curated view of the changes most relevant to foreigners, investors, retirees, property owners and families. We distinguish enacted rules from proposals and verify the current text before acting.
IMMIGRATION · PANAMA IS CHANGING WHO CAN STAY — AND HOW
NEW 2026
06 FEB 2026 · EXECUTIVE DECREE 3
Long-term students gain a new residence pathway
Foreign students who have studied consecutively in Panama for more than six years may access a provisional residence route created in 2026. After two years, they may request permanent residence if the legal requirements remain satisfied.
CURRENT ROUTE
QUALIFIED INVESTOR
Investment thresholds now depend on the type of investment
From B/.300,000 for qualifying first-sale real estate. Different thresholds apply to secondary-market property, securities and fixed-term bank deposits. We review the investment structure, source of funds and current legal requirements before funds are committed.
SEP 2026
SEM · EMMA · SNM
Corporate mobility is under closer procedural focus
In September 2026, the National Immigration Service held a guidance session on immigration procedures for SEM and EMMA companies. Executives, dependents and companies should confirm the current documentation and filing process before planning a move.
MEF · DGI · TAX RULES CAN RESHAPE THE DEAL
LAW 546
31 AUG 2026 · REAL ESTATE
A new ITBI regime changes the numbers on qualifying new homes
Law 546 of 31 August 2026 modified the ITBI treatment for the first sale of qualifying new homes. It exempts the first B/.120,000 when the statutory conditions are met, including the applicable timing tied to the occupancy permit. The exact tax treatment should be verified before closing.
LAW 526
FISCAL YEAR 2027
Economic substance becomes a boardroom issue
Law 526 of 2026 establishes economic-substance requirements for certain foreign passive income within its scope. The MEF has emphasized that companies should first determine whether they belong to a multinational group and review their corporate structure, tax residence, ownership and control. Application begins in fiscal year 2027.
IN DEVELOPMENT
AUG 2026 · DIGITAL ECONOMY
Digital taxation is on the legislative agenda — not yet a finished rule
The Executive sent a proposal to update ITBMS treatment for certain digital-economy transactions. Because this is a legislative proposal, its final text and effective date must be confirmed before relying on it.
DGI MODERNIZATION
05 AUG 2026
e-Tax is headed for replacement
The MEF announced an integral replacement of the current e-Tax platform as part of a broader modernization and control plan for the tax administration. Taxpayers should expect future procedural and digital changes as the replacement is implemented.
CIVIL LAW · THE COURTROOM ITSELF HAS CHANGED
IN FORCE
CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE
Civil litigation in Panama now operates under a new procedural model
Panama's new Code of Civil Procedure is in force and emphasizes oral proceedings, immediacy, concentration, procedural economy and fewer unnecessary formalities. Contract, property, inheritance and damages disputes should be prepared with this new litigation model in mind.
2026 IMPLEMENTATION
AGREEMENTS 341 & 455 · 2026
New civil courts and judicial offices expand the reform nationwide
The Supreme Court continued implementing the civil-justice reform in 2026 by creating and adjusting civil courts, judicial offices and coordination structures in several judicial districts. Where and how a civil case is processed can therefore depend on the new organizational map.
MORTGAGES 2026
EXECUTIVE DECREE 23 · 2026
Preferential mortgage-interest rules were regulated in 2026
Executive Decree 23 of 2026 regulates the preferential-interest regime for certain mortgage loans under Law 468 of 2025, as amended. Buyers, developers and lenders should review eligibility and current conditions before assuming a transaction benefits from the regime.
Legal update notice: this section is general information, not a legal opinion. Rules, implementing regulations and administrative criteria may change. We verify the law and procedure in force for each client before filing, investing or signing.
MEF · DGI · TAX FAQ
Taxes can change the deal. Ask before you sign.
Immigration status and tax status are different concepts. A residence permit does not, by itself, answer every tax question.
No. Property ownership, immigration residence and tax residence are separate issues. The DGI applies tax-residence criteria such as the 183-day rule, and the facts of each case must be reviewed.
A transaction may involve property tax, transfer tax, capital-gains withholding or tax, and other costs depending on the structure and type of property. Before signing, we review title, assessed value, exemptions, seller obligations and the tax treatment of the transaction.
Often, yes, depending on the activity. The DGI provides an NT mechanism for certain foreigners who cannot complete ordinary RUC registration. It can be relevant for employment, professional services, shares and real-estate transactions.
Panama continues to apply the territorial principle, but the 2026 economic-substance reform creates specific rules for certain foreign passive income of entities in multinational groups. That is why corporate structure and the source and nature of income should be reviewed carefully.
PEACE OF MIND IN EVERY STAGE OF LIFE
Retire with peace of mind. We handle the legal details.
For retirees and expats who make Panama home, legal security is also about having someone local who understands your documents, property, responsibilities and long-term plans.
Your local legal support can include:
What we review
Title and ownership information, contracts, leases, purchase or sale documents, powers affecting the property, and the legal and tax steps connected with the transaction.
Typical requirements
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Passport or identification and contact information.
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Property certificate/deed, existing contract or draft, and supporting transaction documents.
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For a sale, tax and registration documents may also be required; DGI currently uses Forms 106 and 107 for real-estate transfers.
Expected result: A clearer transaction, identified risks before signing, properly structured documentation and a roadmap toward closing or ongoing property administration.
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How it helps
A properly drafted power of attorney can authorize a representative in Panama to perform the specific acts you choose, subject to the scope and formalities required by Panamanian law.
Typical requirements
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Identification of principal and attorney-in-fact.
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A precise description of the authority to be granted and the transaction or proceeding involved.
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Notarization and, when executed abroad, the legalization/apostille and Spanish translation required for use in Panama.
Expected result: Legal representation with clearly defined powers, reducing unnecessary travel and allowing authorized matters to move forward in Panama.
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What we do
We first identify your immigration category and verify the requirements currently applicable to that permit, renewal, extension or change of status.
Typical requirements
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Valid passport and immigration card/resolution, when applicable.
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Documents specific to the category, which may include proof of income, employment, investment, address, health certificate, police record or family documents.
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Foreign documents may require apostille/legalization and authorized Spanish translation.
Expected result: A complete, organized filing aligned with the applicable immigration category. Final approval always belongs to the competent Panamanian authority.
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One matter, coordinated support
Some matters require accountants, tax specialists, engineers, architects, appraisers, translators, notaries or other licensed professionals. We can coordinate the legal side while keeping the client informed.
What we need
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A description of your objective and the documents already available.
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Authorization to share only the information necessary with the professional involved.
Expected result: A coordinated process with fewer gaps between legal, tax, technical and administrative requirements.
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Legal support after you arrive
Living or investing in Panama can generate questions about leases, property, contracts, companies, immigration, succession planning and dealings with local institutions. We help identify the issue and the appropriate legal route.
How it works
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Send us the question and relevant documents.
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We determine whether it is a consultation, document review, formal procedure or matter requiring representation.
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We explain next steps, documents, likely costs and the result the procedure is designed to achieve.
Expected result: A reliable legal point of contact in Panama and a practical next-step plan whenever a legal issue arises.
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START WITH A CLEAR ANSWER
Your Panama plan deserves a clear legal strategy.
Whether you are planning your move, retirement, investment or already living in Panama, the first step is understanding your exact legal situation.
Verónica Gallardo — Attorney at Law. Legal services in Panama for foreigners, expats and investors.
Schedule your consultation
For urgent deadlines, include the type of matter and the relevant date in your first message.
CLIENT FIRST · COUNSEL WITH PURPOSE
YOU COME FIRST. ALWAYS.
Because your future, your family, your investment and your peace of mind are the reason for our commitment.
You are never just a case, a file or a transaction. We listen to your story, understand your goals and provide legal guidance designed to protect what matters to you. Whether you come to Panama to retire, invest, build a business, protect your family or begin a new chapter, our commitment starts with you.
Your goals. Your peace of mind. Your future. Our commitment.
VERÓNICA GALLARDO
ATTORNEY AT LAW · PANAMA