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Guide Expatriation : Panama 2026

Panama offre a unique combination: a dollarised economy, excellent healthcare, zero taxes on foreign-source income, a tropical climate et one of the world's most famous retirement visa programmes — the Pensionado. It is consistently ranked as a top retirement destination in the Americas.

Dernière mise à jour : Mars 2026 — Équipe éditoriale, eVisa-Card.com

Panama en Bref

CapitalePanama City
MonnaieBalboa / USD
LangueSpanish
Coût mensuel~$1,200–2,500/mois

📋 Sommaire

  1. Visa & Options de Résidence
  2. Système de Santé
  3. Assurance Santé
  4. Ouvrir un Compte Bancaire
  5. Acheter un Bien Immobilier
  6. Fiscalité & Exil Fiscal

🛂 Visa & Options de Résidence

Type de VisaDétails
Pensionado VisaPanama's flagship retirement visa. Requires a guaranteed lifetime pension of $1,000/mois from a government or private pension. No age minimum. Permanent residency from day one. No stay requirement. Includes a long list of discounts (20–50%) on healthcare, restaurants, entertainment.
Friendly Nations VisaFor citizens of 50+ 'friendly nations' (y compris USA, EU, UK, Canada, Australia). Nécessite $200,000 in a Panama bank account OR employment with a Panamanian company OR business ownership. Permanent residency.
Self-Employed / Business VisaFor investors or business owners. Capitale investment of $40,000+ (with at least 3 Panamanian employees). 2-year permit, path to permanent residency.
Digital Nomad Visa (Shout-Stay Permit)Panama introduced a Remote Worker Permit in 2021. Monthly income proof $36,000+/an. 9-month renewable permit. Not full residency.
Tourist Visa / StampUS, EU, UK, Canadian citizens: 180 days visa-free. Many nomads use Panama as a hub et renouveler facilement avec une sortie frontalière rapide.

Processus Étape par Étape

  1. Choose your visa category (Pensionado pour les retraités, Friendly Nations for qualified nationals)
  2. Hire a Panamanian immigration lawyer (~$1,500–3,000 in legal fees)
  3. Rassemblez les documents : passport, pension letter, police clearance, health certificate, bank statements
  4. Apostille et translate all foreign documents to Spanish
  5. Submit application to the National Immigration Service (SNM)
  6. Initial temporary residency issued (~3–6 months processing)
  7. Permanent residency card (Carnet) issued — usually within 6 months
  8. Postulez pour cedula (national ID) at the Civil Registry
  9. Obtain RUC (tax ID) at the DGI if conducting business
💡 Conseil Pro : The Pensionado Visa is one of the world's best retirement programmes — permanent residency with a modest $1,000/mois pension, no age limit, et remarkable discounts on healthcare et daily expenses. It can be obtained with a pension as small as a US Social Security benefit.

🏥 Santé en Panama

Santé Publique

Panama has a two-tier public system: Social Security (CSS) for foumal workers et public hospitals (MINSA) for the general population. Les titulaires du visa Pensionado peuvent accéder au CSS à tarifs réduits. Quality in Panama City is good; rural areas are underserved.

Santé Privée

Panama City a d'excellents hôpitaux privés : Hospital Nacional, Hospital Punta Pacifica (affilié à Johns Hopkins), Clínica Hospital San Ferneto, Hospital Chiriquí (David). English-speaking doctors are common. Coûts are significativement lower than the US.

Coûts Typiques

ServiceCoût
Consultation médecin généraliste privée$40–80
Consultation spécialiste$80–200
Urgences (private)$200–800
Hospitalisation (private, per night)$400–1,500
Détartrage dentaire$40–80
Major dentaire work50–70% cheaper than US
ℹ️ Recommandé : Most expats use a combination of private assurance santé et occasional CSS access (if eligible via Pensionado). Panama City's private hospitals offer US-quality care at 30–50% of US prices.

🛡️ Assurance Santé Complémentaire

Assurance santé is not legally requis pour residency in Panama but est fortement recommandée. Hospitalisation et soins spécialisés at private hospitals can be expensive sans coverage. Pensionado holders receive a 20% discount on private medical services.

Meilleurs Assureurs pour Expatriés

Pan-American Life Insurance (PALIC)
Major regional insurer with strong Panama network. Widely accepted at private hospitals. À partir de ~150 $/mois.
BlueCross BlueShield (Panama)
Populaire auprès de US expats. Bon réseau of hospitals. À partir de ~180 $/mois.
ASSA Compañía de Seguros
Panama-based insurer. Formules complètes, dental included. À partir de ~120 $/mois.
Cigna Global
International plan covering Panama et worldwide, y compris US. À partir de ~150 $/mois.
Aetna International
Bon pour US citizens who need US coverage too. À partir de ~200 $/mois.
💡 Conseil Pro : Pensionado visa holders receive a 20% discount on private healthcare services — keep this in mind when comparing insurance plans. Even avec assurance, you'll pay a fraction of US costs for the same procedures.

🏦 Ouvrir un Compte Bancaire au Panama

Panama is a major banking hub in Latin America. Cependant, post-FATCA compliance has made account opening stricter, notamment for les citoyens américains. A Panamanian bank account est indispensable pour les demandes de visa (Friendly Nations) et daily life.

Banques Recommandées

Banco Nacional de Panamá — State-owned bank. Most accessible for new residents. Taux compétitifs. Bon pour retirement pension deposits.
BAC Credomatic — Largest private bank in Central America. Service en anglais, good digital banking. Populaire auprès des expatriés.
Banistmo (HSBC affiliate) — Bon pour transferts internationaux, especially to/from Europe. Support en anglais disponible.
Multibank — Expat-friendly, bon pour Friendly Nations visa applicants (nécessite bank balance proof). Good Service en anglais.
Global Bank — Relatively ouverture de compte facile. Bon pour Pensionado applicants.

Documents Requis

  • Passeport valide
  • Panamanian residency card (Carnet) or tourist visa
  • Justificatif de domicile (rental contract or utility bill)
  • Proof of income (pension letter, employment contract or investment proof)
  • Personal et professional reference letters (2 each, some banks)
  • Dépôt initial ($500–5,000 depending on bank)

Processus Étape par Étape

  1. Obtenez votre residency card or at minimum a tourist entry stamp
  2. Rendez-vous à l'agence bancaire en personne (no online opening for non-residents)
  3. Présentez tous les documents including reference letters
  4. Compliance interview (standard KYC process)
  5. Compte ouvert within 1–4 weeks (compliance checks take time)
💡 Conseil Pro : US citizens face the most scrutiny due to FATCA reporting requirements — some banks decline US applicants entirely. Multibank et Global Bank are more open to US expats. Non-US expats généralement have a smoother experience.

🏠 Acheter un Bien Immobilier au Panama

Panama has among the most foreigner-friendly property laws in Latin America. Foreigners have the same property rights as Panamanian citizens. No restrictions on type of property, location or amount owned. The property market is dollarised.

Options pour les Étrangers

Freehold (Titled Property)
Pleine propriété, mêmes droits que les citoyens. La plupart des appartements, maisons et biens commerciaux. Enregistré au Registre Public.
Rights of Possession (ROP)
Untitled land where occupants have use rights but not foumal title. Courant à rural et coastal areas. Higher risk — verify carefully.
Pensionado Property Exemption
First purchase of primary residence by a Pensionado is exempt from certain taxes. Confirm with your lawyer.

Processus d'Achat

  1. Hire a Panamanian real estate lawyer (abogado)
  2. Obtenez votre RUC (tax ID) from the DGI
  3. Sign a Promise to Purchase contract (Promesa de Compraventa) — versez un acompte de 10 %
  4. L'avocat effectue title search at the Public Registry
  5. Verify no liens, encumbrances or property tax debts
  6. Signez le/la final Purchase Deed (Escritura de Compraventa) beforee a Notary
  7. Inscrivez-vous à the Public Registry (Registro Público) — takes 2–8 weeks

Coûts Typiques

ÉlémentCoût
Transfer tax (ITBMS)2% of higher of sale price or registered value
Notary et legal fees1–2% of purchase price
Public Registry fee~$500–1,500
Taxe foncière annuelle0% up to $120,000 value (primary residence exempt to $300,000 for new construction)
Commission de l’agent3–5 % (payé par le vendeur)
💡 Conseil Pro : Panama's primary residence tax exemption est excellent(e) — new properties up to $300,000 are exempt from property tax for 20 years. Vérifiez toujours titled property (vs Rights of Possession) avant purchase. Coastal property near the beach nécessite additional vérifications préalables on concession rights.

À propos de ce Guide

Ce guide est recherché et maintenu par l’équipe éditoriale de eVisa-Card.com. Dernière mise à jour : Mars 2026. Vérifiez toujours current requirements with official government sources et consult a licensed professional avant making major decisions.

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💰 Fiscalité & Exil Fiscal

Impôt sur les plus-values
0%
Régime fiscal
Territorial
Crypto-compatibilité
9/10
Exit Tax
No

Impôt sur les plus-values: 0% on foreign-source income (territorial)

Points clés

  • Territorial tax: 0% on foreign-source income
  • Les plus-values crypto provenant de plateformes étrangères sont exonérées d'impôt
  • Pensionado visa: easy residency with $1,000/mois pension
  • Friendly Nations visa for 50+ qualifying countries

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Informations fiscales fournies à titre indicatif uniquement. Consultez un conseiller fiscal qualifié avant toute décision de relocalisation.

📚 Sources Officielles & Références

Équipe Éditoriale — eVisa-Card.com

Guides écrits par des experts en voyage, spécialistes en immigration et expatriés avec une expérience directe en Panama.

✔ Informations vérifiées ✔ Mis à jour Mars 2026 ✔ Sources officielles citées