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Panama

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

Moved to OECD countries, 2023
1,788
Top destination, 2023
United States
U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
49,692
UK visas issued, 2025
109
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
4.1%
NationalityPAISO 3166
Year by year
Data as at 2025
NA<PAPANAMA<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
PA5<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<0

Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Panama need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Hong KongNo visa for visits of up to 30 daysImmigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements, 31.12.2025
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Where people from Panama move

Inflows of foreign nationals by country of nationality, as recorded by each destination (OECD).

Inflows to OECD countries, 2023
  1. United States1,060
  2. Germany126
  3. Mexico98
  4. Japan95
  5. Canada70
  6. Chile50
  7. Italy42
  8. Netherlands41
  9. France41
  10. Switzerland30
  11. Hungary20
  12. Israel19
  13. Denmark17
  14. South Korea17
  15. New Zealand15

Inflows to all OECD countries by year

1,7103,419200020032006200920122015201820212023
1,7103,4192000200420082012201620202023
Data table
20002,119
20012,143
20022,133
20031,634
20041,977
20052,525
20063,419
20072,926
20082,607
20092,836
20102,291
20112,161
20122,173
20132,216
20142,001
20151,949
20162,164
20172,527
20182,436
20192,840
20201,390
20211,831
20221,697
20231,788
Share going to the top destination
59.3%
Destinations recording arrivals
15
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Living abroad

People born in Panama who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. United States161,903
  2. Costa Rica16,546
  3. Colombia3,506
  4. Mexico2,241
  5. Italy1,170
  6. Peru878
  7. Chile874
  8. Dominican Republic851
  9. China800
  10. Venezuela790
  11. Argentina598
  12. Brazil592

Living abroad by year

97k195k19901995200020052010201520202024
97k195k19902000201020202024
Data table
1990144,087
1995131,983
2000166,111
2005167,840
2010173,244
2015177,743
2020179,794
2024194,816
Living abroad, 2024
194,816
Change since 2000
+17.3%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
83.1%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Panama by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B246,374
  2. C1/D1,072
  3. F1650
  4. A2449
  5. J1201
  6. H2B135
  7. B192
  8. A177
  9. P167
  10. L265

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

25k50k201720182019202020212022202320242025
25k50k20172019202120232025
Data table
201716,837
201831,335
201934,273
202015,884
202113,494
202218,830
202327,880
202432,176
202549,692
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. IR1129
  2. IR2121
  3. IR595
  4. F452
  5. CR133
  6. F130
  7. FX25
  8. E219
Immigrant visas, FY2025
566
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
31
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Panama who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Panama with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

5651,1302015201620172018201920202021202220232024
5651,130201520172019202120232024
Data table
20151,050
20161,030
2017890
2018900
20191,060
2020600
2021840
2022950
20231,010
20241,130
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens910
  2. Employment-based preferences90
  3. Family-sponsored preferences80
  4. Refugees and asylees40
  5. Other classes10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)470
  2. Specialty occupations (H-1B)460
  3. Spouses and children450
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)360
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)330
  6. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)190
  7. Other temporary workers90
  8. Seasonal agricultural workers (H-2A)20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Panama)
1,130
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Panama)
1,130
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
151,360
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Panama (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Panama (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study73
  2. Work22
  3. Family13
  4. Other1

Visas issued by year

63125201020122014201620182020202220242025
63125201020132016201920222025
Data table
201050
201134
201255
201350
201446
201569
201673
201774
201891
201978
2020125
2021103
202295
202396
202488
2025109
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
90
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Panama, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
20255155250450
2024101753107510
202352103655510
2022075470600
202107533012020
20200601602020
20190352056510
2018050415355
20170301503520
2016020110200
2015020100300
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Panama, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

362005–062007–082010–112012–132014–152018–192020–212022–232024–252025–26
362005–062009–102012–132016–172020–212023–242025–26
Data table
2005–061
2006–071
2007–082
2009–101
2010–112
2011–122
2012–134
2013–142
2014–151
2016–174
2018–192
2019–202
2020–211
2021–221
2022–233
2023–242
2024–252
2025–266
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills6
Granted, 2025–26
6
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Japan

Citizens of Panama living in Japan at the end of each December, by status of residence (Immigration Services Agency of Japan). 2020 and 2021 were published only as database tables.

Foreign residents in Japan

641282012201420162018202220242025
641282012201420162018202220242025
Data table
201242
201345
201450
201556
201658
201754
201862
201969
202271
202398
2024107
2025128
By status of residence, December 2025
  1. Student29
  2. Permanent Resident25
  3. Skilled Labor20
  4. Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services14
  5. Spouse or Child of Japanese National12
  6. Dependent12
  7. Long-Term Resident5
  8. Designated Activities3
  9. Highly Skilled Professional3
  10. Entertainer2
Residents, December 2025
128
In work-related statuses
41
Share in work-related statuses
32.0%
Students
29
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan, Statistics on Foreign Residents (在留外国人統計), Table 1, end of December (e-Stat; Government of Japan Standard Terms of Use 2.0)Data as at Dec 2025

Schengen visas in Panama

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Panama, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Spain999929323.2%
France1109954.5%
Italy62501016.1%
Germany524747.7%
Poland333300.0%
Portugal1815211.1%
Belgium101000.0%
Greece1100.0%

Applications by year

3,2656,5302009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
3,2656,530200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009676
2010859
20111,047
20121,092
20131,140
20141,228
20152,114
20163,871
20175,385
20186,530
20195,611
20201,779
20211,769
20221,124
20231,183
20241,285
Refusal rate, 2024
4.1%
Refusal rate, 2019
30.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Residence permits in Europe

First residence permits issued to citizens of Panama in EU and EFTA countries, 2025 (Eurostat).

First permits by reason
  1. Education751
  2. Family452
  3. Work227
  4. Other reasons136
First permits by country
  1. Spain816
  2. Ireland252
  3. Germany73
  4. Italy71
  5. France68
  6. Netherlands47
  7. Portugal47
  8. Malta29
  9. Hungary24
  10. Switzerland23
  11. Poland21
  12. Sweden16
Work permits by type, 2025
  1. EU Blue Card7
  2. Highly skilled workers (national schemes)26
  3. Researchers6
  4. Other paid activities188
EU Blue Cards granted, 2024
36
Citizenships acquired in the EU, 2024
318
Students in EU/EFTA tertiary education, 2024
1,333
Refused entry at EU external borders, 2025
50
Valid residence permits, 31 Dec 2025
6,131
Long-term residence permits issued, 2025
687
Changed status into work, 2025
102
Intra-corporate transferee permits, 2025
1
Seasonal work authorisations, 2024
1
Source: Eurostat (migr_resfirst, migr_resbc11, migr_acq, educ_uoe_mobs02, migr_eirfs, migr_pop1ctz), CC BY 4.0Data as at 2024–2025

National statistics in Europe

Citizens of Panama in the figures of national statistics offices: residence permits granted in Denmark, immigrations by grounds for settlement in Sweden and immigrants with a non-EU/EFTA nationality by migration motive in the Netherlands; Finland and Austria publish immigration and emigration by citizenship only.

CountryYearAllWorkStudyFamilyProtectionOther or unknown
Denmark202515112200
CountryYearImmigrationEmigrationNet migration
Finland2025303
Austria20251046
Source: Danmarks Statistik, Statistikbanken VAN66 and VAN77M (CC BY 4.0); SCB (Statistics Sweden), Statistikdatabasen TAB1614 and TAB6670 (CC0); CBS (Statistics Netherlands), StatLine 84809NED (CC BY 4.0); Statistics Finland (Tilastokeskus), StatFin 11a8 (CC BY 4.0); Statistik Austria, OGD_bevwan020_AUSSENWAND_100 (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Foreign embassies and consulates in Panama

Countries with an embassy or consulate in Panama, as recorded in Wikidata.

CountryEmbassiesConsulates-generalConsulates
Argentina1——
Barbados1——
Belgium1——
Bolivia1——
Brazil1——
Canada1——
Chile1——
China1——
Colombia1——
Costa Rica1——
Cuba1——
Dominican Republic1——
Ecuador1——
Egypt1——
El Salvador1——
France1——
Germany1——
Haiti1——
Honduras1——
India1——
Indonesia1——
Israel1——
Italy1——
Japan1——
Kosovo1——
Mexico1——
Morocco1——
Netherlands1——
Nicaragua1——
Paraguay1——
Peru1——
Poland1——
Portugal1——
Qatar1——
Russia1——
South Korea1——
Spain1——
Trinidad and Tobago1——
Türkiye1——
United Arab Emirates1——
United Kingdom1——
Uruguay1——
Vietnam1——
Countries
43
Missions
43
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Panama, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

3787562000200320062009201220152018202120242025
378756200020052010201520202025
Data table
200016
200173
200285
2003107
2004109
2005130
2006300
2007355
2008378
2009337
2010410
2011368
2012411
2013461
2014756
2015554
2016503
2017533
2018538
2019581
2020387
2021567
2022526
2023516
2024532
2025634
Remittances received, 2025
US$634 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.7%
Average cost of sending US$200 to Panama, 2023
2.5%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

All corridors from Panama

Destinations with a dedicated page for citizens of this country.

  • Panama → United States
  • Panama → Spain
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more