Panama visa options for Canada passport holders
Tourist / short stay
Visa-free · up to 180 days
Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days.
Visa types & longer-stay routes for Panama
All non-Panamanian; short-stay varies (180 days US/CA, 90 days most EU/UK/AU/NZ)
- Tourist
Tourist Entry (visa-free)
180 days US/CA; 90 days most others
- Insurance
- Recommendednot legally required
- Good for
- US/CA/EU/UK/AU/NZ and 100+ visa-exempt
- Requirement
- Passport 3+ months, onward travel, ~500 USD funds
- Work
Work Permit Visa (Employee)
Tied to employment, typically 1-2 yrs renewable
- Insurance
- RecommendedCSS Social Security via employment; private top-up recommended
- Good for
- Foreigners with Panamanian employer contract
- Requirement
- Signed contract with PA company, employer meets local-foreign quotas, clean record, health cert
- Digital nomad
Short Stay Visa for Remote Workers (Digital Nomad)
9 months, extendable once to 18 total
- Insurance
- Required(private international cover valid in Panama; travel insurance not accepted)
- Good for
- Remote employees and self-employed with foreign clients/employers
- Requirement
- Foreign income ≥3,000 USD/month (36,000/yr), clean record, employer/contract letter, 250 USD fee + 50 USD card
- Residence
Pensionado Visa (Retirement)
PR from outset; only 1 day/calendar yr in Panama
- Insurance
- RequiredStrongly recommended; not legally mandatory
- Good for
- Retirees with lifetime pension from gov or private
- Requirement
- Lifetime pension ≥1,000 USD/month (+250 USD per dependent), or 750 USD/month if buying property ≥100,000 USD; pension letter stating life income
- Residence
Friendly Nations Visa
2-year provisional, then PR eligible
- Insurance
- Requirednot legally mandatory
- Good for
- Citizens of 50+ eligible countries incl. US/CA/UK/AU/EU/JP/KR/SG
- Requirement
- One economic tie: PA employment, real estate ≥200,000 USD, or fixed bank deposit ≥200,000 USD; police clearance and solvency
- Residence
Qualified Investor Visa
PR (~30-day processing)
- Insurance
- Requirednot legally mandatory
- Good for
- HNW investors seeking fast-track PR
- Requirement
- Real estate ≥300,000 USD (rising to 500,000 after 15 Oct 2026), or 500,000 USD in PA securities, or 750,000 USD deposit; funds from abroad and held 5+ yrs
Visa rules change often and depend on your nationality. Last checked: 2026-06. Always confirm with the official immigration service or your nearest consulate before you apply.
Last verified June 2026
Visa-free isn’t insurance-free
Whatever route you take into Panama, your entry stamp never includes health cover. Many longer-stay visas also require proof of insurance before they’re granted. That part is on you — and it’s what we actually do.
Canada → Panama: frequently asked
- Do Canada passport holders need a visa to visit Panama?
- Visa-free · up to 180 days. Enter without a visa, usually for a set number of days. Always confirm with the official source before booking.
- Can a Canada passport holder live or work long-term in Panama?
- Yes, via a long-stay visa. Panama has 6 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.
- Do I need travel insurance for Panama?
- Entry to Panama never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several Panama visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.
Last updated
Visa rules can change at short notice and depend on your purpose of travel, length of stay and onward tickets. Always confirm with the destination’s embassy or the IATA Travel Centre before you book. Visa-free entry never includes travel health insurance. That’s still on you.