Minimum cost
$800
application fee
Timeline
5 years
residency required
Visa-free access
149
passport rank #31
Dual citizenship
Allowed
renunciation required (not enforced)
Path to citizenship
- Residency5 years · permanent
- Apply365-730 days
- Citizenshipafter the oath
Overview
- Country
- Panama
- Program
- Panama Standard Naturalization
- Local name
- Naturalización Panameña
- Type
- Naturalization
- Status
- Active
- Residency required
- 5 years
- Processing time
- 365-730 days
- Dual citizenship
- Allowed
- Visa-free countries
- 149 destinations
- Passport rank
- #31 (Henley Index)
Citizenship by naturalization after 5 years of permanent residency, reduced to 3 years for spouses of Panamanian citizens or applicants with children born in Panama with a Panamanian parent. Applicants must pass a Spanish language and civics test covering Panama's history, geography, and civil rights. Panama allows dual citizenship only with countries that permit reciprocity.
Fees and costs
- Application fee
- $800
Eligibility and requirements
- Minimum age 18+
- Police clearance required
- Medical exam required
- Interview required
- Authorized agent must use authorized agent
- Language Conversational Spanish
- Civics test Panama History, Geography & Civil Rights Exam
- Oath required
- Renunciation required (not enforced)
Residency requirements
- Residency required
- 5 years
- Residency type
- Permanent
- Continuous
- Must be unbroken
- Max absence
- 90 days
Passport and mobility
- Passport rank
- #31 (Henley Index)
- Visa-free access
- 149 countries
- Passport validity
- 5 years
- EU citizenship
- No
- Schengen access
- No
- US E-2 treaty
- Yes — eligible for US investor visa
Physical presence
- Must visit country
- Yes
How to apply
- Method
- In person
- Apply from abroad
- Must apply in-country
- Application type
- Open
- Official website
- www.migracion.gob.pa
- Legal basis
- Constitución Política de la República de Panamá Art. 10-12; Ley 9 de 2024
Notes and caveats
Spouses of Panamanian citizens, or applicants with children born in Panama with a Panamanian parent, may qualify after 3 years instead of 5. Requires 5 testimonials from witnesses before a Civil Court confirming residence. Dual citizenship allowed with reciprocal countries (mainly Latin American nations and Spain). Panamanian lawyer required for representation.