MOVING TO
PANAMA
FROM CHINA

Residency options for Chinese nationals

If you’re a Chinese citizen considering relocation, the Panama-China pathway has some great opportunities for moving, investment, and permanent residency. Panama offers many immigration programs suited to Chinese investors, retirees, and families.

Get in touch

Most Popular Panama Residency Programs
For Chinese Citizens

Panama Travel Passport Visa
Panama Travel Passport Visa

Also known as Private Income Retirement Visa, grants permanent residency in Panama to Chinese who open a Certificate of Deposit in a Panamanian state bank generating monthly interest. Includes Panama travel passport for greater global mobility.

START LEARNING
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Panama Qualified Investor Visa

The Qualified Investor Visa is one of the fastest routes in Panama for China nationals. This option offers permanent residency by investment in just 30 days through qualifying capital deployment in real estate, securities, or a fixed-term deposit.

START LEARNING
Panama Reforestation Visa
Panama Reforestation Visa

The Reforestation Visa offers a sustainable way to Panama residency for those who invest in certified reforestation projects. It enables Chinese nationals to aid environmental preservation while obtaining legal status and immigration benefits.

START LEARNING

WHY CHOOSE PANAMA?

Whether you are a businessperson, you will really benefit from Panama’s environment, participating in the growing investments across business and real estate. The government consistently designates resources for infrastructure and road construction. Panama has very friendly and welcoming immigration policies, its stable economy, business-friendly laws, and favorable tax regime make it ideal for Chinese investment in Panama.

With the growing connections between our two nations, Panama for China is definitely a reliable and welcoming place for anyone looking to start a new chapter abroad.

5%+ annual GDP growth over the past 8 years
Tax advantages for foreign income
International schools and bilingual education
No standing army and strong focus on safety

Business Advantage

•

Protect your assets and privacy

Panama offers great options like International Business Corporations (IBCs) and Private Interest Foundations (PIFs) to help you manage your estate and keep confidentiality.

•

Secure your trademarks

Registering your brand in Panama gives you legal protection and control over goods moving through the Panama Canal and the most important free trade zones.

•

Prove your tax residency

A Tax Residency Certificate confirms your tax residency in Panama. This can help you benefit from Panama’s tax treaty with China and avoid double taxation on foreign income.

Get more Business Guidance

Real Estate Opportunity

•

Easy property participation

Investing in Panamanian real estate is easy thanks to a public registry that simplifies the registration of property titles, offering tax advantages and increased property values.

•

Equal conditions

Panama's laws guarantee equal investor treatment—local or foreign—allowing property registration under your name or company for asset protection and planning.

•

Help with your purchase

Real estate advisors can help you find the perfect property and guide you through the buying, selling, and escrow process.

Legal Guidance in Panamanian Real Estate

THE CHINESE COMMUNITY IN PANAMA

The Chinese in Panama represent one of the nation’s oldest and most influential, with roots tracing back to the 19th-century construction of the interoceanic railway. Panama hosts the largest Chinese community in the region, with a deeply rooted presence marked by temples, schools, cultural associations, and celebrations like the Chinese New Year.

Their influence is especially evident in the context of Panama’s growing ties with China — a relationship strengthened by the strategic role of the Panama Canal in global trade. This dynamic has also encouraged increased Chinese investment in the country.

Chinese celebration Chinese family celebration

OUR LAW FIRM

Kraemer & Kraemer is a law firm in Panama known for offering legal solutions focused on excellence, experience, and trust. For more than 18 years, we have been helping our clients with their immigration processes. Our multilingual team works hard to guarantee that your transition to Panama residency is efficient, compliant, and secure. As part of our ongoing commitment to providing trusted legal guidance, our team actively interacts with government authorities.

Contact Us
Professional law firm team
Contact Us

FAQs

Main applicants must be at least 18 years old. There is no maximum age limit. Children under 18 qualify, and those between 18 and 25 also qualify if unmarried and studying full time. Parents of the main applicant can also be added in the residency packages.

Permanent Residency can be suspended if you are absent from the country for 2 years or more. Other reasons to have permanent residency suspended include being found guilty of a criminal offense.

Yes, those with Panamanian permanent residency through programs like Self-Solvency or Qualified Investor can apply for citizenship after 5 years, or 3 if married to a Panamanian or have children born in Panama. Approval takes 2 to 5 years.

Residency options in Panama for Chinese nationals offer tax advantages, political stability, and access to quality healthcare and education. Residents benefit from a dollarized economy, international connectivity, and the option to apply for citizenship after a certain period of time, depending on the immigration program they are enrolled in.

Residency lets you live legally in Panama, but you’ll need a separate work permit to be employed. Some programs allow this. If working is a priority, choose immigration options that support work permit eligibility.

Criminal records are valid for six months unless stated otherwise. Health certificates issued in Panama last 90 days. Bank references: 30 days. Marriage, birth, and retirement documents stay valid for six months total.

Foreigners can drive with their foreign license for up to 90 days. But once you apply for residency, you’re no longer allowed to use it; you’ll then need to get a Panamanian driver’s license.

No, you need to get a national criminal background check from your home country or any country you’ve lived in during the past ten years. What the Panamanian Consulate can do is authenticate that document for you.