Frequently asked questions
Short answers to the questions people ask most, each with its rule.
Is it 183 days or more than 183 days?
More than 183 days, in the fiscal year or the year before. Exactly 183 days is not enough.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 762-N
Can I be a tax resident with fewer days?
Yes, if you establish your permanent home in Panama. A lease alone is not enough without a personal tie to the home.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 762-N; DGI Resolution 201-0354 of 2016
Do I need a residency permit to be a tax resident?
No. The law counts days or a permanent home, and the DGI does not ask for a residency card for the certificate.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 762-N; DGI Resolution 201-0354 of 2016
Do days as a digital nomad count?
Article 762-N counts physical presence without tying it to any immigration category.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 762-N
Does Panama tax my foreign pension?
No. Panama taxes income produced in Panama, and a pension paid from abroad is not.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 694
How long does the DGI certificate take?
The DGI says about three months, in order of arrival. That is its service estimate, not a legal deadline.
Source: DGI, questions on the tax residence certificate
Does the certificate expire?
It covers the period you asked for. For another year you apply again.
Source: DGI Resolution 201-0354 of 2016, tenth resolution
When do individuals file a Panamanian return?
By March 15. An extension of up to one month can be requested before the deadline, after paying the tax you estimate.
Source: Fiscal Code, article 710
Is there a UK Panama tax treaty?
Yes. It has been in force since December 12, 2013. For leaving the UK, HMRC publishes the Statutory Residence Test guide and form P85.
Source: HMRC, Panama tax treaties
Do Spaniards stay Spanish taxpayers after moving to Panama?
Spain keeps nationals as taxpayers when they move to a jurisdiction it treats as a tax haven. Panama is not on Spain’s current list.
Source: Spain, Law 35 of 2006, article 8.2; Order HFP/115/2023
Is my Panamanian bank account reported abroad?
Under CRS to the countries on Panama’s list, and under FATCA to the United States, through the DGI.
Source: Law 51 of 2016; Law 47 of 2016
Spanish–English glossary
- Residencia fiscal
- Tax residency.
- Dirección General de Ingresos, DGI
- Panama’s tax authority.
- Certificado de residencia fiscal
- Tax residence certificate.
- RUC
- Taxpayer registry number, Panama’s tax ID.
- NT
- The RUC assigned to a foreigner without a cédula.
- Convenio para evitar la doble imposición
- Double tax treaty.
Planning your move to Panama?
Book a free 15-minute call with a Panamanian lawyer. We will tell you what applies to your case and what to prepare.