Immigration and Visas The Panamanian government has created several laws which, depending on the particular type of visa applied for, enable foreigners to obtain legal temporary or permanent residency, work permits, and in some cases citizenship and / or passports in the Republic of Panama. Most of these laws have been created to promote foreign investment in the country which benefits the local environment or local economy of Panama. Below we have listed several immigration programs. Some of these programs offer temporary or permanent residency, citizenship, and passports and others may not. Some of these programs only offer temporary resident visas, or work permits. Programs offering Immediate Panamanian Passport: Immediate Passport Program Programs offering Permanent Residency & Passport: Self Economic Solvency Visa Agricultural Investor Program Small Business Investor Program Tax Free Processing Zone Investor Program Reforestation Visa (New) Programs offering Permanent Residency only: Retired or Pensioned Program Programs offering Temporary Work Visa only:  City of Knowledge Work Visa Programs offering Temporary Immigrant Visa only: Missionary Visa Student Visa Multiple Entry & Exit Visa (Optional): Multiple Entry and Exit Visa   Immigration and Visas The Panamanian government has created several laws which, depending on the particular type of visa applied for, enable foreigners to obtain legal temporary or permanent residency, work permits, and in some cases citizenship and / or passports in the Republic of Panama. Most of these laws have been created to promote foreign investment in the country which benefits the local environment or local economy of Panama.