Panama's new Working Holiday visa: what Decree 21 allows, and what it does not

Panama's new Working Holiday visa (Executive Decree 21 of October 13, 2026) lets people aged 18 to 30 from countries that have a bilateral agreement with Panama stay up to 12 months, with no extension, and work temporarily if the Ministry of Labor issues a permit. It does not lead to residency, and it is not the digital nomad visa.

Verified October 19, 2026 against the decree text published in the Gaceta Oficial.

What the decree says, article by article

We read the decree text itself, published in Gaceta Oficial 30634-B on October 14, 2026. It was issued by the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees the National Migration Service.

• Article 1: creates a short-stay visa sub-category inside the non-resident category, for the "Working Holiday" program. It applies only to nationals of countries that have a bilateral agreement in force with Panama for this purpose.
• Article 2: up to 12 months, with no extension.
• Article 3: the applicant must be between 18 and 30 years old at the time of applying, must leave Panama when the program ends, and cannot change migratory category.
• Article 4: the application goes to the Special Projects Office of the National Migration Service, filed in the applicant's own name, with: a passport copy certified by a Panamanian notary, three ID-size photos, an apostilled birth certificate, a certification from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the applicant is part of the program, health insurance for the whole stay, proof of sufficient funds, and an apostilled criminal record certificate from the home country.
• Articles 5 and 6: holders may work temporarily, but not in permanent employment, and may not obtain permanent residence while on the visa. Working requires a separate work permit from the Ministry of Labor (Mitradel).
• Articles 7 and 8: Migration and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs run the program and follow what participants do. Breaking the rules means cancellation of the visa and a deportation order.
• Article 9: the decree took effect on promulgation.

What the decree leaves open

Several things people will want to know are simply not in the text we read: the list of countries, a minimum amount for "sufficient funds," the fees, and how long the process takes. The decree also does not say how a person obtains the Foreign Affairs certification, other than requiring it.

That matters, because Article 1 ties the visa to bilateral agreements. We did not verify which agreements are currently in force, so we cannot tell you whether your nationality qualifies. Ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Migration Service or your own country's agency before you plan around this visa.

Working Holiday is not the digital nomad visa, and not a path to residency

Panama already has a short-stay Remote Worker visa, created in 2021, aimed at people who work remotely for clients or employers abroad. The Working Holiday visa is a different thing: it contemplates temporary work inside Panama, with a Mitradel permit, for young people from agreement countries.

Some social posts present the new visa as a way to "live and work" in Panama. The text is narrower: up to 12 months, no extension, no change of category, no permanent work, no permanent residence while it lasts, and a duty to leave when it ends. If your plan is longer than a year, this is not the route; our visa cost and timeline guide covers the residency options and what they involve.

Who should care

Mainly young travelers from agreement countries, employers who might hire them, and professionals who advise them. For everyone else the practical lesson is about reading the source: the headline was "new visa in Panama," and the decree is a 12-month, non-extendable, conditional stay.

If you are planning a longer move, the relocation guide and our piece on how to choose an independent advisor are better starting points.

How Proper looks at this

Proper does not process Working Holiday applications. We follow the decree because visa rules change quickly and the first headlines are often looser than the text. If you are deciding between visa routes for a longer move, the Clarity Session (US$300) is a private 60–90 minute call where we map your plan, what to verify and in what order, and which specialist you would need, if any.

Sources

Checked October 19, 2026.

• Decreto Ejecutivo 21 of October 13, 2026, Gaceta Oficial 30634-B (primary source, read in full).
• Nexo Capital and SNIP Noticias (press coverage of the decree, consistent with the text).