Panama has created a Working Holiday visa allowing eligible young foreigners to spend up to a year in the country and undertake temporary employment, subject to a separate work permit.
Executive Decree 21 was signed on October 13 and took effect when published in the Official Gazette on October 14. It establishes a new short-stay category within Panama’s non-resident immigration system.
Applicants must be aged between 18 and 30 when applying and hold citizenship of a country with a qualifying bilateral Working Holiday agreement with Panama.
The decree does not identify participating countries. Its publication therefore does not mean that young people of every nationality can apply. Applicants must obtain certification from Panama’s Foreign Ministry confirming their participation in the programme.
The visa can be granted for a maximum of 12 months and cannot be extended. Participants must leave Panama when the programme ends.
Although temporary employment is permitted, the immigration document alone does not authorize someone to work. Participants must also obtain the corresponding permit from the Ministry of Labour and Workforce Development.
The decree excludes permanent employment and prevents beneficiaries from changing immigration categories or obtaining permanent residence during their stay.
Applications must be submitted personally to the National Migration Service’s Office of Special Projects. Required documents include a notarized passport copy, photographs, an apostilled birth certificate and an apostilled criminal-record certificate from the applicant’s country of origin.
Applicants must also have medical insurance covering their entire stay and demonstrate sufficient financial resources. The decree does not specify a minimum amount.
The programme is intended to promote cultural exchange and youth mobility through reciprocal agreements. For prospective participants, confirmation of nationality eligibility and Foreign Ministry certification will be necessary before the new category becomes a practical travel option.
Sources: Official Gazette
