Panama launches innovative program to attract tourists and stimulate economic reactivatn

The National Government announced through Executive Decree the launch of a new and innovative program called Short Stay Visa as Remote Worker (Telework), whose objective is to stimulate economic reactivation by attracting "extended stay" tourists and digital nomads who can telework from Panama.

This program would invigorate the economy by stimulating tourism, restaurants, shopping, and consumption and services in general, resulting in a greater reactivation of jobs for Panamanians.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, new forms of work have been promoted worldwide, including remote work, practiced by many companies and their collaborators who have had to adapt to working from home or, well, from anywhere Place of the world.

That is, a person who works in the United States, and who, due to the restrictions due to COVID-19, has to work from home in that country, can decide to do it now from Panama, from the place of their preference and in an extended way.

The program is valid only for tourists whose work functions or services take effect abroad, and are provided to companies located abroad. They can also apply independent workers who provide services abroad, and whose source of income is from abroad. In other words, people who work locally in Panama or who generate income by providing services to Panamanian companies will not be able to apply to this program.