Moving Guides for Panama

Tourists can drive on a foreign license for 90 days. Once you have residency, Panama law requires converting to a local license, but for most nationalities, there is no written exam and no road test. Here’s how the process works, what the tests involve, and what to do if you no longer have your original license.

Panama offers multiple permanent-residency routes — Pensionado, Friendly Nations, Qualified Investor, and more. The right one depends on whether you are a retiree, investor, remote worker, or professional. Here’s how each route compares.