The 51 countries, from the instrument text
The roster below is the one in force as of September 2026. Decreto 226 of July 20, 2021 listed the first 50, in the order the decree prints them.[1] Decreto 16 of August 31, 2026 added Ecuador at the end.[3] The Spanish column quotes the instrument’s own name for each state.
| # | Country | In the decree | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom | Reino Unido de Gran Bretaña e Irlanda del Norte | UK citizens guide |
| 2 | Germany | República Federal de Alemania | EU citizens guide |
| 3 | Argentina | República Argentina | No dedicated page yet |
| 4 | Australia | Confederación de Australia | No dedicated page yet |
| 5 | South Korea | República de Corea | No dedicated page yet |
| 6 | Austria | República de Austria | EU citizens guide |
| 7 | Brazil | República Federativa del Brasil | Brazil citizens guide |
| 8 | Belgium | Reino de Bélgica | EU citizens guide |
| 9 | Canada | Canadá | Canada guide |
| 10 | Spain | Reino de España | EU citizens guide |
| 11 | United States | Estados Unidos de América | US citizens guide |
| 12 | Slovakia | República Eslovaca | EU citizens guide |
| 13 | France | República Francesa | EU citizens guide |
| 14 | Finland | República de Finlandia | EU citizens guide |
| 15 | Netherlands | Reino de los Países Bajos | EU citizens guide |
| 16 | Ireland | República de Irlanda | EU citizens guide |
| 17 | Japan | Estado del Japón | No dedicated page yet |
| 18 | Norway | Reino de Noruega | No dedicated page yet |
| 19 | Czech Republic | República Checa | EU citizens guide |
| 20 | Switzerland | Confederación Suiza | No dedicated page yet |
| 21 | Singapore | República de Singapur | No dedicated page yet |
| 22 | Uruguay | República Oriental del Uruguay | No dedicated page yet |
| 23 | Chile | República de Chile | No dedicated page yet |
| 24 | Sweden | Reino de Suecia | EU citizens guide |
| 25 | Poland | República de Polonia | EU citizens guide |
| 26 | Hungary | Hungría | EU citizens guide |
| 27 | Greece | República Helénica (Grecia) | EU citizens guide |
| 28 | Portugal | República Portuguesa | EU citizens guide |
| 29 | Croatia | República de Croacia | EU citizens guide |
| 30 | Estonia | República de Estonia | EU citizens guide |
| 31 | Lithuania | República de Lituania | EU citizens guide |
| 32 | Latvia | República de Latvia | EU citizens guide |
| 33 | Cyprus | República de Chipre | EU citizens guide |
| 34 | Malta | República de Malta | EU citizens guide |
| 35 | Serbia | República de Serbia | No dedicated page yet |
| 36 | Montenegro | Montenegro | No dedicated page yet |
| 37 | Israel | Estado de Israel | No dedicated page yet |
| 38 | Denmark | Reino de Dinamarca | EU citizens guide |
| 39 | South Africa | República de Sudáfrica | No dedicated page yet |
| 40 | New Zealand | Nueva Zelanda | No dedicated page yet |
| 41 | Hong Kong SAR | Región Administrativa Especial de Hong Kong de la República Popular China | No dedicated page yet |
| 42 | Luxembourg | Gran Ducado de Luxemburgo | EU citizens guide |
| 43 | Liechtenstein | Principado de Liechtenstein | No dedicated page yet |
| 44 | Monaco | Principado de Mónaco | No dedicated page yet |
| 45 | Andorra | Principado de Andorra | No dedicated page yet |
| 46 | San Marino | Serenísima República de San Marino | No dedicated page yet |
| 47 | Costa Rica | República de Costa Rica | No dedicated page yet |
| 48 | Paraguay | República del Paraguay | No dedicated page yet |
| 49 | Mexico | Estados Unidos Mexicanos | No dedicated page yet |
| 50 | Peru | República del Perú | No dedicated page yet |
| 51 | Ecuador | República del Ecuador | Newest member. No dedicated page yet |
How the list is built
Two instruments set the current roster. Decreto 226 replaced the roster article of the 2012 decree and enumerated 50 countries by name.[1] Nothing changed the count for five years. Decreto 16 then added Ecuador, effective September 1, 2026, the first roster change since 2021.[3] El Universo reproduced the full 51-name list when the decree was signed, which independently confirms the count.[2]
One public scan of the Decreto 16 gaceta drops a line at a page boundary and shows only 47 names. That scan is the cache problem, not the decree’s. This table follows the Decreto 226 text plus Ecuador, and the count of 51 stands.[1][2][3]
Counts drift across the web for ordinary reasons. A guide saying 50 was right until August 2026. A site copying the damaged scan shows 47. The decree chain on the Decreto 343 page explains how each number appeared.
Who is not on the list
The absences matter as much as the names, because readers plan around them.
Venezuela, Russia, and Colombia appear on no version of the roster.[1] The same holds for Taiwan and for mainland China. The roster names the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the People’s Republic itself.[1]
Four European Union members are absent: Bulgaria, Italy, Romania, and Slovenia.[1] EU membership and roster membership are different things. Twenty-three EU states are on the list; those four are not.
This site keeps separate guides for the nationality groups people ask about most, covering the paths that remain open:
- Venezuelans in Panama: entry rules and the categories still available.
- Colombians in Panama: easy entry, harder residency.
- Russians in Panama: entry and the non-Friendly-Nations options.
What membership gets you
A listed passport opens the gate. It does not grant anything by itself. The applicant then shows one of three economic ties: property at B/.200,000, a three-year bank deposit at the same amount, or a job with a Panamanian employer. The grant runs two years provisional, then permanent on a second filing. The Friendly Nations Visa page walks each tie and each fee.
Before you rely on any list, including this one
- Check the date behind it. Lists age fast; Ecuador joined on September 1, 2026.
- Check the instrument, not the summary. The roster lives in Decreto 226 as amended by Decreto 16.[1][3]
- Check your exact passport. The roster names states and one region; dual nationals should plan on the listed citizenship.
- Confirm with a Panamanian immigration attorney before acting on any list, including this one.
This page states the roster as of September 2026 and cites the instruments it reproduces. It is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are eligible for the Panama Friendly Nations visa?
Fifty-one countries as of September 2026. The list spans the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Brazil; most of the European Union including Germany, France, Spain, and Sweden; other European states such as Switzerland, Norway, and Serbia; and, outside Europe, Argentina, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Israel, Mexico, Costa Rica, and more. Ecuador is the newest member, added on September 1, 2026. The full table above names all 51.
How many countries are on the Friendly Nations list?
Fifty-one. Decreto 226 of July 2021 set the count at 50, and that number stood for five years. Decreto 16 of August 31, 2026 added Ecuador and brought the list to 51, effective September 1, 2026. Guides published before September 2026 that say 50 were correct at their date of writing. Any current guide still saying 50 is out of date.
Is Ecuador on the Friendly Nations list?
Yes, since September 1, 2026. Decreto 16, published in Gaceta Oficial 30601-B on August 31, added Ecuador as the 51st country. The decree ties the move to diplomatic reciprocity, citing Ecuador's 2025 removal of Panama from its tax list. Ecuadorian applicants follow the standard Decreto 226 terms: one of the three economic ties, a two-year provisional stage, then permanence.
Are Venezuela, Colombia, or Russia on the list?
No. None of the three appears on the current roster, and none appeared on the 2021 versions either. Their nationals need other routes: stamped-visa entry for Venezuelans, and separate categories such as the qualified investor visa or the solvency visa, which do not turn on nationality. This site carries dedicated guides for Venezuelans, Colombians, and Russians covering the paths that remain.
Does being on the list mean I qualify for residency?
No. The passport is only the first gate. Every applicant must also show one economic tie: property worth B/.200,000 or more, a B/.200,000 fixed-term deposit held three years, or employment with a Panamanian employer. The grant runs two years provisional, then permanent on a second filing. A listed nationality with no tie to show qualifies for nothing.
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