Moving guides
From Italy to Panama
What changes in tax when you move from Italy to Panama: what you pay today, what you would pay there and the rules Italy applies when you leave.
What you would save
With €150,000 a year in dividends or foreign income, compared as a genuine resident of each country.
Leaving Italy
- Residence (habitual abode) for most of the year. You are resident if your habitual abode is in Italy for more than 183 days in the tax year (184 in a leap year), counting fractions of days, under the rules in force since 2024.
- Domicile: centre of personal and family life. Since 2024 domicile means the main centre of your personal and family relationships, which now weigh more than economic interests. Domicile in Italy for most of the year makes you resident.
- Physical presence. New since 2024: simply being physically present in Italy for more than 183 days in the year, including fractions of days, makes you resident.
- Registry of resident population (anagrafe). Being registered as resident for most of the year creates a presumption of residence. Since 2024 it can be rebutted with proof; registering in AIRE (Italians abroad) alone is not enough.
Rules that can follow you after leaving
- Presumption for moves to blacklisted countries. Italian citizens who deregister and move to a country on Italy's tax haven list are presumed still resident unless they prove a genuine move. The burden of proof is on the taxpayer.
Exit tax in Italy
No exit tax for private individuals
Individuals holding shares or other assets privately are not taxed on unrealised gains when they leave Italy. The exit tax in article 166 TUIR applies only to businesses (companies and sole traders carrying on a commercial business) that transfer residence or assets abroad.
Arriving in Panama
Personal income: 0% abroad · Company tax: 0% abroad
Friendly Nations visa (Spain, UK, US and many others included) or qualified investor visa with immediate permanent residency.
No minimum to keep residency; for the tax certificate, 183 days or a permanent home.
Income earned abroad is not taxed, for people or companies. Opening a bank account as a foreigner is slow.
Living there
Steps to residency
- 4 weeksGather apostilled documents and police record
- 3 weeksMake qualifying investment or deposit (e.g. Friendly Nations or Qualified Investor)
- 1 weeksFile application via Panamanian lawyer at Migracion
- 16 weeksProvisional card, then permanent residence approval
- 4 weeksApply for cedula de extranjero
About 28 weeks in total
Official websites: Tax authority · Immigration
Approximate figures that change often; check them before deciding.