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Moving guides

From Spain to Panama

What changes in tax when you move from Spain to Panama: what you pay today, what you would pay there and the rules Spain 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.

Today in Spain€33,380
In Panama€0
Yearly difference+€33,380

Full guide: Panama →

Leaving Spain

  • More than 183 days in Spain. You are resident if you spend more than 183 days in Spain in a calendar year. Temporary absences count as days in Spain unless you prove tax residence in another country.
  • Main base of business or economic interests. You are resident if the main base or centre of your business activities or economic interests is in Spain, directly or indirectly, even with few days spent there.
  • Family presumption. Spain presumes you are resident if your spouse (not legally separated) and dependent minor children live there habitually. You can rebut this with proof.
  • Absences in tax havens. If you claim residence in a non-cooperative jurisdiction, the tax agency may require proof that you actually spent 183 days there in the year.

Rules that can follow you after leaving

  • Spanish nationals moving to a tax haven stay resident 4 more years. Spanish nationals who move their tax residence to a non-cooperative jurisdiction remain Spanish taxpayers in the year of the move and the following four tax years.

Exit tax in Spain

Ganancias patrimoniales por cambio de residencia (art. 95 bis Ley 35/2006 IRPF)

  • Tax resident in Spain for at least 10 of the 15 tax periods before the last one to be declared.
  • Shares or fund units with a total market value above EUR 4,000,000, OR a stake above 25% in a company whose market value for that stake is above EUR 1,000,000 (in this second case only those shares are taxed).

Unrealised gain (market value minus acquisition value) is taxed as if sold, as savings income at the savings rates (19% to 30%), declared in the last tax period as resident.

Exit tax → · Am I still resident? →

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

Monthly cost for one person, rent included
Panama City€1,800–2,300
Climate
Tropical; 27-32°C year-round, rainy season May to November.
Direct flights to
Miami, New York, Madrid, Amsterdam, Bogota
Safety
Medium
International schools
Some
Fixed internet
219 Mbps

Steps to residency

  1. 4 weeksGather apostilled documents and police record
  2. 3 weeksMake qualifying investment or deposit (e.g. Friendly Nations or Qualified Investor)
  3. 1 weeksFile application via Panamanian lawyer at Migracion
  4. 16 weeksProvisional card, then permanent residence approval
  5. 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.

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