22/10/2026
Panama has just created the Working Holiday visa through Executive Decree No. 21 of 2026, already in force. It lets young foreigners aged 18 to 30 stay up to twelve months and work temporarily in the country.
But one detail defines the whole program: the visa, on its own, does not authorize work. Immigration grants the migratory status; the authorization to work is granted separately by the Ministry of Labor (Mitradel). Two keys, not one.
On top of that, the program applies only to nationals of countries with a standing bilateral agreement with Panama, a list that has not yet been published. For a company looking to hire, and for the young person looking to come, understanding this structure is the first step to avoid turning a lawful plan into a contingency.
At EDTIJ we prepared a clear guide to what this visa allows, for whom, how it differs from the digital nomad and Friendly Nations routes, and what to confirm before deciding.
Read the full article: https://buff.ly/7iqKoBv