Panama recorded a 132.9% increase in the number of residence permits approved and denied during the third quarter of 2026, according to statistics from the National Migration Service (SNM).
Between July and September, 18,494 foreign nationals' applications were resolved, compared to the 7,942 recorded between April and June, an increase of 10,552 resolutions.
According to the official report, July recorded 6,225 resolutions, August 6,053, and September 6,216. Of the total for the third quarter, 17,949 permits were approved and 545 rejected. The institution explained that the increase was mainly related to a greater number of files approved in certain migration categories.
The SNM attributes the change observed since July to the administrative behavior of approvals, especially in the categories of Humanitarian Security Protection (PPSH), extensions linked to that program, retirees, pensioners, and dependents. The figures reflect resolutions issued, not necessarily new applications submitted during the quarter.
Between January and September, Migration recorded 34,951 residence resolutions, of which 33,959 were favorable and 992 negative. This represents an approval rate of 97.2% among the files resolved by the entity during the first nine months of the year.
The largest number corresponded to 12,268 temporary residence permits, followed by 9,236 permanent ones, ...
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Panama's National Migration Service resolved 18,494 residence applications between July and September, an increase of 132.9% over the previous quarter. Photo: Illustrative image InfobaePanama recorded a 132.9% increase in the number of residence permits approved and denied during the third quarter, according to statistics from the National Migration Service (SNM). Between July and September, 18,494 applications from foreigners were resolved, compared to the 7,942 counted between April and June, an increase of 10,552 resolutions. According to the official report, July recorded 6,225 resolutions, August 6,053, and September 6,216. Of the total for the third quarter, 17,949 permits were approved and 545 rejected. The institution explained that the increase was mainly related to a higher number of files approved in certain migratory categories. The SNM attributes the change observed since July to the administrative behavior of approvals, especially in the categories of Humanitarian Security Protection (PPSH), extensions linked to that program, retirees, pensioners, and dependents. The figures reflect resolutions issued, not necessarily new applications filed during the quarter. Panamanian authorities approved 33,959 residence permits during the first nine months, while another 992 applications were rejected. (Illustrative image Infobae)Between January and September, Migration recorded 34,951 residence resolutions, of which 33,959 were favorable and 992 negative. This represents an approval rate of 97.2% among the files resolved by the agency during the first nine months of the year. The largest number corresponded to 12,268 temporary residence permits, followed by 9,236 permanent, 7,201 extensions, and 5,254 provisional ones. By specific category, Humanitarian Security Protection accumulated 12,606 approvals, followed by dependents, with 4,323, and permanent regularization, with 3,407. By nationality, Colombians led the approvals with 9,978 permits, followed by Venezuelans with 5,873 and Nicaraguans with 3,462. Americans also stood out with 2,923 authorizations, Chinese citizens with 1,160, and Cubans with 1,035, according to official records. The administrative activity also included 2,660 authorizations for employees or executives of multinational companies, 2,363 corresponding to friendly countries, and 2,082 for retirees or pensioners. Another 1,294 approvals were related to education reasons, reflecting the diversity of categories used by foreigners. The Humanitarian Security Protection category concentrated 12,606 approved permits between January and September, the largest number within the classifications recorded by Migration. (Archive photo. Courtesy of Panama Migration). In the labor sphere, the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel) recorded 19,342 applications for work permits for foreigners between January and September. Of that total, 7,598 corresponded to the third quarter, with July being the month of greatest activity, counting 3,095 applications. The report also records 17,956 work permits approved during the nine months, compared to 1,376 denied applications. In September alone, 5,178 approvals were counted, a figure considerably higher than those recorded in previous months. The work permit category under Decree 6 concentrated 12,999 approvals, while authorizations on humanitarian grounds totaled 2,857. Also approved were 1,083 permits for permanent residents under Executive Decree 21, according to preliminary Mitradel statistics. In addition, Panama counted 3,256,537 traveler entries between January and September, of which 2,543,058 corresponded to foreigners. The United States led the countries of origin with 450,087 entries, followed by Colombia with 419,858 and Costa Rica with 171,284. These figures include trips and are not equivalent to people applying for residence. Panama approved 17,956 work permits for foreigners between January and September, with a monthly maximum of 5,178 authorizations during September. (Illustrative image Infobae)In the area of migration control, 851 foreigners were detained for various reasons during the first nine months of the year. The main ones were irregular entry, with 318 cases; overstayed status, with 249; and referral upon completion of sentence, with 210, according to SNM records. The statistics show a significant increase in migratory administrative activity during the third quarter, accompanied by thousands of labor applications. However, the increase in resolutions does not by itself demonstrate an equivalent growth in new residents, because it also includes extensions, regularizations, and accumulated files.