Panama Friendly Nations Visa vs Thailand Elite Visa
Panama other route: $250 fee, 24 months. Thailand other route: $18,800 fee, 60 months.
- Panama Friendly Nations: $250 to apply, $18,550 less than Thailand Elite.
- Panama Friendly Nations: 1 days a year required, 1 more than Thailand Elite.
Built for: Retirees and Passive investors.
- Fee
- $250
- Duration
- 24 months
- Fee
- $18,800
- Duration
- 60 months
- Processing
- 4-12 weeks
Next steps
Panama Friendly Nations
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Side by side
Panama Friendly Nations Visa
Thailand Elite Visa
Visa type
Status
Initial duration, months
Renewable
Built for
Minimum age, years
Practical minimum age, years
Nationality restrictions
Processing time, minimum (weeks)
Processing time, maximum (weeks)
Where to apply
Interview required
Medical exam required
Minimum savings, one time
Minimum investment, one time
Investment types
Application fee, one time
Income sources accepted
Employment types accepted
Social Security counts as income
Pension income recognized
Local work permitted
Health insurance required
Local bank account required
Apostille required
US FBI background check required
Certificate of coverage required
Required documents
Leads to permanent residency
Years to permanent residency
Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization
Days in country, per year
Maximum consecutive days abroad
Tax regime
US tax treaty
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Other | Other |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Initial duration, months | 24 | 60 (Longest initial stay) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | FIRE, Retirees, Digital nomads, Freelancers, Passive investors, Remote employees | Passive investors, Retirees |
| Minimum age, years | 18 (Lowest minimum age) | 20 |
| Practical minimum age, years | 18 (Lowest practical minimum age) | 20 |
| Nationality restrictions | Specific countries only | Specific countries only |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum savings, one time | $200,000 | Not specified |
| Minimum investment, one time | $200,000 | $18,800 (Lowest known investment) |
| Investment types | Real estate, Capital transfer | Capital transfer |
| Application fee, one time | $250 (Lowest known fee) | $18,800 |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Income sources accepted | Remote work, Pension or Social Security, Savings, Passive income, Business income | Not specified |
| Employment types accepted | W-2 employee, 1099 contractor, Business owner, Self-employed | Not specified |
| Social Security counts as income | No | No |
| Pension income recognized | No | No |
| Local work permitted | No | No |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time, minimum (weeks) | Not specified | 4 weeks |
| Processing time, maximum (weeks) | Not specified | 12 weeks |
| Where to apply | 2 items listedSee where to apply on the visa page | 2 items listedSee where to apply on the visa page |
| Interview required | No | No |
| Medical exam required | No | No |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to permanent residency | Yes (Path to permanent residency) | No |
| Years to permanent residency | 2 years | Not specified |
| Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization | 7 years | Not applicable |
| Days in country, per year | 1 days | 0 days (Fewest days required in country) |
| Maximum consecutive days abroad | 730 days | Not specified |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Tax regime | Territorial | Worldwide |
| US tax treaty | Partial treaty | Not specified |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | Thailand Elite Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Health insurance required | No | No |
| Local bank account required | Yes | No (No local bank account needed) |
| Apostille required | Yes | No (No apostille needed) |
| US FBI background check required | No | No |
| Certificate of coverage required | No | No |
| Required documents | 9 items listedSee full list on the visa page | 3 items listedSee full list on the visa page |