Open a Company in Panama as a Foreigner: The Deed, the Resident Agent and the Tax Number
You want a Panama company, and you may want the Qualified Investor residence with it. A Panama company is formed by a notarised deed registered at the Public Registry, and a sociedad anonima must have a resident agent who is a lawyer. The tax number (RUC) takes about 2 to 6 business days once you have the Registry certificate.
A company that needs a lawyer, a deed and a lot of paper
A Panama company cannot be formed without a notary and a resident agent who is a lawyer. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish, and the resident agent must identify the real owner. Annual payments have set dates.
What it looks like from the outside:
- A notarised deed that must be registered, with no exception.
- A resident agent who must hold a licence and report on the real owner.
- Apostilled and translated foreign documents.
How it feels:
- You worry you will sign a deed you cannot read.
- You fear a resident agent who does not file on time.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when guides skip the paperwork.
You do not have to handle the paperwork alone
We know how hard it is to set up in a country where every step runs through a lawyer in another language. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe a Panama company should start from the Registry's and the regulators' rules, not from a brochure.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A clear legal route | The deed, the Registry and the resident agent are set by law | You know every required party |
| A supervised resident agent | The agent is supervised by the SSNF and verifies the real owner | You deal with a regulated professional |
| A fast tax number | The DGI lists about 2 to 6 business days for the RUC | You can start trading soon after registration |
| A link to the investor residence | The Qualified Investor Programme accepts a qualifying investment you can hold through a company | One plan can serve the company and the residence |
| One point of contact | We bring in the lawyer and the resident agent through our partners in Panama | You do not chase several firms |
Where it takes you: a registered Panama company with a tax number. A company does not give you residence: that is a separate programme.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You want to run or hold assets through a Panama company | You want residence from the company alone: it gives none |
| You can sign a notarised deed with apostilled documents | You want to avoid a lawyer: the law requires a resident agent |
| You can accept a resident agent who reports on the real owner | You need a guaranteed bank account: banks decide |
| You want one point of contact for the lawyer, agent and accountant | Your funds cannot be documented |
Not sure Panama is the best fit? Compare all Latin America routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need a notarised deed, a resident agent, the Registry filing and apostilled documents. The resident agent identifies the real owner.
What the DGI, SSNF and Gaceta pages list:
- A notarised public deed registered at the Registro Publico, with no exception.
- A resident agent for a sociedad anonima: a lawyer or law firm with the Supreme Court's idoneidad, supervised by the SSNF.
- Identification of the beneficial owner, which the resident agent verifies.
- Apostilled foreign documents, translated into Spanish.
- A RUC from the DGI, on the legal representative's ID and the Registry certificate.
- The annual single tax (tasa unica), paid on set dates.
The routes and rules
The Registry, the DGI and the SSNF each set a step.
| Step | Official figure | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | Notarised public deed | Registered at the Registro Publico |
| Resident agent | Required for a sociedad anonima | A lawyer or law firm, supervised by the SSNF |
| RUC | About 2 to 6 business days | Legal representative ID and Registry certificate; foreign papers apostilled and translated |
| Annual single tax | B/.300 a year per the Registry manual; B/.250 for the first payment per the 2009 law | Due by 15 July or 15 January by registration month; B/.50 surcharge for each late year |
Resident agent duties. The agent keeps the share certificates and the shareholder register in Panama. For companies with no operations in Panama, the agent files an annual accounting-records declaration through the DGI's e-Tax 2.0, a personal duty with sanctions under Law 254 of 2021.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The Registry and tax steps are small costs. Set them against the cost of a wrong start: an agent who does not file.
| Item | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Annual single tax | B/.300 a year (Registry manual); first payment B/.250 (2009 law) |
| Bank account | Not official; banks decide |
Source: DGI and SSNF pages, Gaceta Oficial and the Registro Publico manual.
Set up with our partners in Panama
We arrange the steps through partners in Panama, so you deal with one point of contact. We arrange the lawyer and resident agent, the company deed and filing, the RUC, the accountant, the bank introduction, property introductions and relocation steps. We introduce you, the partner delivers, and each partner holds the local licence for what it does. We give no investment, legal or tax advice. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Also from AIA: Canada, Europe and citizenship
Many founders plan a second move. Take the Canada immigration assessment, or read our Canada immigration programs. If you want a European base, see residence by investment in Europe, and for a passport, see citizenship by investment.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your company.
- Step 1: Tell us your plan. Use Find my program, or write to us with your business, your shareholders and your country of residence.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We bring in the Panama lawyer and resident agent through our partners, prepare the deed and the apostilled documents, and file at the Registry.
- Step 3: Your company is registered. The DGI issues your RUC in about 2 to 6 business days, and the annual tax falls due on set dates.
Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: DGI, SSNF and Gaceta Oficial pages, Registro Publico manual.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Formation | Notarised public deed registered at the Registro Publico |
| Resident agent | Required for a sociedad anonima, supervised by the SSNF; Law 2 of 2011 and Law 52 of 2016 |
| RUC | About 2 to 6 business days at the DGI |
| Annual single tax | B/.300 a year per the Registry manual |
What could change: the Registry fees, the annual tax and the supervision rules. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the company
You keep the company in order with a few dated duties. The Registry and the DGI list them.
- Annual single tax: pay by 15 July or 15 January, depending on your registration month.
- Resident agent: the agent keeps your share register in Panama and files its own declaration.
- Real owner: the agent identifies and verifies the beneficial owner.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing packages while the rules shift. You hold a quote, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your company is registered in Panama, your tax number is in place, and you know every deadline. You feel in control, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Registered: your company exists on the registry's terms
- On time: you met each filing deadline
- Prepared: you know the bank step and its limits
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to set up a company in Panama?
The official source list the annual single tax at B/.300 a year per the Registry manual, and a RUC with no fee stated. We have checked case by case the Registry’s incorporation fees, and notary, resident agent and professional fees are on top.
How long does it take?
The DGI lists about 2 to 6 business days for the RUC once you have the Registry certificate. Processing time depends on the authority and on how complete your file is.
Do I need a lawyer?
Yes for a sociedad anonima. It needs a resident agent, who must be a lawyer or law firm with the Supreme Court’s idoneidad and is supervised by the SSNF.
Do I need to be in Panama?
The official source do not require it. Foreign documents must be apostilled and translated into Spanish, and your local partner checks signing steps.
Does a company give me residence in Panama?
No. A company is not residence. See the Panama Qualified Investor Programme.
What is the annual single tax?
The Registry manual cites B/.300 a year, and a 2009 reform text sets B/.250 for the first payment. It is due by 15 July or 15 January by registration month, with a B/.50 surcharge for each late year. Your partner checks the amounts.
What does the resident agent do?
The agent keeps the share certificates and shareholder register in Panama, identifies and verifies the real owner, and for companies with no operations in Panama files an annual accounting declaration.
Can you open a bank account for me?
We introduce you to a bank through our partners in Panama. Banks decide, and we cannot promise an account.
What does AIA charge?
We agree the scope and the price with you after a short call. The Registry, DGI and tax figures above are the authorities’ own.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
