You can register an offshore company in Panama remotely in about 6–8 working days. Entrepreneurs gain an offshore structure with predictable annual costs and straightforward compliance (meeting legal requirements) for long-term international projects.
Excellent — 4.6 out of 5
Registration time: 6 to 8 days
For international business, asset ownership or investment. Suitable for clients who are prepared to handle director appointments and banking arrangements themselves.
This package includes:
Notarised incorporation documents
Minutes of the first meeting of the director and shareholders
Company registration in the Public Registry of Panama
Issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation
Translation of corporate documents into English
Preparation of the share certificate register
Apostille certification of documents
Worldwide courier delivery of the complete set of documents from Panama to the company owner
Registration time: from 20 days
For clients who want to launch a business quickly and make international payments through a company in a single offshore jurisdiction.
The package includes:
Notarised incorporation documents
Minutes of the first meeting of the director and shareholders
Company registration in the Public Registry of Panama
Issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation
Translation of corporate documents into English
Preparation of the share certificate and share registers
Apostille certification of documents
Worldwide courier delivery of the complete set of documents from Panama to the company owner
Three professional directors
Corporate governance structure
For clients who need a company for international business, asset ownership or investment, with assistance opening an account and arranging corporate governance.
Registration time: 6 to 8 working days
The package includes:
Notarised incorporation documents
Minutes of the first meeting of the director and shareholders
Company registration in the Public Registry of Panama
Issuance of the Certificate of Incorporation
Translation of corporate documents into English
Preparation of the share certificate and share registers
Apostille certification of documents
Worldwide courier delivery of the complete set of documents from Panama to the company owner
Assistance opening a bank account
Corporate governance structure
Panama imposes no nationality or residency restrictions on shareholders. After incorporation, one person may own 100% of the shares. Shareholders’ names are entered in the confidential register of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs). Only authorised authorities may access it upon an official request. This procedure is governed by Law No. 129 of 17 March 2020 (Ley Nº 129 de 2020).
Management follows a standard corporate model: shareholders, a board of directors, and articles of incorporation. Meetings may be held anywhere in the world by telephone, email, or online. Shareholders may be represented by proxies if the articles permit this.
Registration does not require a personal visit to Panama. The registered agent deals with the notary, the Public Registry (Registro Público), and the tax authorities. The company and its corporate records can be managed remotely. Personal attendance is required only in rare cases where a particular bank insists on meeting the directors or authorised signatories.
Panama does not require money, securities, or property to be held within its territory. A company may open accounts with foreign banks and custodians. There are no exchange controls, so capital can move freely across borders.
The economy is growing steadily: in 2025, GDP (gross domestic product) grew by 4.4%, while inflation remained low at 0.4%. The banking sector maintains a strong buffer: its liquidity ratio reached 55.51%, against a minimum requirement of 30%.
Panama’s public register lists directors’ names and the company’s registered address. This creates an imbalance in privacy: the owner remains undisclosed, while the manager is publicly visible. Companies engage professional directors to address this vulnerability.
The company must keep accounting records and submit financial statements. Copies of the documents are provided to the registered agent. Records must be retained for at least five years. The agent must inform the regulator where the documents are held, whether in Panama or abroad.
In summer 2026, Panama approved a 15% tax on passive foreign-source income, including dividends, interest, and royalties. The rule applies to offshore companies within multinational groups that cannot demonstrate real economic substance. To retain a 0% rate, companies need an office lease in Panama, employment contracts, and payment orders for local expenses and financial reporting.
Sociedad Anónima (corporation)
Foreign owners most commonly use the Sociedad Anónima (S.A., corporation). Law No. 32 of 1927 (Ley Nº 32 de 1927) permits its use for both local business and international holding structures. The share-based model simplifies ownership transfers, and owners’ liability is limited to the value of their shares.
The company must have at least one shareholder and at least three directors. All may be non-residents. Share capital does not have to be paid in upon incorporation: the law sets no minimum amount, so a nominal amount is often stated in the articles. A registered office in Panama is mandatory and is provided by the resident agent.
| FORM | FEATURES |
|---|---|
Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S. de R.L.) | An alternative to the S.A. is the limited liability company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, S. de R.L.). It requires at least two members, who may be individuals or legal entities. Their interests in the capital are represented by membership interests rather than shares. This form may suit a business with a predetermined group of co-owners. |
Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada (S. de R.L.)
An alternative to the S.A. is the limited liability company (Sociedad de Responsabilidad Limitada, S. de R.L.). It requires at least two members, who may be individuals or legal entities. Their interests in the capital are represented by membership interests rather than shares. This form may suit a business with a predetermined group of co-owners.
Before registration, you must determine the ownership and board composition, appoint a registered agent, and prepare beneficial ownership information.
The name is checked for uniqueness in the Public Registry (Registro Público). It must not duplicate the name of an existing registered company. Latin letters and numbers are permitted.
In an S.A., incorporators, shareholders, directors, and ultimate owners must be distinguished, as their roles and responsibilities differ.
The incorporation document must be signed by at least two adults. They may be of any nationality and live outside Panama.
The company is managed by a board comprising at least three adults. Directors do not have to hold shares unless the incorporation documents state otherwise.
A beneficial owner is an individual who ultimately owns or controls the company, including through other entities.
An S.A. must have a registered, or resident, agent in Panama: a lawyer or law firm authorised to provide these services. The agent must maintain an active registration with the Superintendencia de Sujetos no Financieros (SSNF), the supervisory authority for non-financial entities.
The incorporation document states the company’s domicile and the name and address of its agent in Panama. When arranging a registered address, agree with the provider how correspondence will be received and which services are included.
Panama operates a confidential government system for recording ultimate owners. The registered agent enters the information.
From the 2027 tax period, Panama is introducing special rules for companies within multinational groups that receive certain types of passive foreign-source income. These include, in particular, dividends, interest, royalties, and income from real estate. Where the required economic substance is absent, the relevant income may be taxed at 15%.
For an ordinary S.A., the law sets no minimum paid-up capital and does not require shares to be fully paid upon incorporation.
The secretary keeps meeting minutes and monitors filing deadlines. The law does not require a separate appointment, but banks and counterparties often request the secretary’s details when reviewing the company.
A company seal is optional. The company may use one for internal documents and banking transactions.
The articles state the principal business activity and related activities. Banking, insurance and investment activities require a separate license. No permits are needed for activities outside Panama.
We provide a complete registration service and support the client from the initial consultation through to receipt of the full set of documents.
We check the name in the Public Registry (Registro Público) and reserve an available option.
We draft the articles of incorporation and minutes of the first meeting and agree to the drafts with the client before filing.
We assemble the documents required for KYC (Know Your Customer, the procedure for verifying a client’s identity and integrity). For higher-risk cases, we add CVs, contracts, and bank references. We submit the documents to the Public Registry through local partners and monitor the registration process.
Following approval, we obtain the Certificate of Incorporation and other corporate documents. We send the complete set by courier anywhere in the world.
Registration takes 6–8 working days after approval of the name and the KYC package.
Identity document;
Proof of address;
Details of the shareholder and director;
Power of attorney when acting through a representative.
Incorporation documents of the founding company;
Details of the representative;
Corporate resolution to establish the structure;
Ownership structure and details of ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs).
Foreign documents must be legalised according to the country of issue and applicable international agreements. Documents in languages other than Spanish must be translated into Spanish and notarised.
| SERVICE | COST |
|---|---|
Registration | from EUR 3,950 |
Opening a corporate bank account | EUR 4,000 |
Annual legal maintenance | EUR 2,950 |
Courier delivery of documents | EUR 350 |
Professional service | EUR 2,000 |
Foreign ownership alone does not provide a tax exemption: the source of income and the company’s activities are what matter.
Not levied under the territorial tax regime
Does not arise if the company is not required to obtain a permit to operate in Panama and receives no taxable local income.
Not charged on transactions that fall outside the scope of Panamanian taxation.
A Panamanian S.A. operating outside the country must keep accounting records and provide documents to its registered agent. The absence of tax on foreign-source profits does not remove these obligations.
The company must keep records that establish its financial position and substantiate its transactions.
Accounting records and supporting documents must be retained for at least five years. These include contracts, invoices, bank statements, and other documents explaining transactions.
Where a set of financial statements is required, it includes a balance sheet, an income statement, statements of changes in equity and cash flows, and explanatory notes.
The company must provide up-to-date information about its owners, beneficial owners, and activities.
If ownership or the nature of the business changes, the agent may request additional explanations and documents.
To maintain an S.A.’s active status, the company must pay the government fee and corporate service charges, fulfill its accounting obligations, and keep its information up to date.
Specialists maintain ongoing accounting records, calculate the annual franchise tax, and prepare tax returns.
The company submits its annual set of documents to the registered agent.
When shareholders, a director, or the address changes, the agent files updates with the Public Registry. Each change is documented in minutes and notarised.
Law No. 129 of 17 March 2020 (Ley Nº 129 de 2020) requires the agent to update ultimate beneficial ownership information within 15 working days of a change.
The bank may request KYC (Know Your Customer) updates following a change of owner or director, major transactions, or changes to the risk profile. Keeping information up to date reduces the risk of an account being blocked.
We assess the company’s banking profile and select a bank or payment solution suited to your business model.
We prepare the KYC/AML package (Know Your Customer / Anti-Money Laundering), complete application forms, and liaise with the bank.
Where necessary, we prepare you for an interview or visit, reviewing the key points so that you can answer confidently.
Owners and directors: reputation, sanctions list matches, and public mentions are checked.
Source of funds: the bank requires clear evidence, such as contracts, bank statements, and tax returns.
Activities and counterparties: the more transparent the model and the clearer the business partners, the greater the chance of approval.
Payment geography and turnover: the bank compares these with the stated business activities, and any mismatch immediately raises questions.
Important: we assist with opening the account, but the bank makes the final decision.
A client from Eastern Europe was incorporating a company for software development. The structure comprised one shareholder and three non-resident directors. Share capital was USD 10,000, unpaid. Registration took seven working days. The bank requested a business description, customer contracts, and proof of the source of funds. The account was opened three weeks after the documents were submitted.
An entrepreneur was relocating a trading company to Panama under Article 11-B of the Commercial Code. The parent entity had existed for four years. We prepared a shareholders’ resolution, amended articles, and confirmation that there were no outstanding tax debts. The documents were legalised by apostille. Registration in the Public Registry took 10 working days. The company was then removed from the register in its former jurisdiction.
A client was closing a subsidiary that was no longer needed. The shareholders resolved to voluntarily liquidate it. The liquidator collected the assets, settled with creditors, and distributed the balance. The process took four months. The report was filed with the Public Registry, and the company was struck off.
We reserve a unique name in the Registro Público, prepare notarised documents and a KYC package, and file with the registry through a local agent. The client does not need to travel: we handle every stage remotely and deliver the original documents by courier. The timeframe is 6–8 working days after KYC approval.
At least three directors are required, and all may be non-residents. Companies often engage professional directors so that formal managers are listed in the public register. This is a lawful way to allocate roles while complying with Panama’s requirements.
Registration starts at EUR 3,950. The company pays franchise tax annually. Additional costs include renewal of the registered address and accounting support.
Registration takes 6–8 working days after the name has been agreed and the KYC package approved.
Panama is an offshore jurisdiction that applies the territorial principle of taxation. This means that only income from Panamanian sources is taxed. However, since summer 2026, companies within multinational groups have been subject to a 15% tax on passive foreign-source income (dividends, interest, and royalties) unless real economic substance in the country is demonstrated.
Yes. The company must keep accounting records and retain documents for at least five years. Full financial statements are not filed with government authorities but are provided to the registered agent. The agent records where the records are held and provides them to the regulator if necessary.
Shareholder details are not published. Only directors’ names and the registered address are entered in the public register. Information about ultimate beneficial owners (UBOs) is held in a confidential register.
Yes, but the bank carries out strict KYC/AML checks. It examines owners and directors (sanctions and reputation), the source of funds (contracts and statements), the business model, and payment geography.
If franchise tax remains unpaid for three consecutive years, corporate rights are suspended. The company has two years to settle the debt and penalty. If it fails to do so, its registration is canceled. This creates reputational risks and prevents any corporate changes.
