Panama Friendly Nations Visa vs UK Innovator Founder Visa
Panama other route: $250 fee, 24 months. United Kingdom other route: $1,700 fee, 36 months.
Built for: Freelancers.
- Fee
- $250
- Duration
- 24 months
- Fee
- $1,700
- Duration
- 36 months
- Processing
- 3-8 weeks
Next steps
Panama Friendly Nations
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Side by side
Panama Friendly Nations Visa
UK Innovator Founder 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
Renewal cost, 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
Language requirement
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 | UK Innovator Founder Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Visa type | Other | Other |
| Status | Active | Active |
| Initial duration, months | 24 | 36 (Longest initial stay) |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes |
| Built for | FIRE, Retirees, Digital nomads, Freelancers, Passive investors, Remote employees | Freelancers |
| Minimum age, years | 18 | 18 |
| Practical minimum age, years | 18 | 18 |
| Nationality restrictions | Specific countries only | Open to all nationalities |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum savings, one time | $200,000 | $1,679 (Lowest known savings requirement) |
| Minimum investment, one time | $200,000 | Not applicable |
| Investment types | Real estate, Capital transfer | Not applicable |
| Application fee, one time | $250 (Lowest known fee) | $1,700 |
| Renewal cost, one time | Not specified | $2,120 |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder 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 | Business owner, Self-employed |
| Social Security counts as income | No | Not specified |
| Pension income recognized | No | Not specified |
| Local work permitted | No | Yes (Local work permitted) |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Processing time, minimum (weeks) | Not specified | 3 weeks |
| Processing time, maximum (weeks) | Not specified | 8 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 interview required) | Yes |
| Medical exam required | No | No |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Leads to permanent residency | Yes | Yes |
| Years to permanent residency | 2 years | Not specified |
| Years to citizenship, PR plus naturalization | 7 years | Not specified |
| Days in country, per year | 1 days | Not specified |
| Maximum consecutive days abroad | 730 days | Not specified |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Tax regime | Territorial | Not specified |
| US tax treaty | Partial treaty | Not specified |
| Field | Panama Friendly Nations Visa | UK Innovator Founder 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 |
| Language requirement | Not specified | English language proficiency at CEFR Level B2 (speaking and listening) required, proven by approved tests like IELTS... |
| Required documents | 9 items listedSee full list on the visa page | 8 items listedSee full list on the visa page |