Panama Jewish Guide Division
A complete guide for Jewish families from Canada, the United States, France, Germany, and beyond — exploring Panama as a Plan B.
Planning for your family's future has always been the most Jewish thing you can do. Panama is not a compromise — it is a serious, full-featured option.
Panama has used the US Dollar since 1904. No devaluation. No conversion friction. The assets you bring remain exactly as valuable as the day you arrive.
Panama only taxes income earned within Panama. Foreign dividends, rental income, and business revenue from abroad are not taxed. For investors and entrepreneurs, this is transformative.
Tocumen International Airport connects to 80+ direct destinations. Miami: 1 hour. New York: under 5. Madrid: 10. Tel Aviv reachable via one connection. You are never isolated.
Panama has welcomed Jewish families for 150+ years — Sephardic merchants, WWII refugees, Israeli entrepreneurs. Jewish leaders sit on corporate boards. No government has ever targeted Jewish residents.
4 synagogues. A certified Eruv. A Mikvah. 5 Jewish day schools. 50+ kosher establishments. 2 kosher supermarkets. Fresh kosher food at the international airport. Everything exists — you are not building from scratch.
Permanent residency through Panama's Golden Visa (from US$300K in real estate) or the Pensionado program ($1,000/month foreign income). Clear pathways to citizenship in 5 years.
Luxury oceanview apartments in Punta Paitilla — the heart of Jewish Panama — at a fraction of Miami prices. The community, schools, synagogues, and restaurants are already in place.
Panama City's Jewish community is concentrated in Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacifica — walkable neighborhoods with synagogues, kosher restaurants, schools, and community centers all within a few square kilometers.
Explore the CommunityFull Shabbat meals, Mikvah, tourist services. Programming in English, Spanish, Hebrew, and French. The natural landing point for new arrivals.
84+ years of history. Active Mikvah (Mikva Raquel). Visitor Shabbat registration available. Event halls and a strong Ashkenazi cultural program. Paitilla.
Panama's official kosher certifying body. 90+ year-old Sephardic community with Krav Maga, business, cooking, Daf Yomi, mental health, and youth programs.
The oldest congregation in Panama. Led by Rabbi Gustavo Kraselnik. ~225 families from 20+ countries. Affiliated with Colegio Isaac Rabin.
Panama's kosher scene rivals cities with Jewish populations ten times its size. Certified by Shevet Ahim. Fresh kosher food even at Tocumen Airport Terminal 2.
| Restaurant / Shop | Location | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miznon | Paitilla | Meat | Israeli street food — pita wraps and fresh salads |
| La Spezia | Paitilla | Mehadrin | Fine dining under full Mehadrin supervision |
| Yoss Burger Bar | Paitilla | Mehadrin | Premium burgers — a community favorite |
| Adama | Bellavista | Meat | Israeli-Mediterranean cuisine |
| Grila | Obarrio | Meat | Shawarma, kebab, and grill house |
| Sushi Rocket | Paitilla | Parve | The go-to kosher sushi spot |
| Super Kosher | Paitilla | Supermarket | Full kosher supermarket, imported products |
| Deli K Market | Paitilla | Supermarket | Kosher deli — cheeses, meats, bakery |
| Fresh Kosher by Organik | Tocumen Airport T2 | Airport | Fresh kosher at the international airport |
| Fuego | Paitilla | Meat | Popular grill restaurant |
| Don Shawarma | Paitilla | Meat | Shawarma and falafel spot |
| Pita Pan | Paitilla | Dairy | Dairy and parve Mediterranean |
Five Jewish schools and three top international institutions, covering every level of observance and curriculum preference.
Orthodox, English curriculum, Pre-K–12. Located in Panama Pacifico. The only International Orthodox Jewish school in Central America.
Oldest Jewish school in Panama (1955). Via Israel, San Francisco. 70+ years of academic excellence and Jewish identity.
International Baccalaureate program. World ORT affiliated. City of Knowledge. Secular Jewish curriculum. Affiliated with Kol Shearith Israel.
Orthodox educational program, founded 1979. Strong track record in Jewish education and values.
Top international school in Latin America. Full English instruction, rigorous IB, large North American and European student body.
Bilingual and international curriculum. Strong college-prep track. Popular with the international business community.
International curriculum, bilingual excellence, global citizenship focus.
Tocumen International Airport is the most connected hub in Latin America. Copa Airlines operates direct flights to 80+ destinations.
| Destination | Flight Time | Airlines |
|---|---|---|
| Miami, FL | ~2h 45m | Copa, American, United |
| New York, NY | ~4h 30m | Copa, JetBlue, United |
| Toronto, Canada | ~5h 30m | Copa Airlines |
| Bogotá, Colombia | ~1h 30m | Copa, Avianca |
| Madrid, Spain | ~10 hrs | Copa, Iberia |
| Paris, France | ~11 hrs | Copa + Air France |
| Tel Aviv, Israel | 1 connection | Via Miami or New York |
| São Paulo, Brazil | ~6 hrs | Copa, LATAM |
Panama's Golden Visa is one of the most straightforward residency programs in the world. Apply without leaving home. Receive approval in 30 business days.
From US$300,000
Purchase qualifying property in Panama — the most popular Golden Visa pathway. Pre-construction accepted via Trust or Escrow. Financing permitted above the minimum. Hold for 5 years.
Minimum increases to US$500,000 after October 15, 2026
US$500,000
Invest in Panamanian stock market securities. Hold for 5 years. Interest earned is fully untaxed under Panama's territorial tax system.
Interest untaxed · Territorial taxation applies
US$750,000
Place funds in a 5-year term deposit with a Panamanian bank. Interest untaxed. Capital held in a fully dollarized, stable banking system.
Interest untaxed · Dollarized USD banking
Your Panamanian attorney receives a Power of Attorney signed abroad and handles the full application on your behalf. No travel required at this stage.
Valid passport, police clearance (≤6 months, apostilled), proof of investment, application form, 6 passport photos. FBI report for US citizens; RCMP record for Canadians.
Panama processes Golden Visa applications faster than virtually any comparable program worldwide. No years-long waiting, no uncertainty.
Travel once to Panama to collect your Cédula (national ID card) and Residency Passport — a travel document issued exclusively to Golden Visa holders.
Apply for Panamanian citizenship and a second passport. To maintain residency status, simply visit Panama once every 2 years.
We specialize in helping Jewish families and international professionals find their ideal home in Panama City — from Punta Paitilla oceanview residences to family homes near the top schools.
Walking distance to synagogue, Eruv, and kosher restaurants. We know every block of Punta Paitilla and Punta Pacifica.
Golden Visa, Pensionado, and Friendly Nation pathways — coordinated end-to-end alongside licensed Panamanian immigration attorneys.
Matching your family's observance level and curriculum needs. Every school relationship is already in place.
From first visit to keys in hand — full support throughout. We make the transition feel inevitable, not overwhelming.
Panama's tax-advantaged property market explained. Pre-construction, resale, and Golden Visa-qualifying options across the city.
Connecting you to the right people before you even arrive. Community, synagogue leadership, schools — the network is already open to you.
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