Abstract. For the Painlevé equations (I) through (V) near the point at infinity we present several families of two-parameter solutions. Our solutions are expressed by asymptotic series with coe‰cients polynomial in exponential terms, and also by convergent power series in exponential terms with coe‰cients expanded into asymptotic series. Both expressions are valid without a restriction on integration constants. We propose a direct method to derive asymptotic solutions, which is also applicable to more general nonlinear equations. As applications of our results, for general solutions of the third and the fifth Painlevé equations, we give estimates for the number of a-points including poles in given sectors.