The first thing to know about Panamanian immigration law is that it’s not found in just one section of the law. Many laws having little to do with immigration have been passed to promote farming, reforestation, tourism, scientific research and other worthy goals, and many of these laws contain provisions to attract immigrants who will invest in these sectors. (more…)

After having permanent residency in Panama (for 3 years if you a married to a Panamanian or 5 years otherwise), you may request naturalization by presenting the following:

1. Power of Attorney and Application through a duly qualified lawyer or law firm
2. Five (5) sworn declarations before a Civil Circuit Judge, in the district in which you are a resident. (more…)

The Temporary Visitor Visa is granted to those foreigners entering to Panama with a specific purpose allowed in any of these categories.  The length of these Visas varies from 180 days to 1 year extendable to a maximum of 5 years, according to the type of Visa granted.

A Special Temporary Visitor Visa is granted to Executives of foreign companies who earn a minimum monthly salary of US$1,000.00 per month.

There are also special visas for pensioners or persons with their own source of income who wish to have Permanent Residency in Panama, but without being immigrants and entitled to apply for future naturalisation and citizenship.  Law No. 9 of 1987 established two types of special visas for retired or pensioned individuals:  Income Earner Retiree Visa (which we have labeled as the Retired Investor visa with the right to a 2nd Passport) and the Tourist Pensioner Visa. (more…)

For the requirements for the Pensionado Visa, please visit this page:  Panama Pensioner Visa – Requirements to apply for Pensionado Status.

The Visa for investment in Reforestation was brought back by Reslution No. 39, April 27, 2006.

As we mentioned before, there are a number of immigration options for obtaining permanent residency in Panama when you decide to relocate here.  In some cases, you may find that you are not interested in naturalisation or becoming a citizen of the country and that therefore you are happy to simply have a visa which enables you to live and/or work here.

Before we can start your application, we must first register you with the Immigration Department.  This requires a short visit to Immigration where they will simply stamp your passport as having registered.

Several of the programmes mentioned in the below pages were created by special laws designed to grant residency and citizenship in the Republic of Panama to promote foreign investment in the country.  This has obvious benefits for the local Panamanian economy.   Many international investors and companies find Panama to be an excellent location for investing, whether this be in reforestation, manufacturing or assembly plants, software creation facilities, call centres, or distribution facilities through the Free Trade Zone. 

Up | Panamanian Spouse | Personal Income (CD) | Reforestation | Investor | Micro Enterprise | Self-Employed or Artist

Because many of the requirements are repetitions of the requirements in similar visa and immigration programmes, we have simply provided a page of “Definitions & Terms” which describes the various aspects of these requirements, so that we can simply list the requirements on the various pages rather than repeating ourselves.

For individuals looking for a second passport, Panamanian residency may be an option.  Nonetheless, with the exception of the Retired Investor programme (which grants an immediate passport as a travel document, without actually granting citizenship), none of the programmes listed below provide an “immediate” solution.  Residency in Panama is required before the citizenship can be obtained.

As a place to live, work and do business, Panama offers numerous benefits and advantages. The Panamanian economy is based primarily on private enterprise and depends heavily on the services sector, which is closely geared to international trade and external factors.

Panama is a country discovered by the financial giants of the world in the previous century and many are surprised to find that there are more than 80 international banks located in the city limits alone. Panama also has some of the most favourable commercial secrecy laws in the world.

There are very few requirements regarding the nationality of investors and no restrictions on converting currencies or transferring funds. Consequently, there are very few limitations or restrictive practices on foreign investment, especially for international business operations based in Panama.

Panama is known as the “Bridge of the Americas” and “Crossroads of the World” and has become the prime location for financial migration between the two continents and the two oceans.  Situated on the isthmus between North and South America, the Republic of Panama covers 29,761 square miles and is flanked by the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. The official language of the country is Spanish but because of the many years of international influence in the cities of Panama and Colon a high percentage of the population also speak English fluently.  This makes employment of a trained workforce much easier.

A positive attitude toward free enterprise, together with the fact that the US dollar is legal tender in Panama, influences the foreign investment. Moreover, the development of institutions and instruments that regulate business activities in Panama has been consistent with its trade-and-services-oriented economy, which is closely connected to the international market and geared to using Panama’s geographic position.

To attract foreign investment into Panama, the government has developed the necessary institutional and infrastructure facilities, efficient public administrative machinery, extremely favourable and flexible policy guidelines and attractive fiscal and non-fiscal incentives. Historically, the policies of the Panamanian government toward foreign investment have been so open that there has never been any need for a formal statement of policy on this subject. Legislation hardly establishes any differences in treatment between nationals and foreigners.

In a world moving toward greater globalization, Panama’s flexibility in dealing and experiencing a multitude of financial factors including banking, taxes and trade, establish it as a prime location in which to conduct local as well as global business. In short, Panama offers the foreign investor a whole gamut of relevant advantages.

The various programmes can be summarised as follows:
bullet Married to a Panamanian
bullet Personal Income – term deposit of US$200,000.00 in a local bank for 2 years (minimum)
bullet Micro Enterprise Investor – investment of between $40,000 to $150,000.00 in a business in Panama with at least 3 Panamanian employees
bullet Small Investor – investment of over $150,000.00 in a business with at least 3 Panamanian Employees
bullet Reforestation Investor: which is divided into Micro ($40,000 or more) and Macro ($80,000 or more).
bullet Self-employed or Artist – requires that the person show they are appropriately qualified and have the necessary experience to be completely self-employed

http://www.lawyers-abogados.net/en/Services/Immigration/panama-immigrant-visas.htm

For the requirements for the Pensionado Visa, please visit this page:  Panama Pensioner Visa – Requirements to apply for Pensionado Status.

Transients or Travellers Passing Through (transeuntes) are those that arrived in Panama with a view to carrying on their trip to another country, but that are in Panama for any purpose which is not tourism.  Such Travellers should obtain the proper documents from a Panamanian Consulate before arriving in Panama.  These visas are valid for entry into Panama one time only, within three months from their issuance.  

Travellers should comply with the following requirements:

   1. Proof of the economic solvency of the applicant
   2. Certificate of Good Health
   3. Visa for entry into the country where travelling to or for the return to the country of origin
   4. Airline tickets, duly paid, for the return trip
   5. Sworn declaration, which should include the applicant’s details, such as: place and date of birth, nationality, and all other personal details
   6. Current passport or other travel document

Note:  Travellers may not work or undertake any other activities of any nature while in Panama.

All documents issued overseas must be Authenticated before being presented in Panama

Exceptions:  Irrespective of the general rule that travellers may not work or do business while in Panama,  articles 16, 17, and 18 of Law 16 (1960) contain exceptions to this rule.

We can assist in the following applications: 

Traveller’s Visa for internationally reknown artists: Singers and Musicians

Traveller’s Visa for wrestlers, boxers technitians, auditors and administrators
Travellers in Transit and Travellers in Direct Transit 

Travellers in Transit and Travellers in Direct Transit are those persons who enter into the Republic of Panama for the exclusive purpose of continuing their trip within a period of 48 or 12 hours, respectively.  Nevertheless, it is the responsibility of the airline or the travel agency to guarantee their departure from the country on the next flight or departure.

Requirements for Travellers Visas, for Internationally Renown Artists, Singers and Musicians

   1. Application by a lawyer, requesting an entry visa as a traveller.
   2. Cheque to the Ministry of Government and Justice in the amount of $250.00.
   3. Work permit issued by the Ministry of Labour in favour of the Applicant.
   4. Original and copy of the Labour Contract.
   5. Letter from the company requesting the services of the foreign artist to be presenting in Panama (this is used a proof that the company has hired the services of the foreign artist for specific presentations in Panama).
   6. In the event that the applicants are present in person, they should bring two passport-sized photos with them and register at the Immigration Department.

Requirements for Wrestlers, Boxers, Technicians, Auditors and Administrators

   1. Application by a lawyer, requesting an entry visa as a traveller
   2. Cheque to the Ministry of Government and Justice in the amount of $250.00
   3. Cheque in favour of the National Treasury for US$100.00
   4. Letter from the company requesting them
   5. Labour Contract
   6. Work Permit
   7. Four (4) passport-sized photos

http://www.lawyers-abogados.net/en/Services/Immigration/panama-immigration-transients-visa.htm

Tourists – Visiting Panama

For the requirements for the Pensionado Visa, please visit this page:  Panama Pensioner Visa – Requirements to apply for Pensionado Status.  You should also see the Changes to the Retirement Age for Pensioner Visas. 

Tourists are all those persons that arrive in Panama for the exclusive purposes of recreation or observation for a period of thirty (30) days, extendable to ninety (90) days.

Tourist cards have a cost of $5.00 and should be obtained by the travel agent  (such as the airline) or from the consulate, before arriving in Panama.  It is necessary, however, to meet the requirements of the National Immigration and Naturalisation Department. 

While some people may enter simply with getting the tourist card at the airport, this does not apply to citizens of all countries.  Foreigners from the following countries only require the tourist card:  

Note: Tourists may not work or undertake such activities while in Panama.

NOTE: these lists changes constantly, if your country of origin or nationality appears on the list, you should contact your nearest Panamanian Consulate to verify that the information is updated.

Restrictions:  The Panamanian government may restrict the entry of certain nationalities to Panama. Those persons should request an Authorised Tourist Visa.  Some Authorised Visas are approved simply by the Immigration Department.  Others must also be approved by the Security Council.  

Relocating to Panama must be done through a Panamanian lawyer or law firm (like most other administrative matters in Panama).  If you’re not sure which is the most convenient programme for you, then please browse through the various options to see what best suits your future plans upon arriving in Panama City.  You may also contact our lawyers or assistants to make an appointment to visit us.

Panama’s immigration law is not found in just one section of the law.  Unlike the commercial or civil law, there is not an Immigration Code which regulates the entire area.  This means that there are many laws having little to do with immigration which contain provisions to attract immigrants who will invest in farming (agriculture), tourism, scientific research and other worthy goals.  Some of these laws provide for permanent residency within one year after the visa has been granted following the initial application, while other programmes require various visa renewals before permanency is granted.

The goals in Panama’s immigration policies (such as attracting investment) are achieved by granting or denying visas. There are two principal types of visas: immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas are primary issued to tourists and temporary business visitors, although here in Panama they are also issued to certain categories of workers or specialists, as well as to missionaries, students or religious persons. Only a few categories of non-immigrant visas allow their holders work in Panama, and quite often this work permit is limited to a specific workplace. Immigrant visas permit their holders to stay in Panama permanently (once permanent residency has been granted) and ultimately to apply for naturalisation and citizenship.  

Because much of this body of law was passed piecemeal, many of the requirements differ slightly from one type of visa to another. This can sometimes be a nightmare for lawyers in Panama.  For example, you must present a report from the police department from your previous resident (which covers the last 5 years) for most visas, but this requirement does not exist for those under the City of Knowledge program. Generally you will need a certificate of health and a negative HIV test to get any sort of visa (although theoretically the HIV test has now been waived as a requirement and a simple health certificate from a doctor is sufficient).

Decree Law 16 (1960) – which we shall refer to as The Immigration Act (1960) – is the principal law which regulates immigration and the status of foreigners in Panama.

Under this law, its amendments and regulations, foreigners who enter Panama can be classified as: 
bullet 

• Tourists;
• Persons passing through – “transients” (transeuntes);
• Travellers in Transit or Travellers in Direct Transit;
• Temporary Visitors (Visas); and 
• Immigrants (Immigration Programmes)

These categories are defined in the subsequent pages, where we attempt to set out a description of each one and the requirements to classify under a specific category and to renew Visas.

For those clients that simply wish to move to Panama or live in Panama as residents with the least amount of hassle and paperwork, we usually recommend the pensioner visa.  However, this is not the only alternative for residency in Panama, and is obviously only available to those persons who receive pensions or social security payments.

There are numerous immigration and visa options, with a variety of programs.  We suggest you look through the various sections to get an idea of which program will best suit your needs, resources and goals. Permanent residency can be obtained both as an immigrant as well as with a Visa (for non-immigrants).  Please see the description of the options which follows further down this page. 

If you’re a citizen of Spain or one of several Latin American countries, Panama has reciprocal agreements that will make it easier for you to live and work here. The basic policy is that this is a Spanish-speaking country with laws designed to make it easier for Spanish-speaking immigrants.

We also advise and assist with applications for naturalisation leading to Panamanian citizenship.  Panamanian passports may be obtained after naturalisation.

There were some changes to Panama’s basis immigration law in 1999, with those accretions adding to a body of law that dates back to the 1920-1940s, when the country passed laws more than anything else designed to exclude blacks, Asians and people from the Middle East.  Though the outright ban on immigration of such people has been lifted, there is still discrimination against their obtaining visas, which in turn is one of the great sources of corruption at the Immigration Department (Migración). The 1999 changes went into effect in March of 2000. Among other things, they changed tourist visas from 30 to 90 days, which can now be extended to six months; eased requirements on musicians and other “transients,” and mostly abolished the need for legal resident aliens to get a paz y salvo every time they leave the country.  Instead, resident aliens are given a multiple entry-exit permit valid for 1-2 years (depending on the type of residency status which they have).

However, in 2003 further changes to many of the immigrant visas were introduced, increasing the amount of investment required by immigrants in order to qualify.  Further, greater supervision and checking is done by the Immigration Department to ensure that immigrants are actually complying with the general requirements which have been submitted on paper.

Reforestation visa – please note that this visa is no longer available.  We do not recommend to clients to invest in reforestation unless they are clearly cognoscente of the fact that they will not obtain any type of residency tied to this investment.

Many people immigrate as spouses of Panamanians, and if that’s your way in, you should be prepared to be questioned in depth, to determine whether yours is a sham marriage for the purposes of immigration fraud.

• Some of the visas that non-citizens may obtain to live here include:
• General Investor — you must invest at least $150,001 in a business that the government considers socially beneficial; 
• xport Processing Zone Investor — you must invest at least $250,000 in Fort Davis or one of the other export processing zones;
• Micro Enterprise Investor — you must invest at least $40,000 and employ at least three Panamanians in a small business considered socially beneficial, and be an officer or manager of the business;
• Pensioner or Retiree — you must show that a retirement or disability pension from abroad yields you SOURCE: Don Winner @ Panama-guide.com(monthly income of at least $500, plus another $100 per month for each dependent;
• Retired Investor — you must be retired and have a certificate of deposit in a Panamanian bank that yields an income of at least $750 per month. This option also entitles you to a Panamanian passport as a travel document (but not citizenship in Panama);
• Farmer — you must have at least $40,000 invested in a producing farm in Panama;
• Colon Free Zone executive — you must have an executive position with a firm doing business in the Colon Free Zone;
• City of Knowledge — you must be a student, professor or administrator with an institution affiliated with the City of Knowledge.

http://www.lawyers-abogados.net/en/Services/panama-immigration.htm