The long lines for which they have to spend thousands of users of the National Migration Service forced the authorities of this institution to change its hours of operation.

Beginning August 17, all the administrative staff will begin work at 8:00 am and ending at 5:00 pm. The previous time was 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The director of the entity, María Cristina González, confirmed that within two weeks  in the port areas of Panama the operating offices of Migration,  will work 24 hours.

This agreement was signed in conjunction with the Maritime Chamber of Panama.

Visas
Requirements for entering Panama are different for people of each country and are subject to change. It is highly advisable to contact the Panamanian Consulate in your home country to obtain the most up-to-date information on entry requirements. Some countries have special agreements with Panama that eliminate the need to get a visa or tourist card.

Everyone needs a valid passport, onward ticket, and proof of solvency to enter Panama. Visitors from the U.S. and Canada only need tourist cards, which are issued at border crossings, from embassies and consulates, and at the airport.

People with passports from certain countries will have to obtain a visa. If entering by land from Costa Rica, it is also a good idea to have a visa and onward ticket.

Extending Your Stay
To extend your stay (up to 90 days) you will need to visit the immigration office or Oficina de Migración y Naturalización. There are also offices in David, Changuinola, Santiago, and Chitré. You will need two passport-size photos, an onward air or bus ticket, you passport showing your most recent entry into Panama and $10. Next, you will need to fill out an extension form called a prórroga de turismo. It’s written in Spanish, so you may need help filling it out.

Leaving The Country
If you have stayed longer than 30 days, you will need to obtain a permiso de salida (exit permit) to be able to leave the country. But first, you will have to obtain called a paz y salvo (peace and safety. It’s an official form stating that you do not owe the Panamanian government money. You can get this document from the Ministerio de Hacienda y Tesoro (tax department).

The next step is to take your paz y salvo form to the immigration office to obtain the permiso de salida stamp in your passport. If you do not have the time to spend the day running around, you can hire an attorney to the job for you. We also understand there are attorneys who hang out around the immigration office who can do this for you.

All foreigners with residency in Panama will need a re-entry permit to travel abroad and to return to the country. Permits of this type are good for multiple entry.

Work Permits/Visas
Foreigners planning to work for a local company must obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labor. The government will only let you work if there are no qualified Panamanians to do a specific job. To obtain a work visa you must have a letter from a local company offering you employment stating your work specialty.
To obtain a work permit you will need a series of documents. Since the requirements are subject to change, you will have to check with an attorney to see which documents and certificates are required. Once you have obtained all of the required papers your attorney will apply for the work permit through the Ministry of Labor. He/she then has to go to the ministry Labor to apply for a Visa. When the Ministry of Labor eventually grants the work permit, the Immigration department will issue a temporary Visa for a year.

Perpetual Tourist
Staying in the country illegally after your tourist card or visa has expired is not advisable. Bear in mind that it is always better to have your papers up-to-date because you may be deported almost instantly at the whim of a Immigration official or if you get into any kind of trouble and are in the country illegally.

Due to a lack of money for some other reason a few people try to live as a perpetual tourist in Panama or other Central American countries. They just leave the country for at least 72 hours every three months to renew their tourist visa. You can repeat this process over-and-over again to stay in the country indefinitely. The only disadvantage is that as a tourist you may not work in Panama and it is almost impossible to become a legal resident unless you marry a Panamanian or have immediate relatives in Panama.

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.

The second thing to know is that if you were not born in Panama and neither of your parents were Panamanian, you will need a lawyer to become a legal immigrant. Most of the papers that must be filed will only be accepted if filed by an attorney. Lawyers figure that anyone who wants to immigrate is rich, and charge hundreds of dollars for a few minutes worth of work, which is itself often delayed for months or years. Any recourse you might have against a lawyer who takes your retainer and does no work is mostly theoretical. Thus you should understand that you will need a lawyer, and you should ask around and get a conscientious one.

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 1920s, 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 Migracion. 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.

Some of the visas that non-citizens may obtain to live here include:

• General Investor — you must invest at least $100,000 in a business that the government considers socially beneficial;
• Export Processing Zone Investor — you must invest at least $250,000 in Fort Davis or one of the other export processing zones;
• Agro-forestry Investor — you must invest at least $40,000 in a reforestation project;
• Small Investor — you must invest at least $10,000 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 a 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;
• 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.

Because much of this body of law was passed piecemeal, many of the requirements differ slightly from one type of visa to another. For example, you must present a report from the police departments in places where you have lived 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.

Whatever type of visa you use to get into the country, if you are here legally for five year, you can become a resident alien with the right to work. However, though you may have been here for more than five years, if your status is as a pensioner or a retired investor, this will not automatically entitle you to work in Panama. On the other hand, even if you were working here illegally, if you are the parent of a child who was born here and can prove that you have been supporting this child for at least two years, you will become eligible for residency and a work permit.

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 people get visas to work here as experts or consultants. If you’re working as such for a foreign company, you won’t need a work permit, but to work for a Panamanian company you will need a permit from the Ministry of Labor. These permits are for one year and are renewable. Under that program, an argument with your employer can get you not only fired, but deported as well.

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.

Person of Means Visa (Solvencia Económica Propia)

Designed for those who wish to live in Panama off their own means, without the need to work or start a business. Applicants must either: 1) open a two-year fixed-term deposit account with a local bank for at least $200,000, or 2) purchase real estate in the amount of $200,000, or 3) purchase real estate worth a minimum of $80,000 and open a two-year fixed-term deposit account for at least $120,000. The accounts and the real estate must be in your personal name, fully funded (or titled), and free of mortgages or encumbrances.

The visa is granted in two steps: First, a one-year provisional visa is granted, and then the process is repeated and the visa is approved permanently, with the right to a cedula (national identity card). Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to apply for Panamanian nationality.

Investor Visa (Inversionista)
Designed for those who wish to establish a business in Panama (excepting certain retail businesses and professions reserved to Panamanians). There must be a minimum investment of $150,000, and a minimum of three permanent Panamanian employees hired. The investor visa is granted provisionally for one year, after which renewal is granted permanently with the right to be issued a national identification, or cedula. Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to apply for Panamanian nationality. Learn more about making investments in Panama.

Forestry Investor Visa (Inversionista Forestal)
The forestry investor visa encourages the production and preservation of teak. Basically, the program consists of two options, dubbed the small forestry investor and the large forestry investor visas. The small forestry investor visa requires a minimum investment of $40,000, whereas the large forestry investor visa requires a minimum investment of $80,000. Small forestry investors can apply for permanent residency on their fifth year (prior to this, these investors may stay in Panama via one-year renewable immigrant visas). A large forestry investor, however, must apply for permanent residency immediately after his or her first immigrant visa card expires. Both small and large investors are eligible to apply for citizenship just five years after their initial application.

Important New Information About the Forestry Investor Visa
You can now use your IRA funds to invest in forestry projects in Panama and qualify for the forestry investor visas. (You can also use IRA funds to invest in other types of Panama real estate, but this will not qualify you for a resident visa, as when you buy with an IRA the property must be owned by a corporation or foundation owned by the IRA and not in your personal name.)

If you have a different type of investment in mind, note that Panama offers many different visa alternatives; those listed above represent just a few of the more popular options.

For more information about the forestry investor visa, contact Robert Kroesen of United Nature.

For information about using your IRA to invest in a forestry project. Contact or visit Rich Luchsinge’s Panama real estate blog.

Small Business Investor Visa (Inversionista de Pequeña Empresa)
This visa is designed for those who wish to establish a small business in Panama (note that retail businesses and some professions are reserved to Panamanians). There must be a minimum investment of $40,000 and a minimum of three permanent Panamanian employees hired. The visa is granted provisionally for one year, and needs to be renewed three more times before it is granted permanently with the right to a national identification card, or cedula. Five years after obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to obtain Panamanian nationality.

Panama’s Pensionado Program

Panama has put together the most appealing program of special benefits for foreign residents and retirees you’ll find anywhere in the world today, starting with the pensionado, or pensioner visa, program.

In Panama, qualified pensionados or retirees are entitled to:

1. 50% off entertainment anywhere in the country (movies, theaters, concerts, sporting events)
2. 30% off bus, boat, and train fares
3. 25% off airline tickets
4. 50% off hotel stays from Monday through Thursday
5. 30% off hotels stays from Friday through Sunday
6. 25% off at restaurants
7. 15% off at fast-food restaurants
8. 15% off hospital bills (if no insurance applies)
9. 10% off prescription medicines
10. 20% off medical consultations
11. 15% off dental and eye exams
12. 20% off professional and technical services
13. 50% closing costs for home loans, and more…

In addition, you are entitled to a one-time exemption of duties on the importation of household goods (up to $10,000) and an exemption every two years of duties for the importation or local purchase of a car.

Plus, Panama’s pensionado law stipulates that anyone entering the country as a qualified pensioner today is guaranteed that status as long as he or she chooses to stay in the country. That means that even if the government decides to change the requisites for applying—say, by raising the age to 65 years—you maintain your pensionado status…even if you’re only 52.

The general rules:

1. All visa applications must be made through a Panamanian lawyer
2. Children under 18 will qualify for a visa as dependents of their parents
3. All overseas documents to be presented to the authorities in Panama must be authenticated by a notary and by the Panamanian consulate nearest you, or by a notary and Apostille. The Apostille (as per The Hague Convention of 1961) is a faster way of authenticating documents and in the U.S. can be obtained through the secretary of state in your home state; in the U.K., this can be done through the Foreign Office. In Canada, please check with the Panamanian embassy/consulate nearest you
4. All documents must be valid (within two months of visa application) and passports must be valid for at least another year from time of application
5. Dependents: Bring a marriage certificate. However, original marriage certificates are not acceptable for the visa application if over two months old, so you’ll probably need to request a copy. If you have children under 18 that you’ll be including on your application as dependents, you’ll need to bring valid birth certificate copies (not originals)
6. None of the visa programs mentioned here includes work permits
7. All visa applications require that you obtain a health certificate in Panama
8. All visas require a clean police record from your last place of residence
9. All visas require 6–9 passport-size photos (gentlemen in suit and tie; ladies in blouses or dresses with sleeves).

In the past, the government of Panama has allowed any adult who could show proof of a monthly pension of any kind (from the age of 18 upward) to qualify for a pensionado (retiree) visa. As in the past, if you are receiving a pension from a government entity or a well-known international company, age is not an issue. You must simply provide proof of adequate income ($500 per month per person or $600 per month per couple). However, if you are on a private pension, the pensionado visa is available to you if you are of retirement age (50 or older). The age of your spouse (if applying as dependent) will not be considered on the age limitation.

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