People who have restricted  citizenship and have a visa for the United States, Canada, Australia or the European Union may now enter the country with a tourist visa, as ordered by the government.

Citizens of countries like China, UAE, Philippines, India, Bulgaria, Angola, Cameroon, Zimbabwe, among others, and have a visa issued by United States, Canada, Australia and the European Union may now enter the country with tourist visa.

These individuals, who previously came to Panama with an approved visa, which required the consent of the Council for Public Security and National Defense and took up to six months to be approved, may now visit the country with a 48 hours in advance notice. They won’t have to pay fees to lawyers, which in these cases may be more $1,500 dollars.

This was approved by the President, Ricardo Martinelli, in his third Cabinet Council meeting, held last Tuesday night. “The person interested in traveling to Panama as a tourist must contact the accredited Panamanian consulate in the country which they are in, with a minimum of 48 hours prior to the date of entry into Panamanian territory,” said a statement from the Secretary of Communication of the State.

The director of the National Authority for Migration, Maria Cristina Gonzalez explained that this measure was created to facilitate entry to the country of executives and entrepreneurs from these nationalities. Gonzalez said that monthly between 100 and 200 people with this profile, enter Panama.

Marta Lopez Martin, president of the National School of Lawyers, applauded the measure since it helps strengthen foreign investment in the country, but suggested that the appropriate security measures be taken for those who enter the country.

Juan Carlos Arauz, a lawyer who serves immigration cases, said it is a measure that helps the arrival of investors and “demystifies the issue of authorized visas”.