Visas
VISAS I N PANAMÁ

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT AS INVESTOR OF A MACRO COMPANY ESTABLISHED IN PANAMA

The foreigner wishing to invest in a company, with a minimum capital stock of B/.160,000.00 and being a stockholder and officer of the company, may request this definite residence visa which shall first be issued for two years. After said period, the petitioner may opt for a permanent residence with right to a personal identification certificate.

This residence permit does not confer a Work Permit to work in Panama, since being owner of the company he(she) is not required to work in the company to legally operate it.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT DUE TO MARRIAGE WITH A PANAMANIAN

The foreigner who has married a citizen of Panama and living in singularity, stability and continuity conditions, are entitled to request this definite residence visa which shall first be issued for two years. After said period, the petitioner may opt for a permanent residence with right to a personal identification certificate.

A work permit may be obtained after receiving the visa and must be renewed every year. After ten years, he(she) obtains an indefinite work permit.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT DUE TO OWN FINANCIAL SOLVENCY BY OPENING A FIXED TERM DEPOSIT

The foreigner who invests a minimum amount of B/.300,000.00 in a fixed term deposit in a Panamanian bank and evidences that the funds are from abroad, is entitled to request a permanent residence visa which shall first be issued for two years. After said period, the petitioner may opt for a permanent residence with right to a personal identification certificate.

This visa does not confer a Work Permit to work in Panama.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT AS RETIRED PERSON OR PENSIONER

This permit may be requested by foreigners receiving a retirement or pension from a foreign government, international body or private company and entering the national territory to live thereat, with sufficient financial means to pay his(her) own living expenses. The monthly income or pension must be not less than B/.1,000.00 and must be a life annuity. The residence with right to a personal identification certificate is immediate.

This visa does not confer a Work Permit to work in Panama.

 

TEMPORARY RESIDENCE PERMIT DUE TO FAMILY REUNIFICATION

The foreigner who is a spouse of a resident, parents of a resident, children under 18 years old and children up to 25 years old (with evidence of studies and economically dependent of the parents) are entitled to request a definite residence visa, which shall first be issued for two years. After said period, the petitioner may opt for a permanent residence with right to a personal identification certificate.

A Work Permit may be obtained once the definite permanence has been obtained and he(she) has completed his(her) studies; he(she) may apply for a work permit in the category of 10% or 15% of the Ordinary Personnel and pursuant to the Marrakesh Agreement.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT AS FOREIGN NATIONAL OF SPECIFIC COUNTRIES HAVING FRIENDLY, PROFESSIONAL, ECONOMIC, INVESTMENT RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA.

This permit may be requested by Foreigners of specific countries indicated in the immigration law who wish to establish their residence in Panama. Residence is granted indefinitely as of the first petition.

An Indefinite Work Permit may be requested at the Ministry of Labor, upon approval of the definite permanent residence.

 

PERMANENT RESIDENCE PERMIT ACCORDING TO SPECIAL LAWS, FRIENDSHIP, COMMERCIAL AND NAVIGATION TREATIES BETWEEN THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA AND THE REPUBLIC OF ITALY

This permit may be requested by Italian citizens wishing to establish their indefinite residence in the Republic of Panama. This residence is granted indefinitely as of the first petition.

An Indefinite Work Permit may be requested at the Ministry of Labor, upon approval of the definite permanent residence.

PERMIT FOR FOREIGN PERSONNEL HIRED BY A PRIVATE COMPANY WITHIN 10% OF THE ORDINARY PERSONNEL

The foreigner hired by a private company and with a salary of not less than B/.850.00 per month may request this Permit. The first permit shall be for a period of two (2) years, after said term the petitioner may request a permanent residence.

This type of residence is related with the Work Permit. Both petitions must be entered simultaneously. The National Immigration Service does not approve the residence if the Work Permit approved by the Ministry of Work and Labor Development is not presented. The Work Permit is renewable every year.

 

PERMIT FOR FOREIGN PERSONNEL HIRED AS EXPERT OR TECHNICIAN WITHIN 15% OF THE SPECIALIZED PERSONNEL

The foreigner hired by a company as expert or technician and with a salary of not less than B/.850.00 per month may request this Permit, which at first shall be for a period of two (2) years. After said term, the petitioner may request a permanent residence.

This type of residence is related with the Work Permit. Both petitions must be entered simultaneously. The National Immigration Service does not approve the residence if the Work Permit approved by the Ministry of Work and Labor Development is not presented. The Work Permit is renewable every year.

 

PERMIT FOR FOREIGN PERSONNEL HIRED BY A COMPANY PURSUANT TO THE MARRAKESH AGREEMENT

The foreigner hired by a company having less than ten (10) Panamanian employees and with a salary of not less than B/.1,000.00 per month may request this Permit, which shall be given annually up to a total of six (6) years, renewable.

This type of residence is related with the Work Permit. Both petitions must be entered simultaneously. The National Immigration Service does not approve the residence if the Work Permit approved by the Ministry of Work and Labor Development is not presented. The Work Permit is renewable for six (6) years.

 

TEMPORARY PERMIT FOR PERSONNEL HIRED AS EXECUTIVE OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, EXERCISING DUTIES ABROAD.

This permit may be requested by the Foreigner entering the national territory temporarily as executive or representative, at a management-operational level, of international companies with subsidiaries or representative offices in Panama and having head offices abroad. This period shall be for annual periods of up to a total of six (6) years, renewable.

This type of residence grants an annual Work Permit, provided it is evidenced that the international company is registered or has a subsidiary in Panama.

 

VISA FOR VISITOR OR TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE.

This visa may be requested by the foreigner entering the national territory temporarily to perform a technical work in the cultural, sport, professional, educational or scientific field, specifically for a particular work or project and for a term of one (1) year, renewable up to five (5) years.

It is necessary to obtain a Work Permit, valid for 3 months, renewable, provided his(her) visa for visitor is in force.

 

VISAS AUTHORIZED BY LAW 41 OF 2004, which creates a special status for the establishment and Operation of the Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area, and an autonomous entity of the Government, named Agency of the Panama-Pacific Special Economic Area.

1. Personnel hired within the Panama-Pacific area to work as specialized personnel in technical or administrative matters, not surpassing 15% of ordinary employees and hired by companies located in the Panama-Pacific area.

The foreigner may request a Residence Permit and Work Permit up to five (5) years, annually renewable.

2. Foreign personnel hired within the Panama-Pacific area in favor of foreigners working for companies with less than 10 employees.

The foreigner may request a Residence Permit and Work Permit up to five (5) years, annually renewable.

3. Permit for foreigner hired as trusted employee by companies in the Panama-Pacific Area exclusively engaged in offices in charge of transactions being executed, or having effects abroad.

The foreigner may request a Residence Permit and Work Permit up to five (5) years, annually renewable.

4. Temporary Residence Permit for personnel hired by headquarters of multinational companies.

This type of visa and its pertinent extensions are handled at the National Directorate of Investment Promotion of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries of Panama, for the period required by the foreigner.

5. Temporary Permit for personnel hired in management positions, executives, experts and/or technicians of commercial call center companies for exportation.

The foreigner may request an annual Residence Permit and Work Permit, renewable up to a period of 6 years.

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The undersigned, Authorized Public Translator, hereby CERTIFIES that the foregoing is a true translatio
of a document written in the Spanish language.

Panama, June 9, 2016.



 

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