Having full knowledge of Panama’s Immigration Law and Visas regulations, DIAZ
BARRETO LAW offers professional services in relation to visa applications and for obtaining
visas of different nature, such as Immigrants’ Visa, Special Visitor’s Visa, Tourist Pensioner
Visa, Retired Pensioner Visa, Investors Visa, and Special Visas, among others, being Panama
a country having many offerings to all tourists and foreign immigrants having legal residence
in Panama.

DIAZ BARRETO LAW can assist you with:

Work Permits
Long term business Visas
Permanent residency
Appeals and problem resolution


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.  
















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.  

Residency in Panama is very easy to obtain when compared to most other countries. There
is even special legislation for 'pensioners', who can qualify for residency with a guaranteed
pension income of $500 per month ($600 for a couple). You don't necessarily have to be an
elderly person either, since anyone over 18 can qualify. However, it must be a pension from
a recognized source: for example a government agency (e.g. Social Security, disability,
armed forces, etc.) or if it is a company pension, it must be a defined-benefit pension.

If you don't have a fixed pension, but you do have capital, you might consider investing in
real estate. If you invest $200,000 or more in any kind of real estate, you can automatically
receive an investor residency that allows you to live in Panama legally. There are other
possible programs, such as "reforestation" and "small business investor", depending on your
personal objectives once you are living in Panama.

The Immediate Passport Program allows foreigners to obtain an immediate passport under
the condition that they make a 5 year time deposit (certificate of deposit - "CD"), at the
Banco Nacional de Panama, which earns a minimum of US$750 per month in interest income.

Another program called the Self Economic Solvency (Bank Deposit Program) exists where
the applicant must invest a minimum of US$100,000 in a 1 year time deposit at any licensed
bank in Panama. For each additional dependent that applies under the primary applicant, the
time deposit (CD) amount must be incremented by US$5000 (for each dependent).

The Reforestation Investment Program offers international investors the opportunity to
obtain legal residency and eventually a passport in Panama through a US$40,000 investment
in any approved reforestation project.

Small Business Investor Program allows foreign business owners to obtain legal residency in
Panama under the condition that they invest a minimum of US$40,000 in either a new
business venture, or an established company in Panama. Part of the requirement is that the
business must employ at least 3 Panamanian employees paying them at least minimum wage,
with social security benefits.

The Tax Free Processing Zone Investor Program allows foreign investors to obtain legal
residency in Panama under the condition that they must rent a plot of land or an office or
building (rented through a 10 to 20 year concession) within one of the new tax free
processing zones in Panama, for the purpose of operating a business from Panama that
exports its products or services.

We realise that a lot of immigrants will be interested to know whether it is possible to bring
their pets with them to Panama.  The short answer is "yes", you can. Contact us about this.

Residency visas in general:

Applications must be made through a Panamanian lawyer.
The only age requirement for all visas, EXCEPT the Pensioner visa, is that applicants must
be over 18 years of age. Those under 18 must apply as dependents. The Pensioner visa is
explained on this page.
Documents from outside Panama presented to Panamanian authorities must be authenticated
by a Notary and by the Panamanian consulate nearest your present location, or by Notary
and the Apostille. The Apostille is a faster way of authenticating documents and is available
through the State Department in your state (in USA) or through the Foreign Office (in the
UK or Canada).
Documents must be current, within 4 months of the anticipated visa issue and passports can
be no less than one year from expiring.
Dependents to be covered under the visa must be accounted for with a newly issued
marriage license (spouse) or birth certificates (children).
Visa applications require that you obtain a health certificate in Panama.
Visa applications require a clean police record from your most recent place of residence.
All applications require between six and nine passport size photos
(suit and tie/sleeved blouse or dress.)
None of the visas discussed here include work permits.
Immigration to Panama
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BARRETO LAW
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