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Immigration Legislation

In order to obtain your immigration visa, below are some step-by-step instructions intended to help guide you through the process.

First of all we need to register the passport at the National Direction of Migration before and filling the visa application. This process is known in Spanish as “filiación” (basically – signing up). We always sent our assistant with our clients to the Immigration Department to do this. This can be done in about 2 hours as long as the client arrives early in the morning.

Documents required, for the registration:

  1. Original Passport
  2. Copy of the front page of the passport (the page that has the photo, general details, and signature)
  3. Fill in the immigration form (we will assist with this)
  4. Two (2) passport sized photos.

(1) Temporary Permit as a Macro-Company Investor (temporary residence for 2 years and subsequent right to apply for permanent residence): Foreigners who wish to invest in a macro-company with a minimum share capital of US $ 160,000.00 for each permit applicant may request this permit, they must be shareholders and dignitaries of this

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum of US$2,000.00 per dependent must be invested.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(2) Retirement permit (permanent residence): Anyone who is a pensioner from a foreign government or private company with a minimum monthly sum of US $ 1,000.00 for life can opt for this indefinite residence If they are spouses, between the two they can reach the sum of US $ 1,000.00, if they acquire a property in a personal capacity greater than US

$ 100,000.00 the pension can be US $ 750.00

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum is required to the pension of five hundred dollars US $ 500.00 per month for each dependent.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(3)    Temporary Permit as Own Economic Solvency (temporary residence for 2 years and subsequent right to apply for permanent residence): Any foreigner who can make a

minimum investment of US $ 300,000.00. The National Migration Service admits any of the following options on how possession of the US $ 300,000.00 can be proven:

  • US $ 300,000.00 in the acquisition of a fixed term in a personal capacity in a local bank free of encumbrances and for a minimum period of 3 years,
  • Acquisition of a real estate free of liens up to the sum of US $ 300,000.00 in a personal capacity or in the name of a public limited company proving that the foreigner is the
  • Mixed investment in the acquisition of a fixed term in a local bank and for a minimum period of 5 years extendable plus a real estate where the sum of both is US $ 300,0000.00 free of encumbrances.

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum of US$2,000.00 per dependent must be invested.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(4) Indefinite Permanence Permit for Italian Nationals (permanent residence): Any Italian national, who demonstrates that he maintains economic solvency, either through an investment in Panama or through a contract or promise of work, has the opportunity to apply for Panamanian residency, through an Agreement signed between Panama and

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum of US$2,000.00 per dependent must be invested.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(5) Special Temporary Visitor Visa (yearly renewal up to 7 times): This visa is used by those foreigners who enter the country with the intention of residing temporarily, while the activities that motivated their visit to Panama last. Foreigners who will work in a company whose headquarters is in another country and has a subsidiary in Panama can apply to this

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(6) Permanent Resident as professional foreigners (temporary residence for 2 years and subsequent right to apply for permanent residence): This residence permit is granted to professionals who can demonstrate that they have a university degree that does not refer to a profession intended for the exclusive exercise of Panamanian nationals, such as law, engineering and architecture, medicine among

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad.

(7) Permit for Permanent Residents as foreigners from specific countries who maintain friendly, professional, economic and investment relations with the Republic of Panama (temporary residence for 2 years and subsequent right to apply for permanent residence): Foreigners under the nationality of certain countries can apply for this permit as long as they work in Panama or express their willingness to invest in Panama through the purchase of real estate for the sum of US $ 200,000.00 and / or a fixed term in a bank in Panama, with a general license, for a minimum of three (3) years, for the sum of US $ 200,000.00.

For your reference, below is the list of countries that can apply for this immigration permit, namely: United Kingdom of Great Britain; North Ireland; Federal Rep. Of Germany; Rep of Argentina; Confederation of Australia; South Korea; Rep. Of Austria; Federative Rep. Of Brazil; Kingdom of Belgium; Canada; Kingdom of Spain; United States of America; Slovak Rep.; Rep. French; Rep. Of Finland; Kingdom of the Netherlands; Rep. Of Ireland; State of Japan; Kingdom of Norway; Czech Rep; Swiss Confederation; Rep. Of Singapore; Eastern Rep. Of Uruguay; Rep. Of Chile; Kingdom of Sweden; Rep. Of Poland; Hungary; Hellenic Rep. (Greece); Portuguese Rep.; Rep. Of Croatia; Rep. Of Estonia; Rep. Of Lithuania; Latvia; Rep. Of Cyprus; Rep. Of Malta; Rep. Of Servia; Rep. Of Montenegro; State of Israel; Kingdom of Denmark; Republic of South Africa; New Zealand; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region; Grand Duchy of Luxembourg; Principality of Liechtenstein; Principality of Monaco; Principality of Andorra; Serenissima Rep. Of Marino; Mexico; Paraguay, Costa Rica and Peru.

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum of US$2,000.00 per dependent must be invested.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad

(8) Permanent Permit as a Qualified Investor (permanent residence granted in a period of 30 days): Any foreigner who can make a minimum investment of US $ 500,000.00 to US$ 750,000.00, will be granted with this residence

The National Migration Service and the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, admit some of the following options of how the investment of US $ 500,000.00 to US $ 750,000.00 can be proven:

  • Invest the sum of US $ 750,000.00 in the acquisition of a fixed term in a personal capacity in a local bank free of encumbrances and for a minimum period of 5 years,
  • Owner of a real estate free of encumbrances up to the sum of US $ 500,000.00 in a personal capacity or in the name of a corporation proving that the foreigner is the Until October 15, 2022, the investment is allowed to be US $ 300,000.00.
  • Signing a contract of promise of purchase and sale of a real estate free of encumbrances up to the sum of US $ 500,000.00 in a personal capacity or in the name of a public limited company, proving that the foreigner is the Payments for the purchase and sale of the property must be made through a Trustee licensed in Panama. If the purchase and

sale is not completed, the permanent residence permit will be canceled. Until October 15, 2022, the investment is allowed to be US $ 300,000.00.

  • Invest for a period of 5 years the sum of US $ 500,000.00 through a Brokerage House with a license approved by the Superintendency of the Stock Market of

Can they bring dependents? Yes. Wife, parents and children under 25 years of age are considered dependents. An additional sum of US$2,000.00 per dependent must be invested.

Note: this category does NOT allow your presentation to be from abroad

Author(s)

Carlos Molino

Partner

Lourdes Bishop

Senior Associate

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