Services Migration

The National Migration Service (SNM). regulates the migration movement of inflows and departures of nationals and foreigners, the stay of the latter in the national territory and reviews all applications for Visas or Permits submitted to it for analysis.

Why get a Panamanian visa?

Because through immigration processes foreigners can achieve, as the case may be, obtain in the first instance the permanence and subsequently nationality, which can mean commercial and labor benefits.
In all Visa options your family will be included as beneficiaries.
Obtaining a Visa many processes are simplified, such as bank account opening procedures, obtaining mortgages, exercising certain professions, among others.

There are several Options of Visas, however we will provide a summary of the most important ones and before any doubt you can contact us in the different options that we offer you.

PANAMANIAN VISA FROM FRIENDLY COUNTRIES

This visa grants the stay immediately, provided that the citizenship of the interested party is subject to the list of 50 countries contemplated as “friendly countries”. they will be able to move to Panama with their direct relatives, and purchase a Permanent Residence Visa. On the other hand, the citizen must establish or buy an Anonymous Company, which opens commercial possibilities before the Ministry of Trade and Industries and Labor before the Ministry of Labour and Labour Development.

ANDORRA	AUSTRALIA	ARGENTINA	AUSTRIA
BELIGCA	BRASIL	CANADÁ	CHILE
COSTA RICA	CROACIA	CHIPRE	REPÚBLICA CHECA
DINAMARCA	ESTONIA	FINLANDIA	FRANCIA
ALEMANIA	GRECIA	HONG KONG	HUNGRÍA
IRLANDA	ISRAEL	JAPÓN	LETONIA
LIECHTENSTEIN	LITUANIA	LUXEMBURGO	MALTA
MONACO	MARINO	MÉXICO	MONTENEGRO
PAÍSES BAJOS	NUEVA ZELANDA	PARAGUAY	POLONIA
PORTUGAL	SERBIA	SINGAPUR	ESLOVAQUIA
ESPAÑA	COREA DEL SUR	SUECIA	SUIZA
TAIWAN	ESTADOS UNIDOS	REINO UNIDO	URUGUAY

VISA AS A FOREIGN PROFESSIONAL

This Visa is the Solution perfect for applicants whose country does not apply for Friends Country Visa. It allows the foreigner with a university diploma, after approval by the Universities of Panama, to obtain a temporary visa of two years and subsequently a permanent residence and in addition that can practice his profession. All this is understood by taking into account that the profession is allowed for its exercise by foreigners.

VISA AS A RETIREE AND PENSIONER

This type of Visa grants a special residence to all those who can prove that they have a pension or retirement from the government of their country or the private company, regardless of age, provided that this is for an amount greater than the Us Dollars and that it has been granted in a lifetime.

VISA FOR ITALIAN NATIONALS

Depending on the trade agreements in force between Panama and Italy, citizens of Italy have the possibility to acquire a Permanent Residence with a single procedure that takes approximately three months and testing some economic solvency and its commercial activity.

FOREIGN PARENTS WITH PANAMANIAN CHILDREN

It applies in cases where foreigners who while in Panama, their children were born in the national territory. This possibility will come to be governed when that child reaches the age of 5, previously registered in the Electoral Tribunal of Panama. This Visa grants a two-year Temporary Permit and then Permanent Residence. In addition, having the provisional residence, the interested party may choose the work permit in the same quality.

VISA AS OWN ECONOMIC SOLVENCY FOR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT

It applies to those who make real estate investments in Panama for values greater than $300,000.00 and who do so with own resources. Likewise, those who deposit an equivalent amount in Fixed Term within the Panamanian banking system for the minimum term of three years, or who make real estate investment and fixed period of combined foma, may apply to this Visa. This Visa grants a two-year Temporary Permit and then Permanent Residence.

VISA FOREST INVESTMENT VISA

Foreigners whose minimum investment of Eighty thousand Us Dollars in the purchase of at least three hectares of land through a company engaged in authorized reforestation or forest planting activities may opt for this Visa. This visa grants a Temporary Permit that can be renewed for up to six years.

TEMPORARY PERMISSION FOR FOREIGN PERSONNEL HIRED BY PRIVATE PANAMANIAN COMPANIES WITHIN 10 ORDINARY STAFF

A foreigner hired by a private company, who pays a salary not less than (B/.850.00) per month, may apply for this permit. Procurement must be endorsed by the Ministry of Labour, in the same way, the contracting company must comply with all the legal requirements provided by Panamanian laws in the commercial aspect. The worker must be affiliated with Social Security. Simultaneously, the Work Permit is processed which allows him to work only with the company with which he carried out the immigration procedure. The temporary residence is for 2 years and with the renewal is granted the Permanent Residence.

INVESTOR VISA

A foreigner wishing to opt for this Visa must prove that he has invested at least One Hundred and sixty thousand U.S. dollars (US$160,000) in a company that generates at least five jobs and meets all legal requirements applied to wholesale, distribution or manufacturing businesses.

This Visa grants a two-year Temporary Permit and then Permanent Residence.

NATURALIZATION PROCESS

A permanent resident has three alternatives to naturalize:

1. Having lived for (5) years as a Permanent Resident.
2. Having lived for three (3) years as a Permanent Resident, married to a national or Panamanian children
3. Having been born in a Lation American country or in Spain, and having met the requirements that Panamanians will have to meet to naturalize in their country of origin, this is known as reciprocity and allows a shorter period of permanent residence.

COUNTRIES THAT MAINTAIN REPROCITY WITH PANAMA