Immigrant Visas

Panama Immigration Visas

     Panama is a great place to live.  Year by year, Panama is becoming a growing choice as a primary or secondary home for foreign retirees, investors and international business executives.

     The Government of Panama has several immigration visa programs that allow foreigners to live, work, study or retire in Panama.  The purpose of the visas is to attract qualified foreign investment in key sectors of the economy, and to facilitate the immigration of investors, retirees, students, scientists and other qualified immigrants.  Depending on the program, these visas grant the immigrant and their dependents (spouse and/or children) temporary or permanent residency, work permits, retirement status, and/or eventual Panamanian citizenship.

     There are ten primary types of immigrant visas.  Click on any of the visas to get further details regarding benefits / drawbacks, specific requirements, online forms, and the costs related to each immigration process.  If you have any further questions, feel free to contact us.  We’ll be glad to help.

NOTE:  Panama continues to make significant changes to the Immigration Visa framework, laws and regulations.  These changes are often made without advance notice.  Please contact us for up to date information.

1.     Retiree Visa:  Available to: retirees (or disability pensioners), their spouses and dependents.  Requirements: retiree or disability pension from abroad that provides monthly income of at least US$500, plus additional US$100 monthly for each dependent.  Benefits: Allows retiree, spouse and dependents to live in Panama.  Retirees may import up to US$10,000 in personal goods (furniture, etc.) duty free, and are allowed to import an automobile duty free each two years.  Retirees enjoy significant discounts in everything from utilities to movie tickets.

2.     Micro Business Investor Visa:  Available to: individuals who wish to invest in Panama.  Requirements:  individual must invest at least US$40,000 in a qualified small business employing at least three Panamanians.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

3.     Small Business Investor Visa:  Available to: individuals who wish to invest in Panama.  Requirements:  individual must invest at least US$150,000 in a qualified business.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

4.     Reforestation Investor Visa:  Available to: individuals who wish to invest in reforestation in Panama.  Requirements:  individual must invest at least US$40,000 in a qualified reforestation project.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

5.     Personal Income Investor Visa:  Available to: economically self-sufficient investors, their spouses and dependents.  Requirements: investor must deposit US$100,000 in a two year minimum Certificate of Deposit in a Panamanian bank. Benefits:  This immigration program entitles investors (and their dependents) to eventual permanent residency in Panama without having to open a business.

6.     Agricultural Investor Visa:  Available to: individuals who wish to invest in agricultural enterprises (such as a working farm) in Panama.  Requirements:  individual must invest in a qualified agricultural enterprise, such as a producing farm.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

7.     Colon Free Zone Executive Visa:  Available to: executives working for a registered firm in the Colon Free Zone.  Requirements:  individual must be an executive of a registered firm in the CFZ.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

8.     Export Processing Zone Executive Visa:  Available to: individuals who wish to invest in Panama.  Requirements:  individual must invest at least US$250,000 in a business located in one of Panama’s Export Processing Zones.  Benefits: immigration visa also applies to spouse and dependents.

9.     City of Knowledge Visa:  Available to: individuals who come to work or study in Panama’s City of Knowledge.  Requirements:  individual must be a researcher, scientist, student, professor or administrator affiliated with registered company or institution in the City of Knowledge.  Benefits: allows individuals to live and work/study in Panama on a shorter term basis.

10. Panamanian Spouse Visa:  Available to: spouses of Panamanian citizens.  Requirements:  individual must be married to Panamanian citizen.  Benefits: fast track to permanent residency in Panama.

               Panama also offers a second passport program to those individuals who make a long term deposit in the National Bank of Panama.  Available to: economically self-sufficient investors, their spouses and dependents.  Requirements: investor must deposit approximately US$200,000 in a five year Certificate of Deposit in the National Bank of Panama. Benefits:  This program offers investors a five-year Panamanian travel passport.

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