Visa Regulation in Panama

There are basically nine types of visas:

1. Tourists
2. Transient
3. Traveler in transit
4. Traveler in direct transit
5. Temporary visitors
6. Speical temporary visitors
7. Pensioned Tourist
8. Immigrant
9. Temporary resident Visa
    

Temporary Visitors Visa
Is granted to the persons that enter the national territory with at least one of the following purposes:
1. To visit relatives: This type of visa is used by the foreigner that keeps in Panama as resident his spouse, blood related relatives in first degree or collateral blood related relatives in second degree. 2. To receive medical treatment: This visa is granted to the foreigners that wish to come to Panama to receive medical treatment in a clinic or hospital. The patient must be accompanied by some member of his family, who will also receive the visa. This visa is granted for an initial period of thee (3) months extendible. 3. Student: The foreigner that wishes to study in Panama may get the temporary visitor visa as quality of student. To the foreigner student is issued a permit of temporary visitor valid for one (1) year extendible. 4. Farmer: Is granted to the foreigners that wish to carry agricultural duties in the national territory, previous approval from the Ministry of Agricultural Development. To these persons it is issued a provisional permit to stay valid for one (1) year,, extendible for periods of two (2) years, up to a total of five (5) years. 5. Technicians: Is granted to the foreigners that come to the country to provide services as technicians of a company, for no more than five (5) years. Technician is Such person that possesses special knowledge in a science or art. This visa is granted for a year (1) renewable, up to a maximum of five (5) years.

Special Temporary Visitor Visa
This visa is granted to those foreigners that are hired as executives of international companies, to work in Panama, whose salary, of no less than one thousand dollars (US$1,000.00) monthly, does not come from a Panamanian source. This visa gives the foreigner the right of temporary residence for one (1) year, extendible for successive periods of one (1) year each time. The Law does not establish a limit of extensions for this visa. The carriers of this visa have right to the following benefits: 1. Total tax exemption for the import of articles for domestic or personal use. 2. Exemption of the payment of any deposit, tax or migratory right in relation for obtaining the visa. 3. Right of residence in the country to the wife and underage children of the solicitant.

Pensioned Tourist Visa
May receive this type of vide the persons retired or pensioned by a foreign government, international organizations or private companies, as well as his dependent relatives. Will be necessary that they count with a minimum pension of US$500.00, plus the amount of US$100.00 for each dependent and its spouse. This visa is authorized to resident indefinitely in Panama and grants the following benefits:1. Total tax exemption for the import of articles for domestic or personal use., up to US$10,000.00. 2. Total tax exemption every two (2) years for the import of a motor vehicle for his personal or family use. 3. Exemption of the payment of any deposit, tax or migratory right in relation for obtaining the visa.

Immigrants Visas
According to Panamanian Law, are Immigrants the foreigners that voluntarily acquire their domicile in the Republic of Panama, by complying with the requirements established by the law, among others, through one of the following visas:
1. Immigrant Visa in quality of investor: Is granted to those foreigners that bring to the Republic of Panama own capital for a minimum of US$40,000.00, to establish in commercial, financial or industrial activities, which exercise may not have been limited by the Law exclusively to Panamanians.
2. Immigrant Visa in quality of spouse of a Panamanian citizen: The foreigners that get married with a Panamanian citizen may request the Immigrant visa. This visa is granted for a provisional period of one (1) year, after which, is granted to final permanency. Counted three (3) years starting wit the final permanency, the spouse has the right to receive the Panamanian nationality.

Please Note: Since May 22nd 2007, the Tourist Visa is valid for 30 days extendable to 60 days.
- Article 36 of Law 15 -

(Please Note: The Immigration Law is currently under review again and might get some modifications soon)

Back To The Panama Real Estate Page