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Legal Help for Moving to Panama: Visas, Residency & Real Estate

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The Reforestation Visa - Investor Visas

There are a few different paths to residency available to foreigners investing in government certified reforestation projects in Panama:

  1. With a minimum investment of $80,000 USD qualifying applicants can obtain residency for 5 years.
  2. With a minimum investment of $100,000 USD qualifying applicants can obtain residency for 2 years, but are then eligible to apply for permanent residency.
  3. With a minimum investment of $350,000 USD qualifying applicants can directly obtain permanent residency through a fast-tracked process.
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Qualified Investor Visa - Investor Visas

The Qualified Investor Visa is the only investor visa that offers an expedited process to directly obtain permanent residency in Panama.

To qualify, an applicant must make an investment that satisfies the following requirements:

  1. An equity investment of at least $500,000 USD in the purchase of a a real state property in Panama. The property must be free of any mortgage or lien.
  2. An investment of at least $500,000 USD in Panama Stock Market, through a Panamanian securities brokerage firm.
  3. A minimum 5-year certificate of deposit (“CD” or “Time Deposit”) of at least $750,000 USD in a bank in Panama.

The options above cannot be mixed and matched to satisfy the minimum investment threshold amount. The funds must also originate from outside of Panama to qualify.

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Self Economic Solvency Visa - Investor Visas

The Self Economic Solvency Visa offers residency to foreigners who make a qualifying minimum investment in Panama, which include:

1. An equity investment of at least $300,000 USD in the purchase of a real state property in Panama.

2. A minimum 3-year certificate of deposit (“CD” or “Time Deposit”) of at least $300,000 USD in a bank in Panama.

3. A combination of 1 & 2.

This is a good option for someone who has already purchased real estate which does not quite satisfy the minimum investment requirement.

Spouses or dependents can also obtain residency with an additional investment of $2,000 USD for each additional applicant. Qualifying applicants will initially obtain residency for 2 years and may then apply for permanent residency.

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Friendly Nations Visa (FNV) - Investor Visas

The Friendly Nations Visa (FNV) offers one of the fastest and straightforward paths to residency for citizens of nations designated as “friendly” to Panama.

The minimum investment is $200,000 USD as equity in the purchase of a real state property in Panama or a minimum 3-year certificate of deposit (“CD” or “Time Deposit”) in a bank in Panama. Applicants who qualify can also obtain residency for their spouse or dependents with an additional investment of $2,000 USD for each additional applicant.

Applicants qualifying for the Business Investor Visa will initially obtain residency for 2 years and may then apply for permanent residency. The FNV also affords foreigners the opportunity to apply for a work permit in Panama.

Check whether you are likely to qualify by choosing which nation has issued your passport, or contact us to request a quote.

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Business Investor Visa - Investor Visas

The Business Investor Visa is available to investors and entrepreneurs investing in a business in Panama.

To qualify, an applicant must invest a minimum $160,000 USD investment in capital stock of a Panamanian company.

Applicants who qualify can also obtain residency for their spouse or dependents with an additional investment of $2,000 USD for each additional applicant.

Applicants qualifying for the Business Investor Visa will initially obtain residency for 2 years and may then apply for permanent residency.

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Panama Citizenship

Once you have obtained permanent residency and held it for a period of 5 years, you can apply for Panamanian citizenship (and then a passport).  If you are also married to a Panamanian or have children with a Panamanian parent, then you can apply after holding permanent residency for just 3 years.

Please contact me if you have questions or would like to discuss the application process and requirements.

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Short-Stay Visa

With solid infrastructure and direct flights all around the hemisphere, Panama has become an increasingly popular destination for freelancers and remote workers doing business outside of Panama. The main requirements are:

1. Remote workers should provide a contract setting forth the employees main functions being performed abroad for a foreign company doing work on an international level. However, self-employed free-lancers can also apply.

2. Applicants should demonstrate an annual income of at least $36,000 USD (or $48,000 USD per family).

Qualifying digital nomads can obtain a 9-month residency, extendable to 18 months. And if you fall in love with Panama and want to talk about permanent residency after that, then I help you with longer-term residency options.

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Family Regrouping

There are a few different residency options available to applicants with family ties to Panama. Some of the main options are as follows:

1. Married to a Panamanian​

The main requirement is a real, legal and valid marriage with a Panamanian citizen.  Qualifying applicants may apply for a permanent residency.

b. Panamanian Children

The parents of a child who a.) was born in Panama and b.) is over five years old may apply for permanent residency in Panama.

c. Dependents of a Panama resident

Generally speaking, a foreigner who has qualifies for residency in Panama can also obtain residency for their spouse and dependents.  The requirements will vary depending on the type of residency visa.

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Investor Visas

Panama has created several different residency options to incentivize foreign investment. These visas offer several different paths to short-term or permanent residency based on different types of investments and minimum investment amounts.

The following Investor Visas are covered here (click each one for details):

  1. Business Investor Visa (min. investment of $160,000 USD)
  2. Friendly Nations Visa (min. investment of $200,000 USD)
  3. Self-Economic Solvency Visa (min. investment of $300,000 USD)
  4. Qualified Investor Visa (min. investment of $500,000 USD)
  5. Reforestation Visa (min. investment varies)
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Retirement & Pensioner Visa

Often referred to as the Jubilado (Retired Person) Visa because of its popularity among retirees, this is also a fast and affordable path toward permanent residency for applicants who qualify.

In fact, anyone over age 18 can apply so long as they satisfy the 2 main requirements:

1. A pension or annuity paying a minimum of $1,000 USD per month.

The annuity or pension can be paid by a private company, military, government agencies, corporations, a bank, an insurance company, or a Trust.

2. The pension or annuity must provide a lifetime benefit.

Qualifying applicants can obtain residency for their spouse as well, but the pension or annuity benefit should cover an additional $250 per month.

As an added benefit, the Pensioner Visa also grants discounts at restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, pharmacies and domestic airlines, making it a popular option for clients on a fixed income. The Pensioner Visa also affords foreigners the opportunity to apply for a 3-year, renewable work permit in Panama.

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Friendly Nations Visa

Citizens from nations designated as “friendly” to Panama can obtain a residency visa for themselves and their family.

Applicants qualifying for the Friendly Nations Visa (FNV) will initially obtain residency for 2 years, and may then apply for permanent residency.

The FNV also affords foreigners the opportunity to apply for a work permit in Panama.

The FNV involves offers a very straightforward process and is one of the most affordable paths to residency in Panama for those who qualify.

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Work Permits

For foreigners who wish to obtain a work permit to seek employment in Panama, there is a separate application process that begins only after having obtained residency.

Generally, anyone who has held residency in Panama for 10 years can apply for a work permit. However, there are much shorter and more direct processes to obtain a work permit depending on which visa process the applicant pursued to obtain residency.

Please contact us if you have questions or would like to discuss the application process and requirements.