Where to Stay in Panama City when Applying for Residency

Where to Stay

Ok—so, you’ve gathered all of your application documents and you obtained all the notarizations, stamps and seals. You’ve chosen dates that align with the kids’ school schedules, and you’ve been careful to avoid any public holidays in Panama when the government offices will be closed. You’ve booked your flights and selected your seats.

Now, you need to figure out where you are going to stay in Panama City. Should you look for a place near The Independent Lawyer offices? Should you try to stay somewhere close to Panama’s Immigration Office, so that you can get to that early-morning appointment?

Figuring out where to stay can feel a bit daunting—especially if you haven’t already spent some time getting to know the City. This articles summarizes the information that we often share with our clients as they plan their trips to launch their residency application processes.

5 Days in Panama

We generally ask clients to plan to be in Panama for at least 5 business days to submit the residency application. But you won’t be busy that whole time. In most cases, the prep work is already done before you arrive.

Actually, your trip will only require two short meetings: a 45-min meeting at The Independent Lawyer offices in the San Francisco area of Panama City, and another one that usually lasts less than 1 hour at Panama’s Immigration Office in the Tumba Muerto area of Panama City.

Click Here to read about what the typical schedule will look like.

The locations of the 2 meeting for your residency application are on opposite sides of the city, and each of them are about the same distance from coastline on Avenida Balboa. And if you are planning to accomplish other things while you are in Panama City—such as opening a bank account or obtaining your Panama driver’s license—then those appointments are going to be in entirely different areas of the City.

The point is, it probably doesn’t make sense to try to book a hotel or AirBNB in direct proximity to your meetings. And since you are going to have plenty of free time during your stay in Panama City—we suggest choosing a comfortable, interesting location rather than staying right next to your appointments. Look for a walkable area, with shops and restaurants nearby, and easy access to Uber!

Panama City Hotels

Panama has a ton of hotels!  We are going to start a list of some of the hotels where many of our clients stay when they are in the City for just a few days. But if there is a Panama City hotel that you would like to see on this list, then please write to us and tell us about what makes it a great place to stay!

Higher-End

First, here are a few higher-end hotels where you are sure to be comfortable. And these are all in great locations right in the heart of the City:

Hilton Panama – on Ave Balboa, likely to have an ocean view.  Easy access to restaurants and the Cinta Costera.

Waldorf Astoria – just behind the Hilton, on a bit quieter street without a direct ocean view, but in a very walkable area with a small supermarket and several good restaurants in the immediate vicinity.  Also, while this hotel is flagged a Waldorf Astoria, and it is a nice hotel—it is not as ritzy or as expensive as a Waldorf Astoria in a lot of other cities around the world.

JW Marriott – in Punta Pacifica is very comfortable and with multiple amenities, boutique stores and food and beverage options right there within the complex.  

Bristol Hotel – an old-school Panama City classic. This one has been around for a very long time, and it feels a bit more boutique than the ones mentioned so far. It sits just up the road from Calle 50, so count on City views.

Mid-Range

Hotels in Panama are generally not as expensive as they are in a lot of larger cities.  But here are a few other options that are in good central locations, but with a bit more mid-range pricing than the ones above.  Check them out online to see if any are relevant:

Courtyard by Marriott – very close to the JW Marriott, but without the view and a lower price point.  It is also connected to Multiplaza Mall, which is very popular and with lots of shopping, restaurants, and entertainment options.

Sortis Hotel by Marriott – a lot of our clients stay here, as it is a very central area of the city, and they also have several good restaurants on site.  I believe pricing is more affordable than the J.W. Marriott, but we haven’t stayed there.

Hotel Las Americas Golden Tower – sits at the end of Ave Balboa between the Paitilla and Marbella neighborhoods.  Easy location to grab an Uber and access the key areas around the City.

Decapolis Hotel – another one near Hotel Las Americas Golden Tower.

Megapolis Hotel – another one in the same area as Hotel Las Americas Golden Tower (formerly HardRock hotel).

RIU – right on Calle 50 (main road in the city). It is in the same general area as Hotel Las Americas Golden Tower, Decapolis and Megapolis—but it is in a slightly better location. It should be very easy to grab an Uber here. 

Coral Suites – we have not stayed in this one, but we meet a lot of PRT clients who stay here. So, I believe it must be one that is recommended within that network.  It is centrally located in the middle of the city.  If you look at it on the map it appears very close to Vía Argentina, which is the main street in the El Cangrejo neighborhood. 

Be warned—Coral Suites is a few blocks away from Vía Argentina—so, you may be disappointed if you have been checking out videos of the El Cangrejo neighborhood online.  In other words, it is in a less aesthetic area, but it may be a good value for money.  If you stay there, then let us know your feedback.

Casco Viejo Hotels

If you are here in the City for a few days, you will want to check out Casco Viejo.  This is going to be one of the more interesting areas of the City, and there are also several hotels worth checking out in this area. 

These are probably somewhat in order of lowest to highest prices (more or less, and not based on empirical data, by any means—so, let us know if we need to shift the list around):

Hotel San Felipe – a smaller, recently opened hotel, simple with nice Italian finishes.  Not on a main plaza, but Casco Viejo is very small.

Hotel Central – a comfortable hotel in a beautiful building on a prime spot overlooking Plaza Catedral.  Likely lower rates than most of the others on this list.

Las Clementinas – wow, you’ll love these apartment-hotel rooms. They are spacious and full of character, and you have the ridiculously and consistently good Mahalo restaurant right downstairs. And with incredible views of the modern city skyline from up on the rooftop, Las Clementinas might just be the perfect home base for your 5 days in Panama.

Hotel American Trade – Casco Viejo’s first luxury hotel since the area started being redeveloped over the last 15 years.  Sits in a great location right on Plaza Herrera.  

Hotel La Compañía (Unbound Collection by Hyatt) – a large complex occupying an entire city block, with numerous little restaurants and bars and interesting corners to explore.  Casco Viejo and Panama are very proud of this project. We cannot do it justice in just a few sentences, but you’ll find plenty of content about it online.

Sofitel Legend Hotel – sitting over the water, probably the highest-end, luxury hotel in Casco Viejo. It was developed over many years on the former site of Club Unión, which is Panama City’s This is another one that has gotten a massive amount of attention over the last few years, and you are sure to have a memorable experience here.

Across the Canal

Dreams Playa Bonita – a nice little all-inclusive resort just on the other side of the Bridge of the Americas that crosses over the Panama Canal. While this area is called “Playa Bonita”, there isn’t really much of a beach here. Still, it can be a nice area to hang out for a few days if you don’t care about being right there in City.

Westin Playa Bonita – sitting right next to Dreams Playa Bonita, but offering a bit higher-end hospitality experience. The problem with staying in Playa Bonita when you come to Panama to submit your residency application, is that you are going to have to join the morning rush-hour traffic coming into the City when you go to the immigration office for your early-morning meeting with us. The police actually re-route more traffic lanes in the direction of the city to handle the influx, but you are going to need to budget extra time to catch an Uber and get across the Bridge of the Americas into the City.

Panama City Neighborhoods

Like I said, there are a lot of hotels in Panama City—way more than the few we have referenced here.  So, you may prefer to choose a cool neighborhood first, and then to search for a hotel or an AirBNB.  If this is your approach, then here are some neighborhoods worth researching for a short stay in Panama City. 

By the way, these neighborhoods are all pretty centrally located. So, any of them would serve as a good home base for anything and everything you are getting done in the city:

Casco Viejo (or just “Casco”) 

This is Panama’s “Old Town” and a Unesco World Heritage designated neighborhood. Casco has tons of restaurants, bars, shops, and small museums. It is full of content and movement, and it is probably the best area fo the City for wandering and people watching.  There are also a bunch of cool apartments and a very active, connected expat population that call Casco Viejo home.

These days, Casco Viejo gets pretty congested with tourists, and getting into the neighborhood can be a little bit exhausting during peak hours. Panama’s presidential palace is also located here, so when there are occasional protests around social issues in Panama the protestors usually end up in Casco Viejo. But since you really don’t have very many appointments, this is unlikely to affect you a great deal during your 5 days in Panama.

So, go enjoy some fresh raw oysters at Bruma, and try to find the secret door to La Barbara (arguably the best cocktail bar in Panama City). Explore the menu at Fonda Lo Que Hay, and spend some time getting lost in the historic streets of Casco. I promise there is more going on here than you will have time to discover over just a week. But you shouldn’t let that stop you!

Full disclosure—Ryan and I lived in Casco Viejo for nearly a decade. We still keep have an apartment there, and we will probably forever consider ourselves “Cascqueños“.

If you want to go down the rabbit hole on Casco Viejo, then friend of ours recently started a blog for anyone trying to get the lay of the land on Casco Viejo—check it out: Casco Viejo 360.

El Cangrejo

This area was very cool something like 20 years ago, and then sort of lost its luster. But now it is back in fashion after the municipality did a bunch of infrastructure projects a few years ago.  Lots of little restaurants, a nice big park for kids and anyone looking to stay active, and a consistently nice buzz with people walking around.  This is a real, thriving little neighborhood with a nice mix of high-rise condos and older mid-rise buildings.

All the trees on Vía Argentina a bit cooler than the rest of Panama City, making it a pretty pleasant place to walk around for a few days. Enjoy brunch at Mentiritas Blancas (“Little White Lies”) or Atypico. Enjoy locally made rum at Pedro Mandinga, or local brews at La Rana Dorada. And discover a dance party at El Cangrejo Radio. There’s something for everybody here, and the El Cangrejo neighborhood offers a soft landing in Panama City.

We think this video does a pretty great job of capturing the vibe of El Cangrejo. And, also, this illustration:

San Francisco

This is an area where a lot of expats spend time, so you’ll come across it online when you research areas of Panama City.  Some of the best restaurants in Panama City are located in San Francisco, and there are a lot of different types of housing and places to stay.  This is also where Panama’s largest city park is located—Parque Omar—which is an amazing public space.  

The Independent Lawyer offices are within the San Francisco area, and our family also lives here. So, we obviously like it very much.

That being said, we want to be sure you understand that San Francisco is not really a “neighborhood”.  Rather, it is a section of the city called a “corregimiento“, with a bunch of different neighborhoods inside of it.  So, while some areas in San Francisco will offer cool shops and restaurants right outside your building, others may require calling an Uber to get to where you want to be.

For restaurants, check out Cantina del Tigre, Tapa de Coco, Intimo, Brutto, and Los Años Locos.

Punta Pacifica

Dominated by skyscrapers, but its one of the nicest and safest areas in the center of the City. It is a pretty popular place for foreign executives to live if they are working in an office building that isn’t located in Costa del Este.  This is where Grupo Los Pueblos is developing the signature Ocean Reef Club project, which probably has the highest price per residential m2 in Panama.

Punta Pacifica is pretty sexy, but wouldn’t be our for just a few days in Panama. The area doesn’t exude authenticity or particular character—at least from our perspective. On the other hand, if you are looking for somewhere to be able to eat, sleep and get some work done all in one place and in style, then the JW Marriott checks a lot of boxes right in Punta Pacifica.

Punta Paitilla

Older high rise buildings, but very central part of the city and also extremely safe.  It is adjacent to Punta Pacífica, but it feels much more like a neighborhood.

There is also a synagogue right in the neighborhood, and this is where a lot of Panama’s local Jewish community lives. And Shabbat in Punta Paitilla is pretty cool to witness, as you see neighbors walking to and from the synagogue and to one another’s homes to share meals.

The hills and the shaded streets make it kind of a fun area to go for a run, and you have walk-on access to the Cinta Costera. You’ll also find a number of places to grab a bite or a short Uber ride to anywhere down town, so Punta Paitilla is really not a bad home base for a few days.

Parque Urracá

Multiple nice residential towers surrounding a big shady park right in the middle of the city.  The park has children’s play equipment, a basketball court and a baseball field, and a stage where there the municipality occasionally hosts events. There is also a Riba Smith supermarket within walking distance, and it is right on Ave Balboa with direct access to the Cinta Costera (another amazing public space asset).

What is great about the buildings around Parque Urracá is that they all sit just off of Ave Balboa—so you might get the views, but you won’t get the noise from all the traffic.  A number of friends with young families have lived in this area over the years, and people seem to love the area. If you are testing the waters for areas where you might want to live, then consider spending some time in this neighborhood.

By the way, Parque Urraca is located within a larger area called Bella Visa, which is another “corregimiento” like San Francisco.  Even though Bella Visa actually covers a huge area, often times people will say “Bella Vista” in reference to the few blocks around Parque Urracá.

Marbella

Also right off of Ave Balboa, with walkable tree-lined streets, several good restaurants (check out Market and Azahar restaurants while you are here, and go have a drink and people watch at Les Mecs).

If you are travelling with small children, then you have a couple of small playground areas in Marbella. You are also in direct proximity to Paitilla Hospital and lots of doctor’s offices and clinics.  Anything on Ave Balboa will have very nice ocean views, and you also have direct access to Calle 50 to head toward the other side of the City. The Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Hotel Las Americas Golden Tower, Megapolis, Decapolis, and RUI hotels sit right near this neighborhood. So, you have plenty of places to stay.

Another full disclosure—Ryan and lived in Marbella for almost 4 years after we left Casco. The Independent Lawyer also opened its first office in Marbella. We think Marbella checks a lot of boxes for families as it strikes a balance between a residential neighborhood and an urban environment. This is an area worth spending a few days if you are trying to get a feel for what it might be like living in the heart of Panama City.

Costa del Este (“CDE”)

The newest urban part of the city, a mix of shiny new highrises, but also newly developed suburban neighborhoods, lots of restaurants and retail, lots of multinational corporations and expats, and walkable.  This is the only area that really isn’t in the city center, as it is just on the other side of a tollway bridge.  But CDE kind of has everything in terms of restaurants, stores, etc.—so, it is sort of its own city center. 

Honestly, our family goes to Costa del Este all the time. And I imagine that if you lived there, you wouldn’t really need to leave that often. If you’ve already spent some time in Panama and you are considering new areas where it might make sense to live, then we would recommend looking into Costa del Este.

Bottom Line?

Panama City really is an amazing City. Actually, every time we drive in from a weekend at the beach, when we are circling around Casco Viejo on the Cinta Costera, Ryan always says our boys, “Hey, look how beautiful our City is!” And you know something? It really is beautiful in a lot of ways.

If you are joining our Panama community, then we want you to see the beauty of Panama City as well. And we’d love to hear your feedback—especially about any gems that we have missed. Send us your thoughts by email to: info@theindependentlawyer.com.

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.