Entry
to Panama, is only possible with a valid passport and a valid
Panama visa. A Panama visa can be broadly grouped under five
heads:
• Tourist Visas
• Temporary Residence Visas
• Retirement Visas (Pensionado)
• Investors’ Visas
• Immigrant Visas
Tourist or Traveler Visas
Every visitor entering the Panamanian territory is required,
by rule, to carry a tourist visa or tourist card unless you
are a citizen of any of these countries – Austria, Costa
Rica, Denmark, Federal Republic of Germany, Finland, Great
Britain, Honduras, Norway, Spain, Switzerland and Sweden.
Available at the Panamanian consuls abroad, a Panama Visa
grant tourists the permission to live in Panama for 30 days.
A Tourist Visa can be renewed for an additional two months.
Temporary Resident Visas
Visitors entering the national territory with the intention
of fulfilling their following needs are issued Temporary Resident
Visas:
For visiting relatives: If you are a foreign national visiting,
rather residing in Panama for short periods because your spouse
or blood relatives (in first degree or collateral blood related
relatives in second degree) is/are Panama resident(s), you
will need to hold a Temporary Resident Visa.
For medical treatment: A Temporary Resident Visa will be
issued to you if you (as a foreign national) plan to be treated
in a clinic or hospital in Panama. This visa is issued for
an initial period of three months, which will further be extended
as per your requirement. However, you will have to be accompanied
by some family-member (who will also be issued a Panama Visa).
To Study: A temporary resident visa permits you to visit
Panama with the intention of studying in Panama. The permit
is issued for one year, but is essentially extendible.
Special temporary resident visas are issued to foreign technicians
and executives working with International firms operating
in Panama. This type of a Panama Visa usually gives a foreign
national the right of temporary residence for one year. Panama
Visa issued to the technician can be renewed for successive
periods of one year each time to a maximum of 5 years. Panama
Visa issued to Executives can also be renewed, however, the
Law does not limit visa extensions.
Special Temporary Resident Visas are also granted to farmers
(foreigners) for farming within Panama’s borders, but
then prior approval from the Ministry of Agricultural Development
is a pre-condition for the issuance of this visa. The visa
is issued for one year; the validity, however, is extendible
for periods of two years, up to a maximum of five years.
Retirement Visas
Panama has announced some beneficial Retirement Visas for
retired foreign nationals. These include the Pensioners’
Visa and the Private Income Retiree Visa. The former is a
Panama Visa for retired people who receive a pension from
a Government entity or private corporation. The latter, on
the other hand, is issued to retired people who do not receive
any fixed pension, instead live on private savings.
Investors’ Visa (or Business Visas)
Then there are Panama Visas for outsiders interested in investing
in Panama. Forestry Investor Visa (a long-term investment
on reforestation) and the Small Business Investor Visa are
two important Investors’ Visas. Adherence to essential
Panama Laws is basic to qualifying for these Panama Visas.
Immigrant Visas
Immigrant Visas grant Panamanian nationality to foreigners
in two specific situations:
- Provided you have a Panamanian as a spouse or you make a minimum capital investment of US$ 40000 in Panama
- A Panama Visa for foreigners (especially some Temporary Resident
Visas, Investors’ Visas, Retirement Visas as well as
Immigrant Visas) is essentially beneficial because they make
you eligible for tax and duty exemptions.
We can arrange Panama
visa application for special discounted rates (from $900 for
a pensionado) Please contact us for more information.
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