Panama
Passports and Visas
NOTE: New Panama
Immigration Law (Feb 25 - 2008) take effect in 6 months.
Estimated start date of Sept 1, 2008. This means the old laws
are still in place until then,
If you need more information about the new law, please click
here
Differences between the old immigration law
and the new law
- Under the new law the immigration department is given 60 days to
approve or deny any applications that have been accepted. If a determination
has not been made by the 61st day then the application is automatically
considered to be approved.
- The fees for applications will be increased from $100 to $250. In
addition there will be an $800 refundable repatriation fee to guarantee
that one can return home if the application is denied.
- Under the new law if one leaves Panama for more than two years they
lose their visa unless they obtain prior approval from immigration
before leaving the country.
- One must maintain the conditions required for the granting of the
visa or residency. For instance if one was required to put $200,000
in the bank then this $200,000 will need to stay in the bank for as
long as they have the visa which could be the rest of their life.
The bank account is required to be in the person’s personal
name. Same applies with getting a visa by putting $200,000 hard cash
equity into a residential piece of real estate. They will need to
keep the home and the title in their personal name for as long as
they have the residency or visa. It was proposed that the $200,000
amounts for these two visas be raised to $350,000 and then was removed
from the actual law.
- Visas and Residencies are still obtainable but the permanent nature
of them has been removed. The citizenship from Panama don't exist.
If one lives in Panama for 18 years under the new law and leaves the
money in the bank to get the residency and then dies then the surviving
spouse would need to file her own visa application with her own bank
deposit or else would lose her status in the country. If you wish
to live in Panama it is still not hard to get a residency just will
not have any permanence to it.
Our
Panama Law Firm offer the best immigration services and advice to
retirees, investors on the many alternatives under Panamanian immigration
laws. Our counselors will file all the administrative documents
required to obtain Panamanian citizenship.
These laws have been created for the Government to promote foreign
investment in the country which benefits the local environment or
local economy of Panama. Our personnel will represent our clients
before all pertinent authorities in every step of the process for
obtaining Panama visas, residence, work permits, and citizenship.
Panama Immigration Services - Actual Kinds of
Panama Visas (Old Immigration Law):
Some
of these programs offer temporary or permanent residency, citizenship,
and passports and others may not. Some of these programs only offer
temporary resident visas, or work permits.
-
Immediate Passport Program:
offering Immediate Panamanian Passport
- Self
Economic Solvency Visa: offering Permanent Residency
& Passport
- Small Business
Investor Program: offering Permanent Residency &
Passport
- Reforestation
Visa: offering Permanent Residency & Passport
- Retired or Pensioned
Program: offering Permanent Residency only
- Multiple Entry
& Exit Visa (Optional)
Contact us: info@panamalegalconsultants.com
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