How to apply for a visa and residency in panama

The process of applying for a visa and residency in Panama varies depending on the type of visa and residency you are seeking.

However, there are some general steps that you need to follow:

• Panama Realtor Association
• Panama Real Estate Brokers Association
• Panama Bar Association

You cannot apply for a visa and residency in Panama by yourself. You need to hire a qualified and reputable Panama lawyer who will guide you through the process and handle the paperwork and fees for you. The lawyer will also represent you in front of the immigration authorities and the courts if necessary.
The legal fees for a visa and residency application range from $1,500 to $2,000 for the main applicant, plus additional fees for dependents and other expenses.

You can check the license of registered lawyers on this website.

Depending on the type of visa and residency you are applying for, you will need to provide different documents to prove your eligibility and identity. Some of the common documents that you will need are:

• – A valid passport with at least six months of validity and two blank pages
• – A criminal background check from your home country or the country where you have lived for the last two years, authenticated by the Panama consulate or apostilled
• – A health certificate issued by a licensed doctor in Panama
• – A marriage certificate and birth certificates of dependents if applicable, authenticated by the Panama consulate or apostilled
• – Proof of income, assets, investments, or other financial means to support yourself and your dependents in Panama
• – Proof of affiliation or registration with a Panama entity, such as a company, a bank, a university, or a government agency, depending on the type of visa and residency you are applying for
• – Six passport-sized photos
• – Any other document that your lawyer or the immigration authorities may request

All the documents that you submit for your visa and residency application must be translated into Spanish by a certified translator in Panama and notarized by a Panama notary public. Your lawyer can help you with this process and charge you accordingly. 

If you are not a citizen of one of the countries that have a visa waiver agreement with Panama, you will need to apply for a multiple-entry visa before you can apply for a visa and residency in Panama. This visa will allow you to enter and exit Panama as many times as you want while your visa and residency application is being processed.
The multiple-entry visa costs $50 and is valid for six months. You can apply for it at the Panama consulate in your country or at the immigration office in Panama City.

Once you have all the required documents ready, your lawyer will submit your visa and residency application to the National Immigration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migración or SNM) in Panama City. You will need to be present in Panama for this step and pay a $250 repatriation fee.
The SNM will issue you a provisional residency permit, which is a paper document that proves that you have applied for a visa and residency in Panama and that you are allowed to stay in the country until your application is approved or denied. The provisional residency permit is valid for six months and can be renewed for another six months if your application is still pending. You can check the status of your application online or with your lawyer regularly.

The SNM will review your visa and residency application and conduct a background check on you. This process can take from a few weeks to several months, depending on the type of visa and residency you are applying for and the workload of the SNM.
If your application is approved, you will receive a notification from the SNM and an appointment to collect your permanent residency card, which is a plastic ID card that shows your personal information, your photo, and your visa and residency category. You will need to pay a $100 fee to get your permanent residency card.

If you want to work in Panama, you will need to apply for a work permit separately from your visa and residency application. Not all visa and residency categories allow you to work in Panama, and some professions and businesses are reserved for Panama citizens only. You will need to check with your lawyer or the Ministry of Labor (Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral or MITRADEL) if you are eligible and what are the requirements and fees for a work permit. A work permit is valid for one year and can be renewed annually.
A cedula is a national ID card that is issued by the Electoral Tribunal (Tribunal Electoral) to Panama citizens and permanent residents. A cedula is not mandatory, but it is useful to have one as it can serve as a proof of identity and address in Panama. You can apply for a cedula after you have obtained your permanent residency card and paid a $15 fee.