
TEMPORARY RESIDENT VISA OR PERMIT IN PANAMA
This immigration category applies to any foreign person or his/her dependent(s) entering Panama for reasons of work, education, culture, religion, politics, humanitarianism, or other, and with the intention of staying in Panama for a maximum period of 6 years, except for cases based on special laws that may allow a longer period. Also included in this category are visas for immigrating EXECUTIVES OF INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES, whose salaries come from foreign sources, as per Cabinet Decree 363 of 1971 as well as visas for EXECUTIVES INSIDE COLON FREE ZONE, as per Law 23 of 1977, and to whom all fiscal benefits and customs’ franchises offered by these laws are applicable. Each year, applicant must apply for a visa renewal.
In Panama, main Temporary Residency Permits (visas) are:
▫Permit (Visa) for Foreign Personnel Hired by Companies and Based on the Marrakech Treaty
▫Permit (Visa) for Dependants of Temporary Residents
PERMANENT RESIDENT VISA OR PERMIT IN PANAMA
This category applies to any foreign person and his/her dependant(s) entering Panama for economic reasons or for investments and who wishes to establish permanent residency in Panama. The PENSIONER TOURIST VISA and the RETIREE PENSIONER VISA also fall in this category. Retirees or pensioners from other countries, who successfully apply for this visa, are eligible for those fiscal benefits and customs’ franchises as specified on Law 9 of 1987.
In Panama, main Permanent Residency Permits (visas) are:
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) for Investors in a Macro-Business
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) as an Economically Solvent Persons and based on a CD bank account
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) as an Economically Solvent Person
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) as a Retiree
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) as a Pensioner
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) as Dependants
▫Permanent Resident Permit (Visa) based on the Marriage with a Panamanian
▫Permanent Resident (Visa) base on the Treaty between Italy and Panama
NON RESIDENT VISA OR PERMIT IN PANAMA
Tourists Visas, Passengers-In-Transit visas, and Marine Workers visas fall under this category. Additionally, under this category, Executive Decree 320 of 2008 includes the following visas:
▫ Entertainment worker’s visas, which may be granted for a maximum non extendable 9-month term
▫ Short-term worker’s visas, which may be granted for a maximum non extendable 3-month term
▫ Domestic worker’s visas, which may be granted for a maximum extendable 1-year term
The Short visit visa, which provides a maximum non-extendable term of 9 months in Panama, also falls in this category. This applies to the following visas:
1- Visa for entering Panama for business reasons
2- Visa for visiting relatives
3- Visa for performing scientific research
4- Visa for receiving health treatment
5- Visa for certain businessmen or investors under special laws
6- Visa for those providing international humanitarian assistance
FOREIGNERS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
This applies to refugees, persons seeking asylum, stateless, and persons entering Panama under provisional humanitarian statutes.