Friendly Nations Visa PANAMA
Panama Friendly Nations Visa - Residence and Work Permit
The Panama Friendly Nations Visa is a special immigration program where citizens of selected countries who have professional or economic ties with Panama are eligible to apply for permanent residence, and have the right to obtain Panamanian ID (Cédula) and request a work permit indefinitely as long as they meet the requirements.
This program is one of the faster options to obtain residence in Panama.
The Panama Friendly Nations Visa applications include one main applicant and optional dependents, such as a spouse and children up to 25 years old.
Document Specifications ( All documents must be fresh
(within 2 months of visa application) and passports must have at least 1 year to run)
All documents must be authenticated by a Notary and by the nearest Panamanian Consulate, or by a Notary and the Apostille.
The Apostille (The Hague Convention of 1961) is a faster way of authenticating documents and is normally obtained through the Secretary of State Department in your home state (in the USA) or through the Foreign Office
Birth and/or marriage certificates that prove the relationship between dependents and the applicant are required.authenticated by a Panamanian consulate or Apostilled.
Documents Required
Copies of the passport(s) of the applicant and dependents that have been notarized by a Panamanian notary.
8 passport-size photos.
A copy of the applicant's driver's license or a government-issued photo-I. D. that has been authenticated by a Panamanian consulate or Apostilled.
A criminal history report that goes back at least two years and has been authenticated by the appropriate federal or governmental agencies in the country of which the applicant and by the Panamanian Consul in that country or by an Apostille.
Proof of legal residency if the applicant is not a citizen but is a resident of a friendly nations.
Documentation indicating the applicant is a member of the Board of Directors or is a majority shareholder in a Panama company or corporations (when the application is based upon economic ties).
FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA PANAMA
Marriage Certificate with Apostille (if married)
Birth Certificate with apostille (when children coming with the parents)
Friendly nations Visa Panama has been expanded to 48.
See below for a complete List of Countries included in the Panama Friendly Nations Visa program.
In order to apply for a permanent residency visa:
The applicant must have either economic
or professional ties with the Republic of Panama.
FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA PANAMA
Friendly nations Visa Panama
- All documents must be authenticated by a Notary and by the nearest Panamanian Consulate, or by a Notary The Apostille (The Hague Convention of 1961) is a faster way of authenticating documents and is normally obtained through the Secretary of State Department in your home state (in the USA) or through the Foreign Office (in UK and Canada).
- Does not include attorneys' fees and miscellaneous expenses
- Contact
How much does it cost?
The Panama Friendly Nations Visa requires USD $1,050 in government fees for applicants and dependents 12 years old or more. This is split in $800 for the National Immigration Service and $250 for the National Treasury.
Besides government fees you need to consider other costs such as legal fees, multiple entry visa, opening a corporation, opening a bank account, or obtaining a work permit.
For instance, you should budget around USD $4,800 for a process that includes Permanent Residence, Multiple Entry Visa, and Opening a Corporation for one person.
How to demonstrate
Professional or Economic Ties
Applicants to the Panama Friendly Nations Visa program must demonstrate ties with Panama in the form of an employment contract, ownership of a company, or real estate ownership
EMPLOYMENT CONTRACT
Work Permit -FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA PANAMA
The permanent resident status does NOT entitle you to work in Panama right away; however, Panamanian law provides another process to apply for a work permit at the Ministry of Labor (Ministerio de Trabajo – MITRADEL), after the residence process is completed.
The process to obtain a Work Permit is independent from that of obtaining permanent residence, and it has a separate cost. MITRADEL usually takes 1-2 months to answer work permit applications.
Friendly Nations Visa Panama
Friendly nations Visa Panama has been expanded to 48. See below for a complete List of Countries included in the Panama Friendly Nations Visa program. In order to apply for a permanent residency visa: The applicant must have either economic or professional ties with the Republic of Panama.
Andorra | Argentina | Australia | Austria | Belgium |
Brazil | Canada | Chile | Costa Rica | Croatia |
Cyprus | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | Finland |
France | Germany | Great Britain | Greece | Hong Kong |
Hungary | Ireland | Israel | Japan | Latvia |
Liechtenstein | Lithuania | Luxembourg | Malta | Mexico |
Monaco | Montenegro | Netherlands | New Zealand | Norway |
Paraguay | Poland | Portugal | Korea | San Marino |
Serbia | Singanpore | Slovakia | South Africa | Spain |
Sweden | Switzerland | Taiwan | Uruguay | USA |