Panama Immigration Attorney Services
If you are looking for a Panama immigration attorney, Kraemer & Kraemer offers legal support for visas, residency, work permits, and citizenship in Panama. Our attorneys guide individuals and families through the process under Panamanian law, backed by more than fifteen years of practice.
Settling, working, or investing in the Republic of Panama means meeting strict legal rules and the requirements the National Immigration Service (Servicio Nacional de Migración) sets for every applicant. Whether you want temporary or permanent residency, a work permit, or one of the investment visa programs, experienced panama immigration lawyers keep the process clear and secure, and shape each step around your personal or business goals.
Kraemer & Kraemer answers your questions
The Panama immigration attorneys at Kraemer & Kraemer possess extensive expertise in navigating local immigration laws to identify ideal solutions for different needs, such as residency visas, work permits, retirement visas, tourist visas, investor visas, the naturalization process, and more.
Do you have doubts about the Panama immigration process?
Contact us today, and one of our Panama immigration attorneys will get back to you as soon as possible to answer your questions and to guide you through the requirements and process that fits your circumstances such as financial conditions, family group, or investor profile. We proudly serve our clients with more than 10 years of legal experience.
Overview
- Most processes submitted to the National Immigration Service require the official representation of a Panama immigration attorney.
- Main applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Children under 18 will apply for a visa as dependents of their parents.
- All foreign documents submitted for a Panama immigration process needs to be in Spanish and authenticated with the apostille or a Panamanian consulate.
- All documents must be recent, and passports must be valid for at least one year.
- All visa applications require a certificate of good health obtained in Panama.
Visiting Panama as a Tourist
Whether a traveler needs a visitor permit depends entirely on nationality. Citizens of the United States, Canada, most European Union countries, and most of Latin America are granted entry with a passport stamp, while travelers from certain other nations must obtain a visa stamp or consular authorization at a Panamanian consulate before traveling.
Use the country selector below to confirm what applies to your passport. Should your case call for an authorized document, a Panama immigration attorney can help you.
Country selection
Citizens of this country DO NOT require a visa to visit Panama. They must have a passport valid for at least 6 months.
Citizens of this country must have a STAMPED VISA in their passport to visit Panama. Contact your closest Panamanian consulate to to understand the process to obtain this visitor visa.
Citizens of this country must obtain an Authorized Tourist Visa from local Panamanian Authorities. This may require the assistance of a lawyer. Contact Kraemer & Kraemer today or visit our dedicated page about the Authorized Tourist Visa to learn more.
No information available. Find out the procedure that applies to your case – Contact Kraemer & Kraemer.
Panama Tourist Entry Requirements
When you arrive at the Panama Republic, an immigration officer at your port of entry confirms your status, may ask about onward travel and funds, and stamps your stay. Most visitors face the same core checklist:
- Passport: valid at least three months beyond arrival, with a blank page for the stamp.
- Onward ticket: proof of departure, checked by airlines at boarding.
- Proof of funds: around US$500 in cash, card, or bank statement.
- Vaccination: none for most arrivals; yellow fever certificate only if coming from a country where it circulates.
- Customs declaration: required when carrying US$10,000 or more.
- Advance visa: for restricted nationalities only.
Length of stay ranges from 30 or 90 days to 180 days for U.S. and Canadian citizens. Stay days often count cumulatively within a twelve-month period, so frequent visitors should track their totals. A minor traveling without both parents may need a notarized exit permit.
Programs to Obtain Residency in Panama
Panama provides different options to obtain either temporary or permanent residency. Whether you apply as a single person, as a family group, or as a dependent of an existing Panamanian resident. Consulting an experienced Panama immigration attorney will help you choose the best fit for your profile. Explore each option below to learn more.
Work Permit Eligibility
Panamanian law allows permanent residents to obtain a Work Permit in certain programs. An experienced Panama immigration attorney can guide you through the eligibility rules and application steps. Follow this link to understand the process better and get more details.
Pathways to Panamanian Citizenship
Some immigration programs provide a path to nationality for permanent residents. Additionally, Panamanian law allows Americans who were born in the Panama Canal Zone (Zonians) to opt for Panama citizenship. A Panama immigration attorney can help evaluate your eligibility and assist you throughout the application process. Access more details below.
Foreign documents
Immigration processes in Panama may require documents from your country of origin, residency or citizenship. To be valid in Panama, these documents need to be apostilled or authenticated.
General application process
Whether you pursue a tourist permit, residency, a work authorization, or citizenship, the underlying sequence stays remarkably consistent, which makes the road ahead easier to picture:
- Hire a lawyer: All immigration processes in Panama must be handled by a lawyer. This is because the country’s law requires that all applications be submitted by a qualified Panama immigration attorney.
- Confirm eligibility: Your lawyer reviews your profile against the chosen program and flags any complication early, such as a name that appears differently across your birth certificate and passport.
- Gather the records: You collect the required documents, which vary by process but commonly include a valid passport, civil records, a police clearance, and, for most residency and citizenship petitions, a health certificate obtained locally.
- File the petition: Your Panama immigration lawyer submits the application to the corresponding authority, whether the National Immigration Service for a visa or residency, the Ministry of Labor for a work permit, or the relevant office for naturalization. Most residency filings require you to travel to Panama, since the office photographs each applicant for the identity card.
- Pay the government charge: The official amount varies by category and is separate from legal fees.
- Await a decision: Processing runs from a few days for some tourist matters to several months for residency or citizenship, depending on the program.
Immigration benefits of living in Panama
- Economic Opportunities: The country has a rapidly growing economy and offers various business and employment opportunities. The country serves as a regional business hub and has a strong financial services sector. It also has one of the highest GDP growth rates in Latin America.
- Tax Benefits: Panama has a territorial tax system, which means that individuals and businesses are only taxed on income derived from Panamanian sources. Foreign-source income is generally not subject to Panamanian income taxes. This can be advantageous for individuals with international business or retirees with foreign income.
- Residency Incentives: As a resident, you may be eligible for various incentives and benefits. For example, pensioners and retirees may enjoy discounts on entertainment, healthcare, education, transportation, and more.
- Strategic Location: The location offers easy access to both North and South America, making it an attractive base for international travel and business. The country’s modern infrastructure, including the Panama Canal and Tocumen International Airport, facilitates connectivity.
- Quality of Life: You can find a high quality of life, with a warm climate, beautiful natural landscapes, and a diverse culture. The country has a stable political system, a low crime rate compared to some neighboring countries, and a solid healthcare system.
- Welcoming culture: Panama is a welcoming country with a diverse population. Expats are generally treated with respect and there is a strong sense of community.
Contact a Panama Immigration Attorney
The Panama immigration attorneys at Kraemer & Kraemer possess extensive expertise in navigating local immigration laws to identify ideal solutions for different needs, such as residency, work authorizations, retirement visas, tourist permit, the naturalization process, and more. Contact us today!
F.A.Q. about Panama Immigration
A: In general, the requirements to immigrate to Panama include:
- Main applicants must be at least 18 years old.
- Children under 18 may be included as dependents of their parents.
- All foreign documents submitted for a Panama immigration process need to be in Spanish and authenticated with the apostille or a Panamanian consulate.
- All documents must be recent, not older than 6 months
- Passports must be valid for at least one year.
- All applicants require a certificate of good health obtained in Panama.
A: A Panama immigration attorney charges according to the proccess. or an itemized figure, review the immigration cost estimates for the specific program you have in mind.
A: There are many pathways that lead U.S. citizens to permanent residency, whether they are retirees, entrepreneurs, investors, or digital nomads. By law, an American cannot file alone and must apply from inside the country, so a Panama immigration attorney handles the paperwork, including the required FBI background check.
Panama appeals to Americans for concrete reasons: the USD is legal tender, a territorial tax system exempts income earned outside the country from local taxes (though U.S. citizens must still comply with the IRS), and healthcare, real estate, and cost of living run considerably lower.
A: For most immigration processes in Panama, hiring a Panamanian immigration lawyer is highly recommended. Immigration laws and formalities can be confusing, and having a knowledgeable lawyer can greatly assist you through the requirements, paperwork, and legal aspects involved. An immigration lawyer can provide valuable advice, guide you through the application process, guarantee compliance with the laws, and increase the chances of a successful outcome.
A: No. United States citizens enter for tourism or business without a visitor permit and receive a stay of up to 180 days at the port of entry. You should still travel with a passport valid at least three months beyond arrival, a return or onward ticket, and proof of funds of about US$500, since border officers may ask for any of these on arrival.
A: Acquiring permanent residency primarily grants you the legal right to live in the country for the duration of your residency status. However, this doesn’t automatically include the right to work. If you intend to work, you need a separate application for a work permit, although some residency programs offer a direct pathway to obtaining one.
A: If you’re a foreign national with a pending residency application and you plan to travel outside the country during that period, a Multiple Entry Visa is required. Temporary residents who leave without this visa face a fine of $2,000.00 USD. As a standard practice, we typically include the Multiple Entry Visa in our clients’ applications.
A: Although requirements may vary depending on the immigration program, in general, your criminal record is valid for up to six months, unless the document itself specifies a different expiration date. A health certificate issued in Panama is valid for 90 days, and a bank reference letter for 30 days (issued by a local or foreign entity, as applicable). Marriage certificates, birth certificates and retirement letters are usually valid for six months.
A: No, you’ll need to obtain a national criminal background check directly from your home country or any country where you’ve resided for the past ten years. While the Panamanian Consulate can authenticate the document, they cannot issue the actual criminal record for residency purposes.
A: To apply for a local driver’s license, you must first have residency. While we can provide guidance on the application process, we don’t directly assist with obtaining driver’s licenses. This is because it is a simple procedure that does not require legal representation.
A: No. According to Executive Order 147 from March 17, 2017, certificates (like shares) must be registered under the applicant’s name for immigration purposes
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