Panama Traveler Passport
Overview
The Panama Traveler Passport, also known as the Panama Special Passport, is part of the benefits of the Private Income Retiree Visa.
The Private Income Retiree Visa requires a five-year investment in the form of a Certificate of Deposit (CD) in the Panama National Bank or the Savings Fund. This CD must generate a minimum monthly interest of USD $850.
The Panama Traveler Passport is valid only during the five-year lifetime of the CD. After the five (5) years, beneficiaries of this program may apply for an extension as long as the CD is renewed for another five-year period.
The Panama Traveler Passport looks like an ordinary passport, but it includes the original nationality of the bearer. For example, if a Chinese citizen obtains the Traveler Passport, it will show that the original citizenship is Chinese rather than Panamanian.
Obtaining the Traveler Passport DOES NOT grant Panamanian citizenship. Since the Private Income Retiree Visa DOES NOT grant Panamanian citizenship, it creates no conflicts for citizens of countries that forbid dual citizenship, such as China, Ukraine, or Latvia.
Certificate of depositt
The CD must generate interest of at least $850 per month. The required investment will depend on the interest rate at the time of creating the deposit. In 2019, interest rates are in the range of 4-5%, requiring funds for at least USD $350,000.
This CD can be renewed, or you can receive your investment plus interest after five years. However, keeping the CD open is a requirement to keep in good standing the Private Income Retiree Visa and the Panama Traveler Passport.
Requirements to obtain the Panama traveler passport
Once the Private Income Retiree Visa is approved, the applicant and his dependents may also apply for the Panama Traveler Passport meeting the following requirements:
- Notarized Application and Power of Attorney.
- Three photos
- Notarized copy of passport.
- Background Check.
- Certificate of Good Health.
- Declaration of Personal Background.
- Written confirmation from the Panama National Bank or the Savings Bank, stating CD details such as amount, interest, duration, and that it is free of liens.
- Notarized copy of the Certificate of Deposit.
- If the application includes dependents:
- Letter of accountability for these dependents.
- Proof of ties between the applicant and each dependent.
- Proof of address – applicant and dependent must live in the same address.
- If the dependent is 18 years old or more, single status and student status certificate.
Travelling with the Panama traveler passport
The Panama Traveler Passport allows holders to visit the following 88 countries with no further permissions or visas:
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Argentina
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- Bolivia
- Brazil
- Chile
- Colombia
- Costa Rica
- Dominica
- Dominican Republic
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Guatemala
- Guyana
- Honduras
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Nicaragua
- Paraguay
- Peru
- Saint Lucia
- Suriname
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Uruguay
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Hong Kong
- Japan
- Japan
- Malaysia
- Palestinian Territories
- Philippines
- Singapore
- Thailand
- Türkiye
- Uzbekistan
- Viet Nam
- Albania
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belarus
- Belgium
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Georgia
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Kosovo
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Moldova
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- North Macedonia
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Russian Federation
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Ukraine
- Vatican City
- Kiribati
- Micronesia
- Angola
- South Africa
- Zambia
Besides, holders of a Panama Traveler Passport may visit the countries listed below and apply for a tourist visa at the time of entry:
- Cuba
- Bangladesh
- Cambodia
- India
- Iran
- Jordan
- Laos
- Lebanon
- Macao
- Maldives
- Nepal
- Pakistan
- Qatar
- Saudi Arabia
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Timor-Leste
- Armenia
- Azerbaiyán
- Palau
- Samoa
- Tuvalu
- Burundi
- Cape Verde
- Comoros
- Congo (Dem. Rep.)
- Djibouti
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Ethiopia
- Gabon
- Guinea
- Guinea-Bissau
- Madagascar
- Malawi
- Mauritania
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- Nigeria
- Rwanda
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Togo
- Uganda
- Zimbabwe
Also, the Panama Traveler Passport also allows holders to visit the following countries with an electronic visa:
Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Israel, Kenya, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, South Korea and United Kingdom.
In some destinations, such as the Seychelles, travelers must complete a tourist registration form before arrival, while a tourist card is required to enter Suriname.
FAQs about Panama Traveler Passport
A: No. The Special or Traveler Passport is different from a citizen’s travel document. Although it looks like a normal Panama passport, it does not grant Panamanian citizenship, but rather a temporary permit based on the Private Income Retiree Visa.
A: The special passport allows travel with benefits similar to the Panamanian passport. It permits access to Europe (Schengen), Russia, South America, etc. However, please note that some strict European countries might require entry through a point that accepts this passport.
A: Only individuals with certain visas can apply for it. Primarily, those who hold thePrivate Income Retiree Visa (or a similar investment visa modality that required a fixed-term deposit). This visa requires a deposit in a state bank that generates at least USD $850 per month. Dependents included in this visa can also obtain it.
A: Yes, double possession is allowed. This special passport maintains your original nationality, as indicated within the document. Panama allows the use of both passports as appropriate.
Contact us
The Kraemer & Kraemer team can answer your questions and support you in the process of obtaining a Panama Traveler Passport Contact us today