Panamanian citizenship (Naturalization) is granted to permanent residents who have fulfilled the minimum residence requirement (3 to 5 years) from the moment the Panama Immigration Office issues the resolution to certify permanent residence.
This is the first requirement to start the naturalization process, according to Article 10 of the Panamanian Constitution.
It is important to clarify that immigrants holding a temporary or provisional residence status, or immigrants with the crisol de razas program, are not eligible to apply for citizenship.
Furthermore, Panamanian permanent residence does not guarantee a path to obtain Panamanian citizenship. If you intend to eventually become a citizen (e.g. hold dual citizenship) and obtain a Panamanian passport, you must verify that the visa granting your permanent residence gives you also the right to apply for citizenship.
An eligible permanent resident of Panama has three alternatives to become naturalized:
To have lived for five (5) years as a PERMANENT RESIDENT
To have lived for three years (3) as a PERMANENT RESIDENT, married to a PANAMANIAN or having PANAMANIAN CHILDREN with a PANAMANIAN PARENT
To have been born in a Latin American country or Spain, and to have fulfilled the same requirements that Panamanians would have to meet to become naturalized in their country of origin. This is known as Reciprocity, and allows for a shorter permanent residence time frame required of citizens from these countries:
1 year: Colombia, El Salvador
2 years: Argentina, Ecuador, Spain, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru
3 years: Uruguay
Process Timeframe
While the process to obtain Panamanian residence usually involves the Immigration Office only, the process to obtain citizenship involves many other entities such as the Ministry of Government and Justice, the Ministry of Public Services, the Electoral Tribunal, the Government Office, and the Presidency.
All these entities will review the application, and any of them may require additional paperwork, may delay the process for internal reasons, or may actually deny the application. Besides, it is the Panamanian president who ultimately approves and signs all applications.
For that reason, the process to obtain citizenship very rarely takes less than 1 year, and it could take anywhere from 2 to 5 years to be approved.
Application Requirements
Police records issued by Panama and the applicant’s country of origin
Certification of immigration status
Authenticated copy of permanent resident ID card
Authenticated copy of the permanent resident resolution
Authenticated copy of the e-cedula
Proof of economic solvency
Income statement from DGI
Copy of passport, authenticated by the consul of the country of origin
Certificate of good health
Additional requirements: After submission, the Electoral Tribunal will schedule an appointment with the applicant at a later time to test his command of Spanish and his knowledge of Panama’s history, geography, and civil rights. You can review the official study guide for the citizenship test here (in Spanish).
Resignation
Once the Presidency issues the letter of naturalization to the Governor for swearing, the applicant shall manifest he/she will abide by the Constitution of the Republic of Panama and thus, resigns to all civil and political links with his/her country of origin.
Nevertheless, the judicial system is many countries such as the United States regards this swearing as not significant. For instance, Americans will not renounce their citizenship unless they make such request before the U.S. Department of State.
Disclaimer
Kraemer & Kraemer strives to provide clear information in all immigration-related subjects; however, please be advised that our firm takes a VERY limited number of naturalization cases and the base legal fee for this process is $5,000 USD.
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FEES & COSTS
FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA
Cost for main applicant: $2,900. ($1,500 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $2,000. ($600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $1,100 ($600 Legal + $500 Government)
The total costs for Friendly Nations Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, for 50% of total Legal Fees and a portion of process expenses.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, for 50% of total Legal Fees.
FEES & COSTS
RETIREES & PENSIONER VISA
Cost for main applicant: $1,900. ($1,500 Legal + $400 Governments)
Cost for any dependent: $900 ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for Retirees & Pensioner Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial retainer, for 50% of total legal fees and a portion of process expenses.
Payment 2: On application submission, for remaining government costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, for 50% of total legal fees.
FEES & COSTS
PANAMANIAN CITIZENSHIP
Cost per applicant: $5,800 ($5,000 legal + $800 government)
The total cost of the Panamanian Citizenship is broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer
Payment 2: On application submission
Payment 3: On application completion
FEES & COSTS
DIGITAL NOMAD VISA
Cost for main applicant: $1,500. ($1,000 Legal + $500 Government)
The total cost DOES NOT cover the Private Medical Insurance in Panama.
The total cost for Digital Nomad Visa is broken down into 1 payment:
Payment 1: Covers all legal and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
REFORESTATION VISA - PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $5,000. ($3,000 Legal + $2,000 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $3,000. ($1,600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $2,000. ($1,400 Legal + $600 Government)
The total costs for Reforestation Visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Checks.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
REFORESTATION VISA - PERMANENT RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $1,400. ($1,000 Legal + $400 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for Reforestation Visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, another portion of legal and government costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
PANAMA – ITALY TREATY VISA
Cost for main applicant: $2,100. ($1,500 Legal + $600 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $1,100. ($600 Legal + $500 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $1,200. ($600 Legal + $600 Government)
The total costs for Panama-Italy treaty visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, for 50% of total Legal Fees and a portion of government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for government check.
Payment 3: On application completion, for 50% of total Legal Fees and remaining government costs.
FEES & COSTS
MARRIED WITH PANAMANIAN VISA - PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $2,200. ($1,500 Legal + $700 Government)
The total costs for the Married with Panamanian visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, includes another portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, includes the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
PANAMA SELF-SOLVENCY VISA - PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $5,000. ($3,000 Legal + $2,000 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $3,000. ($1,600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $2,000. ($1,400 Legal + $600 Government)
The total costs for Panama Self-Solvency Visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Checks.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
PANAMA SELF-SOLVENCY VISA - PERMANENT RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $1,400. ($1,000 Legal + $400 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for Panama Self-Solvency Visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA - PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $3,200. ($1,800 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $1,200 ($600 Legal + $600 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $2,000. ($600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
The total costs for Friendly Nations Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Checks.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
FAMILY REGROUPING VISA - PROVISIONAL RESIDENCY (Visa for Dependents of Panamanian Residents)
Cost for first dependent: $3,200. ($1,800 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for any other dependent under 12 y/o: $1,200 ($600 Legal + $600 Government)
Cost for any other dependent 12+ years old: $2,000. ($600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
The total costs for Family Regrouping Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Checks.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA - PERMANENT RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $2,300. ($2,000 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $900 ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for Friendly Nations Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, includes legal and government costs
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
MARRIED WITH PANAMANIAN VISA - PERMANENT RESIDENCY
Cost for main applicant: $1,300. ($1,000 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for the Married with Panamanian visa are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, includes another portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, includes the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
QUALIFIED INVESTOR VISA
Cost for main applicant: $16,000 ($5,000 Legal + $11,000 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $2,000 ($700 Legal + $1,300 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $3,000 ($700 Legal + $2,300 Government)
The total costs for the Qualified Investor Visa are broken down into 2 payments:
Payment 1: Covers 50% of Legal Fees + $500 of Government Costs
Payment 2: Covers 50% of Legal Fees + remaining Government Costs
FEES & COSTS
FAMILY REGROUPING VISA - PERMANENT RESIDENCY (Visa for Dependents of Panamanian Residents)
Cost for first dependent: $1,800. ($1,500 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for any other dependent under 12 y/o: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
Cost for any other dependent 12+ years old: $900. ($600 Legal + $300 Government)
The total costs for Family Regrouping Visa is broken down in 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, another portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
REFORESTATION VISA - EXPRESS
Requires minimum investment of USD $360,000
Cost for main applicant: $7,500. ($5,000 Legal + $2,500 Government)
Cost for dependent 12+ years old: $3,000. ($1,600 Legal + $1,400 Government)
Cost for dependent under 12 y/o: $2,000. ($1,400 Legal + $600 Government)
The total costs for Reforestation Visa (Express) are broken down into 3 payments:
Payment 1: Initial Retainer, includes a portion of legal fees and government costs.
Payment 2: On application submission, for Government Checks.
Payment 3: On application completion, for the remaining legal fees and government costs.
FEES & COSTS
The Friendly Nations Visa Package 1 (Work Contract) includes:
Cost of provisional residency for all applicants of the Friendly Nations Visa
Cost of IBC with Nominees
Cost of Business License
Cost of Annual Fees for 3 years includes: Nominees $900 ($300 per year) Annual Government Fees $900 ($300 per year) Resident Agent $900 ($300 per year) Zero-Income Tax Return $600 ($200 per year)
Cost of job offer for the Main Applicant
Cost of Work Permit for the Main Applicant
Cost of Bank assistance $400 (only applicable if main applicants has dependants)
FEES & COSTS
Friendly Nations Visa Package 2 (Real Estate) includes:
Cost of provisional residency for all applicants of the Friendly Nations Visa
Cost of Legal Assistance for Property under $2,000
Additionally, the cost of Notary, Public Registry, and Transfer Tax is not included yet. The Kraemer & Kraemer team will notify you of the amount due when the application is already in progress.
FEES & COSTS
The Friendly Nations Visa Package 3 (Certificate of Deposit) includes:
Cost of provisional residency for all applicants of the Friendly Nations Visa
Cost of Bank Account Opening Assistance and Certified Deposit