One of the most confusing things about moving to a different country is getting a Visa. In Panama, a tourists can stay for 6 months. People from most countries can visit Panama with just their passport, no tourist Visa is required and no tourist Visa is issued when you arrive. You just get a stamp in your passport indicating the day you arrived.
If you want to live in Panama longer than 6 months, you’ll need to get a Visa that allows you to live in Panama indefinitely. Panama has a lot of different Visas. The two most affordable and fastest Visas are the Pensionado Visa and the Friendly Nations Visa. Those Visas require a three stop process. First you get a temporary Visa, then about 3-6 months later you get a permanent Visa, then finally get a national ID card, also called a Cedula. During the call I describe each step in detail. Listen to the replay of the October 3, 2020 conference call below to learn why, how and when to get a Visa. You’ll also learn how you can save about $2000 when getting a Visa.
Since the pandemic began in March, we’ve been doing weekly conference calls. There were 444 people on the live call. After the Visa discussion, I opened up the call for questions. We had a lot of questions so the call lasted about 2 hours. When there are people in line to ask a question, I will stay on the call until everyone has a chance to ask their question.
Also see this article — What Does It Cost to Get a Visa in Panama.
Since 2010, Panama Relocation Tours has been offering monthly 6-day 7-night all-inclusive relocation tours of Panama. We’ve completed over 120 tours and helped 1300 people relocate to Panama… and get a Visa! During a tour you’ll see a variety of different areas, meet expats and learn all the things you need to know to make a super easy transition to living in Panama.
Now, we offer an EASY Way to Learn How to Move to Panama with our ONLINE Panama Relocation Guide! Get instant access!
The Online Guide has the same information that you’d get on a Panama Relocation Tour including our rolodex of contacts for reliable immigration lawyers, honest real estate agents, where to buy health insurance and more. The Online Guide will help you learn all the things you need to know to have a smooth and easy transition when relocating to Panama. You’ll be able to avoid costly mistakes too!
SEE DETAILS at https://panamarelocationtours.com/guide
Jackie, You were so generous with your information, patience and staying with it for so many!!!
Thanks Nanette. There is no way I would end the call when some people had been waiting 30-40 minutes to ask their question.
Hello Jackie, How is Scotia Bank? Is it convenient in Panama? What Documents should I get authenticated? I am curently in Toronto, Canada
Thank you Bob
A lot of people have had a LOT of problems with Scotiabank. I would not recommend them
If I move to Panama and get a pensionado visa snd a couple of years pass, and I’ve become comfortable with the country, what would I have to do to open a business?
Love your information sessions.
As a Pensionado, you can own a business but you can never work in your business – you’d have to hire employees. If you want to own a business and work in it too, you’d have to renounce your Pensionado Visa then start all over again with a Friendly Nations Visa so you could get a work permit. Foreigners cannot work in Panama unless they have a work permit and you can never get a work permit with a Pensionado Visa
Hi Jackie, I’d like some info in regard to my 36 yr old son who is handicapped from an auto accident 6yrs ago. If he move’s with us he is unable to work and draws SSID. Also prior to him being injured he was in trouble with the law 7-8 yrs in the past. Now that’s far removed from his life, but will that become a problem for him entering the country regarding the FBI criminal check? We would love to relocate with him because he is unable to work & live on his own? Thoughts? Ideas?
HI Gene. YOu really need to discuss your son’s criminal record with a Panamanian immigration attorney. Only they can advise if it is possible for him to get a Visa. If he was convicted of a felony, it would be unlikely that he could get a Visa.
Hi Jackie, will you do an updated Detailed Visa Process Conf call (like this Oct 7, 2020 Call “Getting A Visa: Why, How & When”) ? Since there have been changes to securing a bank acct(i.e. PRT no longer recommends Multibank?), COVID delays-the State Dept. (apostille) verses a local Panamanian consulate (authentication) method and the all confusing SS Form 2458 signatures, the 1st, 2nd,3rd, 4th, etc. process MAY have changed?
HI Shirley
We posted all the updates to getting a Visa in the Online Panama Relocation Guide at https://panamarelocationtours.com/guide