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Panama welcomes legal immigration and provides many paths to obtaining residency in Panama. The Pensionado Visa is the most popular Visa for those who want to retire in Panama. The Friendly Nations Visa is ideal for those who are not retired and who would like to work in Panama.
If a foreigner wants to work in Panama, they must first obtain a residency Visa then a work permit. The entire process takes 5-8 months. There are no government programs to help support someone while they are waiting to get a work permit. In Panama, there are no food stamps or welfare available for Panamanians let alone foreigners.
Employers can get a hefty fine if they hire a foreigner who does not have a work permit so it is less likely that an illegal immigrant would be able to find work in Panama.
The Panama government has checkpoints throughout the country to check IDs. If they find that someone is in the country illegally, they will be deported. Panama considers a person an illegal immigrant if they have been in Panama longer than 6 months but do not have a residency Visa.
Tourists are allowed to stay in Panama for 6 months. If they want to stay in Panama longer, they have to either (1) get a residency Visa, or (2) leave Panama for at least 30 days before they can come back. Tourists are not allowed to work in Panama.
Panama’s strict immigration laws, combined with no welfare programs, make Panama less attractive to immigrants who do not plan to, or cannot, get a residency Visa.
Wow , well done and thank you.
Great article. Sad to say U.S. Citizens are being forced to look for a new country to live in.
Yes, I agree with Robert; if the U.S. doesn’t solve its illegal immigration problem, many of its citizens will relocate. Glad to see that Panama enforces its laws.
IM IN THE PROCESS OF LEAVING THE U.S.A. BECAUSE OF THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM .. MY MEDS COST SOOO MUCH BECAUSE OF THAT.. I WAS IN EL-VALLUE FOR 2 WEEKS, I HAVE A FRIEND THAT LIVES THERE.. I WAS LOW ON MEDS SOOO MY FRIEND TOOK ME TO A PHARMACY, MY BREATHING MEDS ARE 385.00 DOLLARS IN THE U.S. I SHOWED THE YOUNG LADY AT THE COUNTER WHAT I NEEDED, SHE LEFT AND CAME BACK WITH WHAT I NEEDED, THEN SHE SAID 39.00 DOLLARS EACH .. 2 IS ALL I COULD GET. THAT WILL LAST ME 4 MONTHS.. WOW… I WAS IN SHOCK.. WHY DOES IT COST 385.00 IN THE U.S. AND 39 DOLLARS IN PANAMA, ITS THS SAME MEDS..
many medications are a lot more affordable in Panama.
I’m 76 years old and a Canadian citizen. I’m hoping to move to Panama sometime late 2024. I’m planning to get a Pensionado Visa so I can retire and enjoy my life here. I also have a very close Filipina friend living in the Philippines who wants to join me permanently in Panama so the question is, is it possible for her to get a visa to join me and eventually marry me? I’m looking forward to visiting the country and using Jackie’s expertise to find a home to rent and enjoy the rest of my life without worrying about the snow and cold weather. I intend to run my business online as sales director of a huge manufacturing company based in Italy for Canada and the USA so I can take advantage of the tax free situation here.
HI George, No snow in Panama! If you make at least $1000 per month in lifetime income (for one person – add $250 for each dependent)) and have a clean criminal record, you qualify for a Pensionado visa. Your Filipina friend will need to get a stamped visa from the nearest Panama Consulate to be able to travel to Panama. If you plan to marry her when she gets to Panama, she should bring her national criminal report that is authenticated at the Panama Consulate in the Philippines.