Now Is The Time to Move to Panama

Moving to Panama doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, if you’re really ready to make the move, the process is easy. If you’ve always considered Panama as a retirement destination but have never really taken the step to explore it, now is the perfect time to move.

Panama wants you! It has the best retirement visa in the world – one that comes with discounts on dining, entertainment, travel, utilities, and much more. It also has a booming, growing economy. The Panamanian people are friendly and welcoming.

Moving means a great deal of planning. Yes, that is true. I’d like to assure you, though that moving to Panama is easy and simple. I made that move myself, so let me share with you some tips to make the process easy and uncomplicated.  During a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll receive a complete “checklist” of everything you need to do to relocate to Panama.

FIRST STEP

Visit Panama and see it for yourself.

Coming to Panama and experiencing what it has to offer is very important in your decision-making process. It is essential to have that “boots on the ground” experience so you will really see, hear, feel, and taste what living in Panama would be like. You can read about Panama, but nothing beats the feeling of actually visiting Panama and seeing what your life could be like here.

The 6-day, 6-night all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tours are designed specifically for the purpose of educating you about relocating to Panama. . Guests are taken to several different possible locations for retirement. These are Panama towns and cities that we feel are the best places to live in Panama. The goal of our tours is to provide an objective, “boots on the ground” Panama experience, so our guests are able to make a well-informed decision at the end of the day.

This is what one tour client had to say: “Whatever you decide about relocating to Panamá, I can’t imagine a more time-efficient way to evaluate your various lifestyle and climate options in this country. Not a moment is wasted, and Jackie is always available to answer questions.” Daniel O-Brien

Then, if you decide Panama is right for you, this is the NEXT STEP IS…

Decide where you want to live in Panama.

Research about the best places to live in Panama and then get to know these areas better during a Panama Relocation Tour. You have many wonderful options such as bustling Panama City, the beach town of Coronado, the Azuero Peninsula, and of course, Boquete and Volcan, a popular retirement destination because of its beautiful views and spring-like weather all year. There’s also Bocas Del Toro, a small town where you will get to live near the ocean and see frequent sightings of dolphins. Whether you’d like the beach life, the city life, or a peaceful life in the mountains, there’s a Panama town or city that’s right for you.

Since there are now quite a number of Canadians, Europeans, and Americans living in Panama, you might also consider areas where you can find the most number of expats. The key is to do your research and see for yourself which area suits you best.  Panama Relocation Tours makes doing your research easy.  By the end of a Panama Relocation Tour, 98% of our tour clients have discovered their perfect location.  You can too!

Once you decide Panama is right for you and you know where you want to live, the NEXT STEP IS…

Pick the date you want to move and consult with an immigration attorney about getting a Visa.

You may want to make an additional trip to Panama to find a place to live and get your residency Visa, or you could plan to stay in a hotel until you find a suitable rental property.   Once you know your date, you should start following craigslist, Viviun.com, and Facebook pages about rentals in the area you like best.  We strongly advise that you rent for at least 6 months before you make a buying decision. Or, perhaps don’t buy at all and just enjoy your retirement without the obligations and liabilities of ownership.  Rentals are affordable.

Prepare the necessary paperwork to get a Permanent Residency Visa

You have to be able to prove that you have the financial capacity to support your lifestyle in Panama. You must be earning at least $1,000 per month ( $1250 for a couple) to be eligible for the Pensionado visa. Proof can be in the form of retirement funds, social security, or any other legal document that confirms the amount of money that you will be receiving regularly.

If you are planning to continue working in Panama, the Friendly Nations Visa will be ideal for you.  You don’t need to prove any income but you will need to deposit $5000 in a Panamanian bank account.

Both visas will require a national criminal report with no felonies.

The Embassy of Panama has a list of the necessary documents that you need to prepare ahead of time. This includes a valid I.D., proof of lifetime income, and FBI clearance. It is very important to consult with an immigration attorney in Panama who will help you get through the Visa process.  During the Panama Relocation Tours, we will introduce you to an affordable attorney who has very reasonable fees.  Keep in mind that you will need to have most of the documents authenticated by the Panama Embassy in your country or apostilled by the State Department if you are a US citizen.

The immigration attorney will guide you through the entire Visa process to make sure that everything is done accurately.

The NEXT STEP IS…

Learn a Little Spanish.

While there are many Panamanians who can speak fluent English, it would be to your advantage to learn Spanish. Simple phrases and sentences that can help you buy food in the market, ask for directions, and simply have a nice conversation with the locals would help you adjust quickly. Panamanians love it when they hear an expat speaking their language. Learning a new language, in itself, would also be to your advantage since you have an added skill.  DUOLingo.com is a good way to learn a little Spanish every day.  It is free and available online or as an App for your phone.

Moving to Panama is simple and easy because PANAMA WANTS YOU. The economy is never better and the country offers the best retiree visa in the world. I believe that now is the time to move to Panama.   Join us for a Panama Relocation Tour and see how you can live better for less in Panama.