move to Panama Archives | Page 3 of 9 | Panama Relocation Tours

Last Updated Mar 5, 2018 - by Jackie Lange

The Tale of Two Expats In Panama

An “expat” is the nickname for an expatriate or someone who has moved from their home country to a foreign country. In Panama, we have a lot of expats from many different countries. Some make a smooth transition to living in Panama but unfortunately some do not.

I’d like to tell you the true story of two different expat couples to illustrate how to make the transition to living in Panama easier and how to avoid some pitfalls too.

Expat Couple #1 came on a Panama Relocation Tour. They spent 6-days touring Panama during an all-inclusive tour all while learning:

♦ which reliable and affordable attorney to use to get your Visa in a week
♦ what their Visa options are, which one is the best fit, and why they need a Visa
♦ how to find a rental & what not to do when renting
♦ which questions to ask and what to check out before renting
♦ how to bring their pets in to Panama (and get them out of other countries)
♦ how to save 30%-50% on health insurance
♦ how to get a Panama driver’s license
♦ what to do if you get pulled over by the police in Panama
♦ how to bring precious metals in to Panama
♦ the unique micro climates in Panama
♦ which towns/elevation have their ideal temperature
♦ which towns are the most affordable yet still offer the amenities you need
♦ what NOT TO DO and what to AVOID
♦ and much more!

Because they took a Panama Relocation Tour, they were completely prepared when they moved to Panama. They know what to do, when to do it, and how to relocate to Panama so the whole transition was smooth and easy.

Instead of renting a car then driving around Panama, those who take a Panama Relocation Tour get to sit back and relax in a very comfortable bus while our professional driver takes care of the driving.

Expat Couple #2 did not have such a pleasant experience. They did not go on a Panama Relocation Tour. Before moving to Panama, they did spend a week driving around Panama to decide where they wanted to live and talking to as many expats as they could find. But they had no clue how to get things done once they moved to Panama. They purchased a used car in Panama City when they arrived in Panama the second time. Little did they know that it is better to buy a car close to where you want to live because they will have to go back to Panama City every year to get their annual registration OR pay a lot of money to get their registration moved to the city where they live.

Next, they drove to Boquete where they rented a house after seeing an ad online. They signed a one-year lease by email, paid a $1000 security deposit through paypal, then paid the first month’s rent when they arrived. After a month of living in the house, they realized they made a big mistake. The metal roof is extremely noisy when it rains. To make matters worse, their neighbors have 6 dogs who bark all the time and roosters too. So, after a month, they moved to a different house (losing their $1000 security deposit because they broke their lease).

They paid $2000 to an attorney in David to get their Pensionado (retiree) Visa. But, unlike Expat Couple #1, instead of getting their Visa in a week, it has been 2 months and they still don’t have their temporary Visa let alone their permanent Visa. It is very possible that the attorney just took their money but they will never get a Visa. Yes, that can happen in Panama.

Expat Couple #2 went to one of the most expensive insurance brokers in Panama to get their car insurance and their health insurance. They paid WAY too much for both. This alone cost them an additional $3000! It is so sad. By the way, it is better not to use an insurance broker when buying health insurance in Panama.

After another month in Panama, Expat Couple #2 does not like the second house they rented either. They decided the weather is too cold and windy in that area even though they love the house and the views. They paid $800 for the security deposit and signed a one-year lease. They will lose another $800 if they move out early.

Now, in total frustration, Expat Couple #2 is moving back to the United States after being in Panama just a few months. They lost $1000 on their first rental, they will not get their $800 security deposit back on the second rental, they lost $2000 paying the wrong attorney to get a Visa, and they will likely lose $3,000 to $5000 when they sell their car. They will not be able to get a refund on the extremely expensive health insurance they purchased.

That’s at least a $10,000 mistake.. which could have been avoided!

Luckily, they did not rush in to buying real estate. They would have lost even more money if they tried to sell the house quickly. And they did not ship down their household goods to Panama since the houses they rented were completely furnished.

It’s too bad they did not take a Panama Relocation Tour because they could have saved all the frustration and avoided losing all that money too. During a Tour, we educate people about how to avoid all these costly mistakes and how to get everything done an easier and more affordable way.

You don’t know what you don’t know! Mistakes can be expensive.

A Panama Relocation Tour is not an expense, it is a WISE INVESTMENT in your future life in Panama. If you’re considering relocating to or retiring in Panama, you should consider taking a Panama Relocation Tours to avoid ending up like Expat Couple #2. We still have a few spaces available for 2018 Tours.

SEE DETAILS & OUR DATES HERE

To Life in Paradise,
Jackie Lange

P.S. Next Article – Amazing Incentives for Agriculture Businesses in Panama.

Last Updated Feb 21, 2018 - by Dustin Lange

Panama Relocation Tours Q&A Call

It’s a big decision to move to a foreign country like Panama. I know it helps to talk to someone who lives in Panama so you can get answers to your questions. So, every once in awhile I host a free conference call to answer your questions. Of course, I can’t cover all the questions you have during a one hour conference call but I do cover a lot of topics.

Hopefully the information on this call will give you enough information to determine if Panama is “on the list”. If it is, and it should be, then the next step is to take a 6-day, all-inclusive Panama Relocation Tour. During the tour you’ll get a lot more details about everything you need to know to relocate to Panama, see a lot of towns/communities in Panama and meet expats who live in each area we visit. By the end of a Panama Relocation Tour, you’ll know exactly where you want to live in Panama and you’ll know how to make the relocation with ease!

Listen to the replay of the February 19th, 2018 conference call below…

Last Updated Apr 13, 2019 - by Debbie

Driver’s License Requirements in Panama

As a foreigner, you can legally drive in Panama for up to 90 days using a valid driver’s license from your home country. As a tourist, you can leave the country for a minimum of thirty days and return to start the 90 days over again. This is why you must show your passport along with your foreign license at checkpoints – the guards are looking for your last entry date stamp. If you leave Panama a few days before your 90 days is up, you only need to be out of Panama for 3 days before you can come back in to Panama to drive another 90 days.

To avoid this madness, you will need to get a residency Visa to live in Panama indefinitely and get a Panama driver’s license.

When you get a residency Visa, you will be able to obtain a Panamanian driver’s license. You will be able to keep your current country’s license also, so you can use it when you visit back home. Understand that once you get a residency Visa, even the temporary Visa, you are required to get a Panama driver’s license right away if you plan to drive in Panama. If you are leaving Panama right after you get your temporary Visa and do not plan to drive in Panama, you can wait until you get your permanent Visa to get your Panama driver’s license.

Are you thinking about moving to Panama? Check out our guide to living in panama and learn more about our relocation tours.

The minimum driving age in Panama is 18 years.

In order to apply for a Panamanian License you must have residency Visa. Initially, you are issued a temporary, or processing Visa, which is only valid for 6 months. So, your Panama driver’s license will only be valid for 6 months.

Once you get your permanent Visa, you will need to renew your Panama driver’s license. Your Panama driver’s license will valid for to four years, until you reach age 70, then it is only valid for two years. If you are over age 70, in addition to the steps listed below, you must obtain a doctor’s certification to prove that you are healthy enough to manage a car. This certification has to be from either a Gerontologist or a Doctor of Internal Medicine.

If you do not currently have a driver’s license from your home country, or your license is expired, your application process will start from square one. You will have to attend classes and be certified through an approved driving school, take a practical driving test in a car that you provide, and pass a written exam to demonstrate your knowledge of the laws of the road. (Warning: this test is administered only in Spanish!)

If you already have a valid driver’s license from another country, the process to obtain a Panamanian license is much easier. SERTRACEN is the private company which has been contracted by the Panamanian government for the issuance of driver’s licenses. It takes about 2 days because there are several steps.

In Panama, visit your country’s embassy to complete a notarized affidavit of your driving history (which usually involves setting up an advance appointment and paying a fee. The US Embassy charges $50). You have to bring your valid passport and driver’s license with you.
Go to the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to have your affidavit validated. You will have to pay a small fee for this, $2 paid to a nearby bank. This step can take a day because they will tell you to return later to pick up your documents.
Step three is to document your blood type through a SERTACEN-approved lab. I paid $4 for my blood test.
Bring your residency documents, your passport, your current driver’s license, your notarized documents and your proof of blood type to a SERTRACEN service center. Be sure to bring both the originals of all these documents and a photocopy of the front and back of each. Vision and hearing tests will be required, along with the payment of all fees which is $40 as of this writing. Once you get your permanent Visa, if you are a Pensionado, you will get 10% off the cost of getting a driver’s license.

I know it sounds complicated. Don’t worry, your attorney can help you get a Panama Driver’s License while you are in Panama to get your residency Visa.