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Requirements to Obtain an Immigrant Visa when Married to a Panamanian 

There is a difference in the requirements depending on which of the spouses is working or when one of the spouses is economically dependent upon the other.  

Married with a Panamanian (Panamanian spouse is working & other spouse is dependent): 

Married with a Panamanian (non-Panamanian spouse is working & Panamanian spouse is dependent): 

In both instances, it is necessary to present the Application for an Immigrant Visa, and upon completion of the first year, present the Application to obtain permanent Residency with a Right to Cédula. 

It is also necessary to undergo a Matrimonial Interview, the date of which would be established after presenting the visa application and the application for permanent residency. 

Nevertheless, upon presenting the application for an Immigrant Visa, the applicant will be granted a temporary card, valid for three months, while the Immigrant Visa application is being processed.  If, upon completion of the three months, the application has not been approved yet, the applicant will receive a new temporary card, valid for a further three months.  Upon completing the process for the Immigrant Visa application, the applicant will receive their Immigration card, as Married to a Panamanian, with the corresponding stamp in their passport, which is valid for one year. 

Before the expiry of the Immigrant Visa, the applicant should apply for Permanent Residency with the right to a cédula.  It takes approximately two years to obtain Permanent Residency from the date of applying for the Immigrant Visa.  

The same process applies upon presenting the documents for Permanent Residency, that is, the applicant is issued with a card valid for three months, renewable upon the expiry thereof, until the Permanent Residency with the right to cédula is approved. Upon approval, Immigration will issue the applicant an indefinite residency permit, as well as a letter authorising the issuance of the Personal Identity Cédula.   

After three years of consecutive residence in Panama (following the approval of the Immigrant Visa), the applicant may request citizenship (letter of naturlization).   

Note:  All documents which are issued overseas, must be duly authenticated by Apostille or by the Panamanian Consulate/Embassy in the country in which they were issued, and then by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama.

Prepared by Beth Anne Gray J. & Roberto Ríos

Requirements to Obtain an Immigrant Visa as Married with a Panamanian

1. Power of Attorney and Application through a Lawyer.

2. Certified or Cashier's Cheque for One Hundred US Dollars (B/. 100.00) payable to the National Treasury (Tesoro Nacional).

3. Medical Certificate of Good Health, issued no more than three (3) months before the date of presentation. (Should be signed and be sealed, with the name, code and registration number of the doctor).

4. HIV Test, taken no more than six (6) months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used and have the sign and seal of the lab technician that did the test, with their name, code and registration number).

5. Police Certificate of Good Conduct, from the applicant's country of origin - Only when the applicant has resided continuously in Panama for less than five years. 

6. Police Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (P.T.J.)

7. Photocopy of the passport page, where the general details of the applicant are shown.

8. Four (4) passport-sized photos.

9. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six more months.

10. Marriage Certificate, issued by the Civil Registry - this must be issued within no more than six months before the date of the application being presented (please note that the Certificate is merely a document which shows an up-to-date confirmation of what the Civil Registry states - it is not the original marriage license). 

11. Birth Certificate of the Panamanian Spouse, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry. 

12. Photocopy of the current Personal Identification Cédula of the Panamanian Spouse, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

13. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents and their nationalities. 

14. Letter from the Panamanian Spouse, accepting economic responsibility for the foreign spouse. 

15. Proof of the Economic Solvency of the Panamanian Spouse: 

Requirements to Obtain Permanent Residency with the Right to Cédula, as Married to a Panamanian

1. Power of Attorney and Application through a Lawyer.

2. Medical Certificate of Good Health, issued no more than three (3) months before the date of presentation. (Should be signed and be sealed, with the name, code and registration number of the doctor).

3. HIV Test, taken no more than six (6) months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used and have the sign and seal of the lab technician that did the test, with their name, code and registration number).

4. Police Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (P.T.J.)

5. Photocopy of the passport page, where the general details of the applicant are shown.

6. Four (4) passport-sized photos.

7. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six more months.

8. Marriage Certificate, issued by the Civil Registry - this must be issued within no more than six months before the date of the application being presented (please note that the Certificate is merely a document which shows an up-to-date confirmation of what the Civil Registry states - it is not the original marriage license). 

9. Birth Certificate of the Panamanian Spouse, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry. 

10. Photocopy of the current Personal Identification Cédula of the Panamanian Spouse, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

11. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents and their nationalities. 

12. Letter from the Panamanian Spouse, accepting economic responsibility for the foreign spouse. 

13. National (Panamanian) Certificate of Good Standing - for Applicant.

14. Proof of the Economic Solvency of the Panamanian Spouse:

Requirements to Obtain Immigrant Visa as Married to a Panamanian

1. Power of Attorney and Application through a Lawyer.

2. Certified or Cashier's Cheque for One Hundred US Dollars (B/. 100.00) payable to the National Treasury (Tesoro Nacional).

3. Medical Certificate of Good Health, issued no more than three (3) months before the date of presentation. (Should be signed and be sealed, with the name, code and registration number of the doctor).

4. HIV Test, taken no more than six (6) months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used and have the sign and seal of the lab technician that did the test, with their name, code and registration number).

5. Police Certificate of Good Conduct, from the applicant's country of origin - Only when the applicant has resided continuously in Panama for less than five years. 

6. Police Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (P.T.J.)

7. Photocopy of the passport page, where the general details of the applicant are shown.

8. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents and their nationalities. 

9. Four (4) passport-sized photos.

10. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six more months.

11. Marriage Certificate, issued by the Civil Registry - this must be issued within no more than six months before the date of the application being presented (please note that the Certificate is merely a document which shows an up-to-date confirmation of what the Civil Registry states - it is not the original marriage license). 

12. Birth Certificate of the Panamanian Spouse, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry. 

13. Photocopy of the current Personal Identification Cédula of the Panamanian Spouse, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

14. Resolution issued by the Ministry of Labour and Labour Development  (M.I.TRAB.), evidencing that the applicant works in Panama. (If the applicant does not have the work permt at the time of presenting the Application, they should either present a certification issued by M.I.TRAB. indicating that this permit is being processed, or a simple copy of the Power of Attorney and Application addressed to M.I.TRAB..  However, upon the respective work permit being approved, it would be necessary to present this to the Immigration Department, in order for the visa application to continue it's process. 

15. Work Reference from a current employer or Offering Letter to the Applicant. 

Please note, that in order to obtain the work permit, it is necessary for the cuple to also be interviewed by the Ministry of Labour. Afterwards, the Minister of Labour will review the documents presented.  This process may take between 3 months to a year.  Upon the work permit being approved, the applicant will received the resolution which approves it, as well as a card, valid for one year.  The Applicant will need to request an extension of the card/permit upon the expiration of the term (year), and present the necessary documentation to support the application. 

Requirements to Obtain Permanent Residency with the Rght to a Cédula, as Married to a Panamanian

1. Power of Attorney and Application through a Lawyer.

2. Medical Certificate of Good Health, issued no more than three (3) months before the date of presentation. (Should be signed and be sealed, with the name, code and registration number of the doctor).

3. HIV Test, taken no more than six (6) months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used and have the sign and seal of the lab technician that did the test, with their name, code and registration number).

4. Police Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (P.T.J.)

5. Photocopy of the passport page, where the general details of the applicant are shown.

6. Four (4) passport-sized photos.

7. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six more months.

8. Marriage Certificate, issued by the Civil Registry - this must be issued within no more than six months before the date of the application being presented (please note that the Certificate is merely a document which shows an up-to-date confirmation of what the Civil Registry states - it is not the original marriage license). 

9. Birth Certificate of the Panamanian Spouse, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry. 

10. Photocopy of the current Personal Identification Cédula of the Panamanian Spouse, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

11. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents and their nationalities. 

12. Resolution issued by the Ministry of Labour and Labour Development  (M.I.TRAB.), evidencing that the applicant works in Panama. (If the applicant does not have the work permt at the time of presenting the Application, they should either present a certification issued by M.I.TRAB. indicating that this permit is being processed, or a simple copy of the Power of Attorney and Application addressed to M.I.TRAB..  However, upon the respective work permit being approved, it would be necessary to present this to the Immigration Department, in order for the visa application to continue it's process. 

13. Work Reference from a current employer, with the Receipt from Social Security; or Tax Returns with the original receipts; or Occasional Payroll Forms with the corresponding receipts of payment.

14. National (Panamanian) Certificate of Good Standing - for Applicant.

Preparado por Beth Anne Gray J. & Roberto Ríos

[ Investor ] [ Personal Income ] [ Married to Panamanian ] [ Small Investor ] [ Dependent of Resident ] [ Agricultural Investor - Farmer ] [ Reforestation ] [ Employee - Panama Canal ] [ Work Permit ]