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

Immigrant Visa through Investment in Reforestation

This immigrant visa is available only to those persons that invest USD$40,000.00 or more, directly or indirectly, in a reforestation project in Panama. This investment must be for a minimum period of 10 years.   

See: www.unitednature.com 

Note:  When a foreign investor undertakes a reforestation project, (s)he must invest a minimum of forty thousand in Panama. With this investment, (s)he will be eligible to apply for an Immigrant Visa as a Reforestation Investor, whether through the purchase of shares, bonds, securities or other investments.  The investor must hold the investment, whether direct or indirect, for the minimum 10-year period. 

The applicant should submit an Application for Immigrant Visa, which will be issued for a period of one (1) year. Upon the expiry of this term, the applicant will be elegible to request Permanent Residency, with the right to a Cédula, as a Reforestation Investor. 

Nevertheless, it should be noted that upon requesting the Immigrant Visa, the applicant will receive a temporary permit, valid for three months, while the Immigrant Visa is being processed.  If, at the end of these three months, the application has not yet been approved, the applicant will receive another temporary permit, valid for a further three months. Upon the application being approved, the applicant will receive their immigrant card, as an Investor in Reforestation, and the respective stamp in their passport, both of which are valid for one year. 

At the end of this year, the applicant may then apply for Permanent Residency, with the right to a cédula. (See Requirements) It takes approximately two years, from the original application for the immigrant visa, to obtain Permanent Residency. 

The same procedure is followed to request the Permanent Residency.  The applicant will receive a temporary card, valid for three months, while the application is being processed.  The temporary card may be renewed for a further three months if the application has not yet been approved.  Upon approving the application, the applicant will receive indefinite residency, with a letter authorising the issuance of a Cédula for personal identification.  

After five years of consecutive residency in Panama, as of the date of approval of the permanent residency, the applicant may request citizenship (letter of naturalisation). 

Note:  All documents which are issued overseas must be duly authenticated via Apostille or by the closest Panamanian Consulate or Embassy in the applicant's home country, and by the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

Prepared by Beth Anne Gray J. & Roberto Ríos

Requirements to Obtain an Immigrant Visa as an Investor in Reforestation

1. Power of Attorney and Application via an attorney/law firm.  

2. Certified cheque or cashier's cheque for One Hundred balboas (B/. 100.00) in favour of the National Treasury.   (1 balboa = 1 USD). 

3. Certified cheque or cashier's cheque for Five Hundred balboas (B/. 500.00) in favour of the Ministry of Government & Justice, which is a repatriation deposit.   (1 balboa = 1 USD). 

4. Medical Certificate of good health, issued no more than three (3) months previously to the presentation date.  (Should have the signature and seal of the doctor, showing the doctor's name, code and medical registration number). 

5. AIDS/HIV test, taken no more than six (6) months previously to the presentation date.  (Should specify the method used, and have the signature and seal of the laboratory/technician, with their name, code and registration number).  

6. Police Record (Good Behaviour Certificate) from the applicant's country of origin (only where the applicant has lived for less than 5 years of continual residence in Panama). 

7. Police Record (Good Behaviour Certificate) from the local Panamanian police (P.T.J.) 

8. Fotocopy of the passport page where the applicant's general details and photo appear.  

9. Four (4) passport-size photos. 

10. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six (6) months. 

11. Certification of the complete names and nationalities of the applicant's parents. 

12. Certificate issued by the Public Registry, which evidences that the company is duly registered in the Companies Registry. 

13. Certificate issued by the Auditor of the company in which the investor has invested, showing either a direct or indirect investment of at least Forty Thousand Dollares (B/.40,000.00), and proving that the investment is part of the assets of the company.   

14. License number of the CPA (Certified Public Accountant). 

15. Deposit slip from the Bank, showing the deposit. 

Note:  Where the applicant has dependents, the following documents should be included:  

Requirements to Obtain Permanent Residency with the Right to a Cédula as an Investor in Reforestation

1. Power of Attorney and Application via an attorney/law firm.  

2. Medical Certificate of good health, issued no more than three (3) months previously to the presentation date.  (Should have the signature and seal of the doctor, showing the doctor's name, code and medical registration number). 

3. AIDS/HIV test, taken no more than six (6) months previously to the presentation date.  (Should specify the method used, and have the signature and seal of the laboratory/technician, with their name, code and registration number).  

4. Police Record (Good Behaviour Certificate) from the local Panamanian police (P.T.J.) 

5. Fotocopy of the passport page where the applicant's general details and photo appear.  

6. Four (4) passport-size photos. 

7. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six (6) months. 

8. Certification of the complete names and nationalities of the applicant's parents. 

9. Certificate issued by the Public Registry, which evidences that the company is duly registered in the Companies Registry. 

10. Certificate issued by the Auditor of the company in which the investor has invested, showing either a direct or indirect investment of at least Forty Thousand Dollares (B/.40,000.00), and proving that the investment is part of the assets of the company.   

11. License number of the CPA (Certified Public Accountant). 

12. Certificate from ANAM. 

13. Certificate of Good Standing for the Applicant. 

14. Expired Provisional Residency Card.  

Note:  Where the applicant has dependents, the following documents should be included:  

1. Each dependent of legal age should issue a Power of Attorney to the lawyer/law firm to represent them; parents should issue the Power of Attorney for any minor. 

2. Medical Certificate, issued no more than three (3) months previously to the presentation date Should have the signature and seal of the doctor, showing the doctor's name, code and medical registration number).

3. AIDS/HIV test, taken no more than six (6) months previously to the presentation date.  (Should specify the method used, and have the signature and seal of the laboratory/technician, with their name, code and registration number).  (*Not required for those younger than 12 years old). 

4. Police Record (Good Behaviour Certificate) from the local Panamanian police (P.T.J.)  (*Not required for minors). 

5. Photocopy of the principal page of the passport, where the dependent's general details are.  

6. Four (4) passport size photos for each dependent. 

7. Original passport, valid for at least six months. 

8. Certification of the complete names and nationalities of the parents of each applicant. 

9. Certificate of Good Standing for each dependent that is of legal age. 

10. Expired Provisional Residency card.

11. Letter of responsibility from the principal applicant for each of the dependents.  

Prepared by 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 ]