Construction
Environmental Law
Panama: Immigration & Visas

Immigration Services offered by Shirley & Associates

If you are interested in immigrating to Panama, our Firm provides legal assistance in immigration matters, including the preparation and processing of applications for foreigners wishing to become residents of the Republic of Panama as investors or pensioners. 

If you are planning to relocate to Panama temporarily or emigrate permanently, then you may wish to browse through the information we have provided. Our attorneys also work with executives or employees of international companies that require work permits.  We have structured the information provided under the following categories: 

Tourists
Passing Through
Immigrants
Visas - Non-immigrants
Bringing your Pet
Getting Organised

For those clients that simply wish to move to Panama or live in Panama as residents with the least amount of hassle and paperwork, we usually recommend the pensioner visa.  However, this is not the only alternative for residency in Panama, and is obviously only available to those persons who receive pensions or social security payments.

There are numerous immigration and visa options, with a variety of programs.  We suggest you look through the various sections to get an idea of which program will best suit your needs, resources and goals. Permanent residency can be obtained both as an immigrant as well as with a Visa (for non-immigrants).  Please see the description of the options which follows further down this page.  

We also advise and assist with applications for naturalisation leading to Panamanian citizenship, including the availability of residency through reforestation projects.  Panamanian passports may be obtained after naturalisation.

IMMIGRATION & VISAS TO ENTER AND RESIDE IN PANAMA

Decree Law 16 (1960) - which we shall refer to as The Immigration Act (1960) - regulates immigration and the status of foreigners in Panama.

Under this law, its amendments and regulations, foreigners who enter Panama can be classified as:

These categories are defined in the subsequent pages, where we attempt to set out a description of each one and the requirements to classify under a specific category and to renew Visas. 

[ Tourists ] [ Passing Through ] [ Immigrants ] [ Visas - Non-immigrants ] [ Bringing your Pet ] [ Getting Organised ]

If you are interested in relocating to Panama - you should look at the pages of temporary visitors and immigrants, as you will find useful information on both those pages.

If you are not sure how to obtain the documents which are required, this page may help:  Getting Organised - Your Immigration Documents. 

Note:  All documents which are issued overseas, must be duly authenticated (legalised) by the Panamanian Consulate or Embassy in the country in which they were issued, and then authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Panama.  Alternatively, they may be Apostilled (see The Hague Convention on the Legalisation of Foreign Documents). 

Prepared by Beth Anne Gray J. & Roberto Ríos

[ Construction ] [ Environmental Law ] [ Panama: Immigration & Visas ]