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Requirements to Obtain an Immigrant Visa as a Dependent of a Resident 

The dependent of a resident may also apply for permanent residency, resulting in the eventual granting of naturalization as a Panamanian citizen.     

Requirements for an Immigrant Visa
Requirements to Obtain Permanent Residency with the right to a cédula

It is necessary to present the Application for an Immigrant Visa, and upon completion of the residency period, an Application to obtain Permanent Residency with the Right to a Cédula. 

Nevertheless, it should be noted that upon presentation of the Immigrant Visa Application, the applicant will be granted a temporary card, valid for 3 months, while the Immigration Visa application is being processed.  If the application is not approved within 3 months, the applicant will be reissued a three-month temporary card. Upon completion of the immigration process, the Applicant will receive his immigration card, as a Dependent of a Resident, which is valid for one year. 

Before the Immigrant Visa expires, the Applicant must apply for Permanent Residency with the right to a cédula.  The time it takes to receive Permanent Residency, from the date of the Immigrant Visa application is approximately two years. 

The same procedure is followed upon presentation of the documents requesting Permanent Residency.  That is, the applicant will receive a temporary card, valid for three months, renewable thereafter until the permanent residency with the right to cédula is approved. Upon approval, the Immigration Department will issue an Indefinite Residency card, together with a letter authorising the issuance of a a Personal Identification cédula.    

After five years of consecutive residence in Panama, counted from the approval of the Immigrant Visa, the applicant may request citizenship (naturalization letter).  

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 a Dependent of a Resident 

  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. Certified or Cashier's Cheque for Five Hundred US Dollars (B/. 500.00) payable to the Ministry of Government & Justice, as a Repatriation Deposit.

  4. 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).

  5. 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).

  6. 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. 

  7. Police Certificate of Good Conduct issued by the Panamanian Technical Judicial Police (P.T.J.) - not required to those under 18 years of age. 

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

  9. Four (4) passport-sized photos.

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

  11. Certification of full names and nationalities of the applicant(s). 

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

  13. Proof of the Blood-ties with the Resident: 

    Marriage certificate of the parents 

    Birth certificate of the dependent 

  14. Letter of Economic Responsibility by the Resident: 

    Tax Returns with the corresponding receipts of payment of taxes (if photocopies are presented, these must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance).

    Work Reference from the current employer, with the Social Security Receipt. 

    Bank Reference Letter, only where the resident has a Time Deposit (CD) for a fixed period of no less than one year, of more than One Hundred Thousand Dollars (B/. 100,000.00) 

    Certificate demonstrating that the Resident is Retired or a Pensioner

  15. Photocopy of the Resident's current Residency card, or photocopy of the current Personal Identification cédula, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

  16. If the Applicant is the son/daughter of a resident, and is of legal age, they should present: 

    If younger than twenty-six (26) years old, they should present a certification of studies, which shows that they are still a University Student.  

    If they are older than twenty-six (26) years old, they must provide banking references. 

 

Requirements to Obtain Permanent Residency with the Right to a Cédula as a Dependent of a Resident

  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.) - not required to those under 18 years of age. 

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

  9. Certificate of Good Standing for the Applicant. 

  10. Provisional Residency Permit Card (expired). 

  11. Letter of Economic Responsibility by the Resident: 

    Tax Returns with the corresponding receipts of payment of taxes (if photocopies are presented, these must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance).

    Work Reference from the current employer, with the Social Security Receipt. 

    Bank Reference Letter, only where the resident has a Time Deposit (CD) for a fixed period of no less than one year, of more than Twenty Thousand Dollars (B/. 20,000.00) 

    Certificate demonstrating that the Resident is Retired or a Pensioner

  12. If the Applicant is the son/daughter of a resident, and is of legal age, they should present: 

    If younger than twenty-six (26) years old, they should present a certification of studies, which shows that they are still a University Student.  

    If they are older than twenty-six (26) years old, they must provide banking references. 

  13. Photocopy of the Resident's current Residency card, or photocopy of the current Personal Identification cédula, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry. 

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 ]

immigration and naturalization, naturalisation, aliens, business immigration, citizenship, employment authorisations, employment immigration, immigration law, labour certifications, migration, visas