Other Job Categories
Main Requirements:
Be hired by a Panamanian company in one of the following modalities:
With any of the options, it is mandatory to process a work permit from the Ministry of Labor.
Additional modalities in special work programs:
Call Center: Program for trusted, executive, expert and/or technical personnel in companies authorized to operate as call centers in Panama.
Free Trade Zones: Program for trusted, executive, expert and/or technical personnel in companies authorized as Zone Promoters or Operators.
Colon Free Zone: Program for executives who work in a company located in the Colon Free Zone
Panama Pacific: Program for executive employees or regular staff of companies located and licensed in the special economic area of Panama Pacific.
Cinematographic and Audiovisual: Program for trusted employees, producers, actors, technicians or experts of foreign companies in accordance with the conditions established in special law No. 36 of 2007.
City of Knowledge: Program for Investors, Executives, Researchers, teachers hired by a company registered to operate in the City of Knowledge.
Multinational Enterprise Headquarters (SEM/EMMA): Program for executives hired by a company duly registered as a multinational enterprise headquarters.
Executives of international companies whose functions take effect abroad
What would be the requirements for this residency procedure?
The existence of a company capable of hiring foreigners under the special parameters of each program.
Criminal record certificate from the country of origin or the country where you have resided for the last 2 years. Adults only.
US Citizens: FBI
Citizens of Canada: RCMP
UK Citizens: NPCC
Marriage certificate (if applicable).
Birth certificate of children (if you will include children as dependents)
Birth certificate of the principal (if he/she will include his/her parents as dependents)
There are other requirements, but these are managed with you in Panama.
Who applies?:
The principal applicant and his or her dependents may apply.
For immigration purposes, dependents are understood to be:
Spouse: It is mandatory to be formally married
Minor children
Older children between 18 and 25 years old
Parents of the principal applicant
How is the procedure carried out?
For the application process, it is mandatory that the main applicant and his/her family travel to Panama with the listed requirements. Only one family member cannot travel to represent everyone.
Once all requirements have been met, a visit is required for the initial presentation and a second visit for completion.
First visit: Between 4 and 5 business days
Second visit: 2 business days
During the processing period, the National Immigration Service will provide the main applicant and dependents with identification as a “person in the process of residence”
During the period of the residency process, you and your family can travel outside of Panama without any restrictions.
Approval of the procedure takes on average 4 and a half months.
The initial approval will be a provisional resident status for 2 years, and prior to the expiration of the 2 years, the process for permanent residence will be carried out.
What documents need to be legalized?
Criminal record
Marriage certificates (if applicable)
Birth certificate (both in cases of having dependent parents or in case of having children)
Document validation:
It is extremely important to note that any type of document issued by another nation MUST be duly legalized. The legalization process is carried out at the Panamanian Consulate in the country where the documents are issued or through the Apostille seal, which is regularly obtained from the foreign ministries of the country of origin.
Benefits:
These particular programs, for the most part, if not all, DO NOT allow you to obtain permanent residency; however, residency and your work permit are subject to multiple renewals.