Relocating to Panama must be done through a Panamanian lawyer or law firm (like most other administrative matters in Panama). If you're not sure which is the most convenient program for you, then please browse through the various options to see what best suits your future plans upon arriving in Panama City. You may also contact our lawyers or assistants to make an appointment to visit us.

Panama's immigration law is not found in just one section of the law. Unlike the commercial or civil law, there is not an Immigration Code which regulates the entire area. This means that there are many laws having little to do with immigration which contain provisions to attract immigrants who will invest in farming (agriculture), tourism, scientific research and other worthy goals. Some of these laws provide for permanent residency within one year after the visa has been granted following the initial application, while other programmes require various visa renewals before permanency is granted.

The goals in Panama's immigration policies (such as attracting investment) are achieved by granting or denying visas. There are two principal types of visas: immigrant and non-immigrant visas. Non-immigrant visas are primary issued to tourists and temporary business visitors, although here in Panama they are also issued to certain categories of workers or specialists, as well as to missionaries, students or religious persons. Only a few categories of non-immigrant visas allow their holders work in Panama, and quite often this work permit is limited to a specific workplace. Immigrant visas permit their holders to stay in Panama permanently (once permanent residency has been granted) and ultimately to apply for naturalisation and citizenship.

The 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 pensioned 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.

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:

- Tourists

- Travellers in Transit or Travellers in Direct Transit

- Persons passing through

- Immigrants ( Immigration Programs )

- Temporary Visitors ( Visas )

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Obtaining a second passport in Panama is useful for those who wish to:

- Relocate to a more tax friendly country where foreign earned income, capital gains, and interest income is not taxed.

- Relocate to a country where one can begin business operations economically, and without heavy restrictions, regulations, or taxes that hinder the growth of the business.

- Relocate to a country where real estate is still affordable for purchasing homes in the city or land at the beaches, mountains, lakes, etc.

- Have a second home overseas in a tropical country where they can live at or visit.

- Have a safe haven to escape to in the event of war or any type of civil unrest that may threaten their family.

- Actually live in Panama permanently, perhaps after retirement.

- Relocate to a tropical, stable, safe country where it is very economical to live in comparison with most other developed countries such as the US, Canada, Europe, etc.

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