Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel

Decree-Law No. 3 of 2008 in Panama grants permanent residency to foreign applicants and their relatives within first blood degree working in a Panamanian company with at least 15 or more Panamanian workers and needing to hire foreign personnel for specialized technical work.

This specialized technical personnel can also be trusted personnel for a specific position, they could be in supervision activities in the company or departmental management in a Panamanian company.

What is the Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel?

This residence permit is intended to be granted to specialized technical personnel, such personnel may also serve as trusted staff for a specific position within the company such as the supervision of activities or the direction of a department of the contracting Panamanian company.

A way to obtain a permanent residence visa Panama is by applying to the Provisional Permit for permanent resident hired as Expert or technician within the 15% of specialized personnel (PPT-TEC) before the National Immigration Service of Panama, which will grant a provisional permit for 2 years, once this time has elapsed the foreigner may apply for a permanent residence permit in the Republic of Panama.

In this post we will explain all the requirements and benefits of this legal procedure and are detailed at the end of this page.

How long does it take to obtain permanent residency with a Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel?

According to the Panamanian immigration laws, obtaining permanent residency once the requirements of the contract visa as an Expert or technician within the 15% of the specialized personnel in Panama have been fulfilled, will require 2 years after the initial date of the procedure before the national immigration service to obtain the permanent residency card in Panama.

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What are the requirements to obtain Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel?

A foreigner hired by a company as an expert or technician, earning a salary of not less than eight hundred and fifty balboas (B/.850.00) per month, may apply for this permit.

As stated in Decree Law No. 3 of February 22, 2008 in Section 5, Article 82:

REQUIREMENTS:

• A power of attorney through a Panamanian attorney and the application drafted by the attorney must be submitted (both documents must be notarized).
• Five (5) passport size photographs with white background are required.
• Complete passport copy, including front and back cover, must be verified before a Panamanian Notary Public or corresponding Authority.
• Police Record or Criminal Record Verification of the country for the last 5 years of residence. This document must be “original”, “official”, “updated” and “authenticated” (see explanation of these terms below).
• Health Certificate with at least 3 months of validity (Issued by Panamanian doctor or Panamanian health center, available at private clinics in Panama).
• Certified Check for B/250.00 in favor of the National Treasury (To be purchased directly at the bank).
• Certified Check for B/800.00 in favor of the National Immigration Service (purchased directly at the bank).
• Personal Background Affidavit Form (to be provided by us).
• Labor Contract endorsed by the Ministry of Labor.
• Company letter of employment on company letterhead, signed by the company’s legal representative of the company, stating position and salary.
• Company’s copy Operating Notice.
• Company’s Good Standing Certificate issued by the Public Registry.
• Public Registry.
• Work Permit.
• Proof of affiliation to the Social Security Fund and copy of the card.
• National Income Tax Return of the company.

Can children or spouses also obtain a residence permit with the main applicant?

It is important to note that the application for a residence permit through the Visa for foreign personnel hired by private companies within the 10% of the ordinary personnel in Panama may include dependents, which are those persons of first degree of consanguinity (parents, children, spouses) to the applicant, who will also be able to obtain a permanent residence permit in Panama based on the permit of the main applicant.
Dependent children may only apply if they are unmarried and under 25 years of age. Those over 18 years of age must be studying in Panama.

It is important to note that the application for a residence permit through the Visa for foreign personnel hired by private companies within the 10% of the ordinary personnel in Panama may include dependents, which are those persons of first degree of consanguinity (parents, children, spouses) to the applicant, who will also be able to obtain a permanent residence permit in Panama based on the permit of the main applicant.

NOTE:
In addition to meeting the basic requirements for applying to an immigration visa for foreign personnel hired by private companies within the 10% of the ordinary personnel in Panama each of the dependents must also provide the following for each one:

• Responsibility letter (it is a document written by our lawyer specialized in immigration procedures in Panama).
• Evidence of Relationship:
• For children of the applicant, a birth certificate for each child must be provided as required, and this document must be apostilled.
• In case of children over 18 years of age, a certificate of single status and proof of certified studies must be presented.
• If dependent child is under 18 years of age, he/she will not need to present the criminal record certificate, but if he/she is over 18 years of age, he/she will need to present it.
• In the case of requesting a parent as a dependent, the applicant must provide his/her own apostilled birth certificate showing the name of his/her parents.
• In case the dependent is a spouse, the applicant must provide an apostilled marriage certificate.

Benefits of obtaining a Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel

• May apply for a permanent residency permit in Panama in a few stages, (this permit will grant you the “CEDULA E”).
• You will also be able to apply for a Panamanian passport through naturalization (once you obtain the “CEDULA E” and meet the requirements).
• Obtain the work permit under the Visa by contract as an Expert or technician within the 15% of the specialized personnel in Panama.
• Will be able to enjoy all the benefits enjoyed by Panamanian nationals in banks, businesses and government entities.
• As a permanent resident of Panama, you will be able to request the certification of fiscal residence in Panama.

What are the steps to obtain permanent residency with the Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel?

PHASE 1: Submission and review of requirements grouped by e-mail.

Day 1: Interview with attorney

A meeting is held with the attorney for the review of the requirements and the payment of the fees to initiate the immigration process.

DAY 2: (Requires the presence of the foreign national)

Applicants and their legal representative or assistant present themselves at the Panama National Migration Service offices in order to submit their application for a Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel.

On the same day, the foreign applicant will be given the first provisional residence card, with a 6-month validity, in addition to a stamped multiple entry and exit visa, which will allow him/her to enter and leave Panama without problems and without paying any exit tax.

WHAT’S NEXT AFTER THIS?

Usually the immigration agents will tell you that you must wait 3 to 5 months while the officials in charge of document review in immigration issue the resolution of approval of the resident permit through the contract visa as an expert or technician within the 15% of the specialized personnel in Panama.

At the moment the immigration resolution is ready, the lawyer is notified by the national immigration service of Panama that the resolution has been issued and from that moment on they can and must attend the immigration offices in Panama to obtain a new provisional residency permit through the Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel.

This new card is a provisional permit through the foreign professional visa, is valid for 2 years and has a cost of 50 dollars.

PHASE 2: Application for the Permanent Residence Permit for the visa by contract as an Expert or technician within the 15% of the specialized personnel in Panama.

After 23 months the foreigner can apply for the permanent residence permit.

To apply for the permanent residence permit for the Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel, the applicant must provide all the requirements that were provided the first time (minus the certified checks and the police record) and must add the applicant’s national “Paz y Salvo”.

The complete process of DAY 1 and DAY 2 of PHASE 1 will be done again this time.
On the same day a temporary residency card will be issued to the foreign applicant, valid for 6 months.

Once the immigration resolution is approved, the lawyer is notified by the national immigration service of Panama that the resolution has been issued and from that moment on they can and must attend the immigration offices in Panama to obtain a new permanent residency card.

COST OF PERMANENT RESIDENT CARD BY CONTRACT visa as Expert or technician within 15% of the specialized personnel in Panama.

This new ID card is a permanent visa permit for Panama Visa for Expert or technical positions in the 15% of the specialized personnel, it has a cost of 100 dollars.

One month later the Immigration Department issues a note called “Nota de Cédula”, with this note the foreigner must make an appointment before the Electoral Tribunal, this appointment is generally granted for a few working days after requesting it.

In the day of the appointment the foreigner must go to the electoral court of Panama to make the fingerprint and facial registry and a week later he/she can pick up the “E” Cedula which will be his/her new legal identity document to circulate in Panama.

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