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Aug 19th, 2008 by Don Ray

In case you are not aware, Panama has enacted a new immigration law. A good synopsis can be found at My Panama Lawyer. It also has links to the Spanish version of the law.

Posted in Panama Journal

15 Responses to “New Panama Immigration Law Enacted”

on 20 Aug 2008 at 12:45 am1tom mulford

I have been told that a bag of cement now cost around 9 dollars, is that true? I returned from panama a year ago last April and cement was selling for about 5 dollars a bag. I plan to return to panama in December of this year and I am considering on building a house. If cement has increased that much, I may re-consider. I would be grateful for any information on current construction cost.
thanks,
tom
on 20 Aug 2008 at 5:29 am2New Immigration Rules « Living in Potrerillos

[...] want to emphasize that there are new immigration rules, and that Don Ray has a link to them in his post of yesterday. I’d read them in Spanish (those sections that applied) but had no time to do [...]
on 20 Aug 2008 at 7:47 am3Don Ray

Tom. I haven’t had to buy any cement, but I have heard that. I will try to find out.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 12:36 pm4tom mulford

Thanks Don, I look forward to the answer so that I can finalize my plans. I realize that this is not related to immigration law, but I found your site when I googled to find cement prices in Panama. This is the first time I have participated in a “blog”. Please let me know if you want me to switch to another area.
My wife is from Panama and I have been traveling in and out of Panama for about twenty five years. We own some land in Bugaba and have been thinking about building. We will make a decision when we visit in December.
Thank you for this blog and your kindness.
Tom.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 12:40 pm5Don Ray

No problem. I have a good friend that is a builder in that part of Chiriqui. I sent him an email and asked what the going price was for cement. I haven’t heard back yet.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 1:18 pm6Dave

When we were in Volcan last month, it was $8 for an 90# bag.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 4:34 pm7Debbie

Don, concerning the immigration changes and the pensionado visa, I see that the requirement has been raised from $500 to $1,000. Do you know if this is per couple or single? Does it all have to be from a pension? This may throw a curve ball into our retirement plans, because I’m planning an early retirement with a small pension and additional income from other sources until we turn 62 and can collect our Social Security. If it all has to be from a pension, I’ll have to wait 5 more years. Do you know who would be a reliable person that I could email about this? I’m worried, now!
Thanks.
on 20 Aug 2008 at 4:57 pm8Don Ray

Hi Debbie. That is $1,000 per individual. For the source, it used to say on the Panama Government website. When I got my pensionado card in 2002, it had to be from an official retirement plan or social security. I suggest checking the Panama government site.
on 23 Aug 2008 at 7:45 am9Judy Sacco

Are you sure that is $1,000 per person? Under the old law it was $600 for one person plus the spouse. When we came to Panama, my husband had social security and I had no pension, yet we both got pensionado status. Also there are other ways to set up a pension besides social security, and there are other ways to get a permanent visa besides the pensionado. Talk to an attorney here.
on 23 Aug 2008 at 8:08 am10Don Ray

Hi Judy. To be sure you would have to talk to an atourney. However, the writeup says that it has increaded from $500 to $1,000. $500 was the old rate for one person. I believe it is being changed to $1,000 for one person and I don’t know about the second person.
on 30 Aug 2008 at 2:26 pm11pam

What are the laws regarding employment? I think I can qualify for employment due to need. Where do I look for the laws?
on 30 Aug 2008 at 3:39 pm12Don Ray

There plenty in Panama in need for work and work isn’t available. If you have unique skills you might qualify for a work permit. Most people that come to Panama and work either start a business and employ Panamanians or work over the Internet.
on 02 Sep 2008 at 10:31 am13Gary Jones

Yet one more wrinkle to the new laws. My tenant had let his original 30-day visa expire (dumb, yes) and went to David yesterday to see about getting an extension. He elected to take a Panamanian friend to help with the Spanish and not go to a lawyer.
When he got to immigration they informed him that his original tourist visa was good for ninety days and not thirty, as every website in the world shows. He was also told that it is now not necessary to leave the country after ninety days. You just go to immigration, pay $30 and get another ninety days. Sounds way too logical, so probably isn’t true.
The official at immigration would not stamp or initial his Canadian passport, but instead just wrote “ninety days” on his tourist card, which, of course, anyone could do. At my urging he went to see my lawyer, but my lawyer said he didn’t know what the new law was and he would have to check and let us know.
My tenant is on his way to Panama City today and I can only hope he doesn’t get stopped somewhere to discover the “ninety days” written on his tourist card is not valid.
on 02 Sep 2008 at 10:35 am14Don Ray

I have heard that it is 90 days for a tourist visa now,
on 05 Sep 2008 at 4:37 pm15Chiriquí Chatter » Blog Archive » New Immigration Law Conversation

[...] a short note. I had posted a link to a Panama Lawyer Blog for information on the new changes that were going into effect. [...]