Obtain the Friendly Nations Visa in Panama for only $14,000 USD.

Since the issuance of Decree 197 in May 2021, Panama has tightened the conditions for granting residency permits through the Friendly Nations Visa in Panama. As of August 2022, individuals who are neither retirees nor investors can only obtain a visa through an investment of $200,000, which can be demonstrated through the purchase of real estate or a bank deposit in the country.

However, few lawyers and immigration consultants talk about the third option, which allows obtaining the Friendly Nations Visa (FNV) in Panama through an employment contract with a local company, as per Article 3 of the Decree 197 that regulates the freindly nations visa in Panama. Many prospective applicants frequently ask us whether it is possible to obtain the Friendly Nations Visa without a $200,000 investment, and that is exactly what we will inform you about in this article.

Following the announcement of Decree 197, many tourists lost interest in Panama due to the new law’s evident challenges for those with limited budgets. But in reality, it remains simple. With an employment contract, any tourist who wishes to live in this beautiful tropical country can apply for a Friendly Nations Visa in Panama within a few days.

Unfortunately, many lawyers in Panama do not share this information, as some prefer to secure only “potential wealthy clients,” making the visa application process easier, which is, in our opinion, unfair to the “ordinary” immigrants.

Thanks to our “Moving to Panama 2.0” project, we have established partnerships with various Panamanian companies that offer our clients the opportunity to secure an employment contract, obtaining both a residency permit and a work permit in Panama.

After contacting our office in Panama, we will assist you in finding a company with which you can sign a contract. These companies will prioritize our applications and decide whether they can employ one of our clients. Once we receive approval from the Panamanian company, we can immediately begin your immigration process in Panama.

Initially, one of our assistants will accompany you to the immigration office, where you will receive a temporary residency permit for two years. After this period, you will finally obtain a permanent residency permit in Panama, allowing you to get an ID card (Cedula E) in the country.

For this option, you only need a valid passport and an employment contract. Additionally, you must pay the associated processing fees, which amount to $14,000. These fees cover our Panamanian company search service, opening a bank account in Panama, legal fees, and immigration process expenses.

Do I really need to work for the company?

In principle, you will be employed by a company. However, most of these companies are corporations that allow their employees to work from home (home office), so you can negotiate your work arrangement with your employer.

Who is this option suitable for?

This option is suitable for individuals who are not retirees or investors or who simply don´t wish to invest $200,000 in Panama.

Do these companies have more than 9 employees?

All our partner companies are corporations with more than 20 employees and have been in operation for over 5 years.

Has Agroup had successful cases?

In May 2024, we had our first successful cases where our clients from 2021-2022 received their permanent residency permits without any issues. If you want to hear experiences from our clients, you can join our Facebook group “Moving to Panama 2.0.” Link to the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/781053266316017/.

Why don’t most lawyers offer this option?

Most lawyers try to attract “potential wealthy clients” with whom they prefer to work. Additionally, it is very challenging to find a company in Panama willing to hire foreigners and that also has more than 9 employees, which is a requirement for the applicant to obtain their visa. However, at Agroup, we have the advantage of partnering with corporations for immigration purposes.

Is this option illegal?

Absolutely not. All documents for the visa application are 100% legal and reviewed by a reliable lawyer.

Can I include my family in the visa application?

Of course, main applicants can include their relatives in the visa process, provided they meet the requirements for dependents.

How secure is the process?

It is 100% secure. So far, we have not had a single visa application denied among more than 30 applications.

Where can I find Decree 197?

You can find the link to the law here: https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/pdfTemp/29290_A/84916.pdf.

What documents do I need after 2 years?

To obtain your permanent residency permit in Panama, you only need to prove your employment relationship, which is already provided by our partner companies.

As you can see, obtaining a permanent residency permit in Panama is easier than you might have thought. In our opinion, Decree 197 will bring many economic benefits to Panama and will continue to be a valuable tool for those who consider Panama as a Plan B. 🌴☀️

If you want to learn more about the Friendly Nations Visa in Panama or wish to secure your stay in Panama, please do not hesitate to contact us.