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Panama: Entrepreneur immigration program

Receive 2 years of temporary residency and then upgrade to permanent residency status in Panamá without any investment. We call this the “entrepreneur immigration program”. After two years it provides lifelong permanent residence for you, your spouse and your children. After you have held your permanent residency status for 5 years you can get the passport and citizenship of the Republic of Panama.

Requirements

Citizenship of one of Panama’s “friendly nations”:
Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Chile, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Norway, New Zealand, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, South Korea, Switzerland, Sweden, Singapore, Uruguay.

Police record
You have to have a freshly issued police record stating that you have not committed any crimes

Processing Time

4-5 days to provisional residency permit, valid for 6 months

4-5 months to temporary residency permit, valid for 2 years

2 years to permanent residency, valid for a lifetime
After two years of temporary residency, we will upgrade you to becoming a permanent resident both with the permanent residence permit ID card and the Panamanian national ID card, called “Cedula”

Key Benefits

Residency without investment: Getting the permanent residency in Panama without investment

Inexpensive second passport: Getting the Panamanian passport without investment after being permanent resident for 5 years.

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Your advantage:

Permanent residency permit after 2 years

The immigration programme includes the upgrade from the two year temporary residency to the permanent residency permit. At this point you will be able to enjoy all benefits of a permanent resident of the Republic of Panama.

Get the Panamanian Passport

You will be eligible to receive the Panamanian citizenship and passport after 5 years of becoming a permanent resident. The Panamanian passport gives you visa-free access to >145 countries, including both Russia and the EU, for example.

Panamanian national ID card “cedula”

The Panamanian national ID card, the so-called “Cedula” will be your new full identification in Panama. From this point onwards you can your car, property title or bank account can be registered on the Panamanian Cedula and you can remove the passport of your home country from such documents if you prefer to do so.

1 day minimum stay

To upkeep your residency permit in Panama you only have to stay 1 day every 2 years in Panama. So you can travel the world as much as you want without being tied down to staying in Panama.

Bank account in 2 days

We personally accompany you and get an international USD bank account in Panama opened for you within the first 2 days after your arrival. This includes a Master/Visa card, online banking and English-speaking banking support in person and via phone.

Full worry-free service

Pallas personally support you through the process from start to finish. We pick you up at the airport, we go together with you to the bank and the immigration offices. Even if you need holiday planning in Panama or just need to find out where to go and what to do. We make the most of your time in Panama. Then we bring you to the airport with your successful immigration documents and Panamanian bank account. And if there’s anything you need you can always contact us.

Support getting your documents

Getting the needed documents from your home country can be a lengthy process when making errors. Usually Panamanian immigration lawyers won’t give you much support in obtaining these documents because this fully depends on the administrative structure of your home country; For example, at which government office exactly you can apply for a police record with an international apostille. At Pallas, however, we have gained lots of experience with people from all countries coming to Panama and will give you guidance how you can get all needed documents as quickly and effortlessly as possible.

“Your New Home Country loves you”-Service

24/7 Whatsapp and hotline support: Ask us and we give you recommendations for everything you might need in Panama, from doctors, nannys to fishing guides or introductions to local businesses. Keeping you up-to-date with recent developments of your new home country: policy improvements, new visa destinations, tax structures, new resorts, events and activities, real estate developments and other topics that are of your personal interest

5 hours personal one-on-one consultation

5 hours of personal one-on-one consultation on how to start your new residency in Panama best and also how to leave your home country if you plan to relocate. This can include all topics you might be in need of. Some examples are: Where to live and stay in Panama City, how to network, where to go and any problems you might have.

Roadmap to Panama: Entrepreneur immigration program

Start your Panamanian residency with Pallas. We are here to guide you through every step of the process. We help you obtain all the information and documents from your country-of-origin, as well as keeping every deadline for your successful permanent residency in Panama. We are managing the whole process for you so that you can fully focus on the next steps of your new life chapter.

Timeline of your step-by-step immigration timeline:

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  1. Start your application by sending us an email and sending us your information

  2. Kick-off call with your personal Pallas-Assistant, planning your personal timeline and how to achieve your personal goals within Panama, signing your immigration programme and down-payment

  3. We guide you through the process of getting necessary documents from your country of origin, such as:

    • Police record
    • Birth certificate
    • Source of funds
    • Bank reference letter

  4. Visit Panamá for 4 working days and we are going to achieve for you:

    • Open an international bank account in Panama
    • Submission of your application
    • Issuing provisional residency card
    • Issuing multiple Entry-Exit Visa

  5. 90 days later you receive your temporary residence permit. On your next visit to Panama we accompany you to collect your physical 2 year valid temporary residence permit card

  6. After having held the temporary residency permit for 2 years you will receive a lifelong permanent residency permit for Panama. There is no minimum stay other than visiting Panama 2 day every two years in order to get to this point and to keep this status. In addition, you will also receive the Panamanian national ID card, called “Cedula”. With the cedula you can do almost every transaction exactly like a Panamanian citizen. 

Our Assessment of Panama: Entrepreneur immigration program

Additional benefits of the permanent residency

After you have received the permanent residency permit and the Panamanian national ID card “Cedula”, we can separately support you with the following services:

  • Getting the Panamanian driver’s license in addition to your existing driver’s license
  • Getting the Panamanian gun license for your home
  • Getting the Panamanian concealed carry gun license
  • Getting the Panamanian hunting license which is internationally recognised for hunting trips
  • After having the permanent residency and E-Cedula for 5 years, we can get the Panamanian Passport for you. The Panamanian citizenship is especially interesting because of Panama’s neutral political position (e.g. visa-free access to Russia, longterm visas to China and much more)

Real estate – our curated projects

Costa Del Mar - MAUI

PH Maui in Costa del Mar

$382,600 – $400,759
3 Beds – 2.5 Bath – 1628Sq Ft.
Learn More

Clayton Park II

$342,000
3 Beds – 2.5 Bath – 1654Sq Ft.
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Casa Valley in Playa Venao

$380,000
2 Beds – 2.5 Bath – 1583Sq Ft.
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Terra Viva in Coronado

$397,000
4 Beds – 5 Bath – 2723Sq Ft.
Learn More

Costa Linda

$303,410
3 Beds – 4 Bath – 1851Sq Ft.
Learn More

Detailed Summary

How to get permanent residency in Panama without investment:  The entrepreneur immigration program

Panama’s entrepreneur immigration program is the best way to establish a residency in Panama if you are a citizen of a friendly nation and cannot commit right now for a real estate investment like it is necessary for the qualified investor’s visa of Panama. You will first receive a two-year temporary residency, which will be upgraded to permanent residency afterwards. This residency permit extends of course for your spouse and children. After five years of holding the permanent residency you can even obtain the Panamanian citizenship and passport for your whole family. Here, we detail the process, benefits, and why choosing Panama could be the best decision for you.

Key advantages

The key advantage of this program is that you can stay in Panama indefinitely once completed and establish tax residency very quickly. You can also open Panamanian bank accounts in US Dollar and enjoy Panama’s political neutrality and world-class bank secrecy laws. At Pallas we strive for speed and convenience in our services, because your time is most valuable. Within 3-4 working days after we have picked you up from the airport, you will already have your first Panamanian residency permit and a working Panamanian bank account. The country’s stability coupled with the ability to obtain personal tax residency quickly and pay no tax on foreign earned income, make it the perfect residence country of entrepreneurs.

Quick and efficient process

At Pallas we make the journey to permanent residency in Panama through the entrepreneur immigration program both swift and straightforward for you. Initially, you receive a temporary residency valid for two years. Thereafter, you transition to a permanent residency permit. Once you have held a permanent residency in Panama for five years you can already apply for Panamanian citizenship and a Panamanian passport. We will take care of all the deadlines, processes and documents, so that you can keep focussing on what’s important for you while we fully manage your residence process.

Minimal stay requirement

Unlike many other residency programs, Panama offers a remarkably flexible minimum stay requirement. Residents need to spend only one day every two years within the country to maintain their residency status. This policy provides unprecedented freedom for personal travel and business, allowing you to enjoy global mobility without jeopardizing your residency.

Financial benefits and banking efficiency

Panama is renowned for its user-friendly banking system and the financial advantages it offers. Since Panama is a country using the US Dollar as legal tender and all Panamanian banks regularly have bank accounts in USD, banking from Panama is very easy. Once you start your entrepreneur immigration programme together with us we can open an international USD bank account for you within just two days of arrival, complete with a Master/Visa card, online banking, and accessible English-speaking customer service via phone and in person. This process not only simplifies financial management but also integrates you into Panama’s economic system swiftly and seamlessly.

Comprehensive support from Pallas

From the moment you arrive in Panama, Pallas provides an all-encompassing service to cover every aspect of the immigration process. We pick you up from the airport, guide you through Panama City as well as accompany you through every step of the process. This includes personal assistance with banking, document processing, understanding local culture and the local market. Our team ensures that you can achieve every goal you have set for your transition to Panama, whether it’s a full relocation or just a second residence. If you do decide to directly make the move to Panama, we will support you to integrate into Panamanian culture and business circles effectively.

Permanent residency and beyond: The long-term benefits

After we have achieved the permanent residency permit ID card for you, you will also receive the Panamanian national ID card (“Cedula”), which facilitates almost all transactions just like any Panamanian citizen. From that moment in time, for example, bank accounts, a car purchase or a property title does not need to mention your Passport of your country of origin anymore, but instead within Panama the “Cedula” will be fully sufficient to do all business transactions. The largest long-term benefit, however, is that the entrepreneur immigration programme gives you a pathway to the Panamanian citizenship. After five years of holding the permanent residency, you will be eligible for the Panamanian passport and citizenship, offering visa-free access to numerous countries and reflecting Panama’s neutral political stance. The Panamanian citizenship can be of course inherited, so your children and future generations will keep benefitting from this freedom of travel.

Real estate opportunities

For those interested in real estate investments, Panama offers many options; investing in land, Airbnb and holiday rental investments and residential real estate investments in Panama City. Property developments like Costa Del Mar – MAUI and Clayton Park II, are just  two examples of many which all feature modern amenities in prime locations. Contact us today to get an overview of our current real estate market insights of Panama. We are happy to support you in finding the best home or investment object for you.

Living in Panama: A blend of comfort and convenience

Choosing Panama as your new country of residence not only offers you significant financial benefits, it also offers a great lifestyle as well. You can always choose between living at the Pacific Ocean or at the Carribbean, in the mountains or in the city, go surfing or fishing, partying or recovering… there are endless possibilities within this small country.

Tax advantages

There are many tax advantages in Panama such as having no inheritance tax, no gifting tax, no tax on crypto and more. The key advantage is: Panama operates on a territorial taxation system, which means that money earned outside of Panama is not taxed within the country. This can be particularly advantageous for entrepreneurs and professionals who maintain global business activities. Furthermore, establishing tax residency in Panama can protect against double taxation, adhering to international tax agreements.

Streamlined application process

Pallas is doing every step of the application process for you, from initial documentation to the final submission. Our expert team ensures compliance with all Panamanian legal requirements, creating a timeline which fits your personal schedule and navigating the residency application seamlessly. Often we achieve that our clients are just 15-30min at the immigration office in total, achieving everything they need to do without any waiting time.

Panama’s lifestyle is waiting for you

Panama offers not just a place to reside but a lifestyle to embrace. With Pallas, you receive detailed consultations to explore living options, networking opportunities, and cultural integration. Our aim is to make your move to Panama fulfilling and rewarding, allowing you to take full advantage of what Panama has to offer.

Ready to start your journey?

Getting started with your Panamanian residency is just an email away. Contact us today to begin your application process and unlock the potential of living in Panama. Whether you’re looking for economic stability, a friendly expat community, or a strategic geographical location, Panama might be the perfect place of residence for you.

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