Family Visa

1. Power of attorney and application through a lawyer (notary public).

2. Three (3) passport-size photographs of the applicant.

3. Duly certified copy of the applicant's passport (notarized or corresponding document).

4. Apostilled criminal record certificate of the applicant.  There are cases in which this type of document does not exist in the applicant's country of origin. In such cases, the interested party must provide a certification from a diplomatic agent or consular agent of their country of origin accredited in the Republic of Panama. Said certification must confirm the non-existence of said certificate in the applicant's country of origin.

5. Health certificate issued by a qualified physician in the Republic of Panama.

6. Certified check for US$250.00 payable to the National Treasury; (the client may provide this or we can arrange it – certification cost per check US$10.70). This check must be provided by the account holder.

7. Affidavit of Personal Background form. It must be completed and signed by the applicant.

8. Marriage certificate issued by the Civil Registry.

9. Birth certificate of the Panamanian spouse, issued by the Civil Registry.

10. Birth certificates of children, if any, issued by the Civil Registry.

11. Copy of the Panamanian spouse's valid identity card, authenticated by the Civil Registry.

12. Notarized letter of responsibility from the Panamanian spouse.

13. Document proving the marital residence (a utility bill for the residence is sufficient: utility bill or lease agreement or any other document that proves it).

1. Power of Attorney and Application (notarized and with the respective fiscal stamps). A Judicial Representative is indispensable.

2. Three (3) passport-size photographs.

3. Duly certified copy of the passport (notarized or authenticated as applicable).

4. Criminal Record Certificate (in the case that the minor is of legal age).

5. Health Certificate issued by a qualified Panamanian physician.

6. Certified check for B/.250.00 payable to the National Treasury.

7. Certified check for B/.800.00 payable to the National Immigration Service.

8. Affidavit of Personal Background form.

9. Sworn statement before a Notary by the father or mother of the minor, stating that the applicant has fulfilled their duties as a good parent.

10. Birth certificate of the children, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry.

11. Notarized Letter of Responsibility from the resident or national.

12. Document proving domicile (utility bill, rental contract, or any other document that proves it).

1. Power of attorney and application through a lawyer (notary public)

2. Three (3) passport-size photographs of the applicant

3. Duly certified copy of the applicant's passport (notarized or corresponding order).

4. Apostilled criminal record certificate of the applicant.  There are cases in which this type of document does not exist in the applicant's country of origin. In this case, the interested party must provide a certification from a diplomatic agent or consular agent of their country of origin accredited in the Republic of Panama. This certification must confirm the non-existence of such a certificate in the applicant's country of origin.

5. Health certificate issued by a qualified physician in the Republic of Panama.

6. Certified check for US$250.00 payable to the National Treasury (the client may provide this or we can arrange it for a certification fee of US$10.70). This check must be provided by the applicant.

7. Certified check for US$800.00 payable to the National Immigration Service.

8. Affidavit of Personal Background Form. Must be completed and signed by the applicant.

9. Notarized letter of responsibility from the resident or national.

10. Proof of kinship (marriage certificate, birth certificate, or court record).

11. Applicants who are of legal age and under 25 years of age must provide:

• Certificate from an educational institution confirming their status as a full-time, regular student.

• Affidavit of single status.

12. Proof that the resident has sufficient financial solvency, which may be accredited in one of the following ways:

• Income tax return with a clean record, which must show a minimum income of B/1,000.00 per month, plus B/100.00 for each dependent.

• Updated letter of employment with the respective CSS checkbook or file and a copy of the work permit.

• Bank reference letter with a minimum of four average figures.

A foreigner who wishes to work legally in Panama must first obtain a Residence Permit in Panama. Once you have obtained a Residence Permit or can prove that you have applied for one, you can apply for a Work Permit, the requirements for which depend on the type of Residence Permit you have previously applied for in Panama.

It is important to note that without a Residence Permit, you cannot work legally in Panama. Therefore, the first step would be to apply for a Residence Permit from the National Immigration Service of Panama and then, either at the same time or afterwards, apply for a Work Permit from the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development of Panama. On this subject, we should mention the exception that applies to workers at the headquarters of multinational companies (SEM), as they do not require a Work Permit to work in Panama.

To obtain a work visa, you must first have a residence permit issued by or pending with the National Immigration Service. In some cases, the application for a residence permit or residence visa runs parallel to the application for a work permit.

To obtain a work permit, you must meet the requirements established by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development in Panama. These requirements vary depending on the type of residence permit or residence visa held by the foreigner, i.e., there are requirements for work permits for:

• Permanent residents.

• Temporary residents.

• For humanitarian reasons (melting pot).

• Foreign professionals.

• Family reunification.

• Spouse of Panamanian nationality.

• Within 10% of ordinary staff.

• Expert or technician within 15%.

• Panama-Italy Treaty.

• Marrakech Agreement.

NOTE: For each type of Residence Permit, there are requirements for applying for a Work Permit.

To hire foreign personnel, the first thing to do is to assess the immigration status of the professional. They must have a Residence Permit and a valid Work Permit before they can be hired.

In the case of personnel or professionals who wish to move from their country of origin or residence to work in Panama or for a Panamanian company, the basis on which a Residence Permit can be requested must be evaluated.

There are several ways for Panamanian companies to hire a foreign worker, depending in part on the nationality of the worker or professional and whether or not they have a Residence Permit.

If the worker or professional does not have a Residence Permit in Panama, the company must evaluate which of the Residence Permit categories the worker fits into according to the reality of the company.

In other words, it must be assessed whether they can be offered a job within the 10% of Ordinary Personnel, or better under the Marrakech Agreement category (in the case of Colombian citizens), always with the commitment on the part of the employer to provide the documentation that, in each case, will be requested by the National Immigration Service in Panama.

Foreigners who have married a Panamanian national and who live with them in unique, stable, and continuous conditions may apply for this permit. Once the two-year provisional permit has expired, the foreigner may apply for permanent residence. This is considered a Family Reunification Permit.

The advantage of applying for this permit for a citizen of a friendly country is that this type of permit only requires the presentation of a check to the national treasury for US$250.00, unlike, for example, the permit under the Friendly Countries category, which requires the payment of two checks: one for US$250.00 and one for US$800.00 for expatriation expenses, which must be paid to the National Immigration Service.

This type of permit, considered to be for family reunification, is legally referred to as: Provisional Permanent Resident Permit for Demographic Reasons and Family Reunification as Foreigners with Panamanian Children. This type of Residence Permit applies to foreigners who have one or more Panamanian children aged five (5) or older and is created out of the need to preserve family unity and guarantee the rights of minors.

It is important to emphasize that if the minor is under five (5) years of age, this type of Family Reunification Permit cannot be applied for, and the minor's parents or guardians must seek another type of visa until the minor reaches the specified age.

Foreign spouses, children under the age of 18, relatives with disabilities, and parents who are dependent on a two-year provisional resident, permanent resident, or national may apply for a Resident Permit as a dependent of a permanent resident.

Children over the age of 18 and up to 25 may be applied for as dependents, provided they can prove that they are studying regularly and are financially dependent on the resident or national.

Note: Residents or nationals who can prove that they have custody or guardianship of a minor may apply for them as dependents. This permit will be granted on a provisional basis for a term of two (2) years, with the right to permanent residence.

The price for applying for a Residence Permit for Family Reunification consists of the following expenses: (notary fees, registration fees, stamps, transaction fees, transportation, certificates, proof of kinship, SNM registration, etc., including processing card, residence card, and multiple-entry visa) and legal fees.

Family Reunification as Panamanian children

The total cost is US$1,696.00. Below is a breakdown of the price

Expenses:

The total cost of the applicant's expenses is US$496.00. Breakdown below:

• National Migration Service expenses: US$299.00 (two hundred and ninety-nine US dollars).

• Transaction fees: US$60.00 (sixty US dollars).

• Ministry of Labor fees (work permit): US$137.00 (one hundred thirty-seven US dollars).

Legal fees:

The total cost of the applicant's legal fees is US$ 1,200.00 (one thousand two hundred US dollars).

The total cost does not include the payment of:

• Check payable to the National Treasury directly by the applicant and dependent: US$ 250.00 (two hundred and fifty US dollars).

• Check payable to the National Immigration Service per applicant and dependent: US$800.00 (eight hundred US dollars).

Family reunification as a dependent of a permanent resident

The total cost is US$1,559.00. The breakdown of the price is as follows:

Expenses:

The total cost of the applicant's expenses is US$359.00. Breakdown below:

• National Immigration Service fees: US$299.00 (two hundred and ninety-nine US dollars).

• Transaction fees: US$60.00 (sixty US dollars).

Legal fees:

The total cost of the applicant's legal fees is US$1,200.00 (one thousand two hundred US dollars).

The total cost does not include the payment of:

• Check payable to the National Treasury directly by the applicant: US$ 250.00 (two hundred and fifty US dollars).

• Check payable to the National Immigration Service per applicant: US$ 800.00 (eight hundred US dollars).

Family reunification as a married spouse of a national

The total cost is US$1,696.00. The breakdown of the price is as follows:

Expenses:

The total cost of the applicant's expenses is US$496.00. The breakdown is as follows:

• Expenses for the National Immigration Service: US$299.00 (two hundred and ninety-nine US dollars).

• Transaction fees: US$60.00 (sixty US dollars).

• Ministry of Labor fees: US$137.00 (one hundred thirty-seven US dollars).

Legal fees:

The total cost of the applicant's legal fees is US$1,200.00 (one thousand two hundred US dollars).

The total cost does not include the payment of:

• Checks payable to the National Treasury directly by the applicant: US$ 250.00 (two hundred and fifty US dollars).

NOTE: In this case, there is no check payable to the National Immigration Service.

In order to apply for a Family Reunification Visa in Panama, the applicant must find a qualified lawyer in Panama to apply for the visa with the National Immigration Service in Panama. Once you have found a specialist lawyer, you must comply with all the requirements established by Panamanian law.

In this regard, it is important to mention that Family Reunification is based on different situations, and the applicant may qualify for any of them, provided they meet the established requirements.

Once the application has been submitted to the National Immigration Service, it may take between three (3) and six (6) months for the institution to issue a decision on the matter. 

The documents or requirements demanded by Panamanian legislation in order to apply for a Family Reunification Visa depend on the relationship that the applicant has with the person to be reunited. 

The cost of a Family Reunification Visa varies depending on the type of Reunification Visa requested and the number of dependents per applicant. It should be noted that requirements may vary, as may the costs involved, so it is best to consult our experts.