Professional Visa

The price for applying for a Residence Permit under Professional Status consists of the following expenses: (including notary fees, certifications, processing and residence card, multiple-entry visa, transportation and transaction costs, health certificate, diploma certification) and legal fees.

The total cost is US$ 2,175.00. Below is a breakdown of the price:

Expenses:

The total cost of the applicant's expenses is US$ 575.00. Breakdown below:

• National Immigration Service fees: US$366.00 (three hundred and sixty-six US dollars).

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

• Mitradel fees: US$149.00 (one hundred forty-nine US dollars) Mitradel.

Legal fees:

The total cost of legal fees for an applicant without dependents is US$ 1,600.00. Breakdown below:

• Residence Permit: US$ 1,200.00 (one thousand two hundred US dollars) for an applicant without dependents.

• Work Permit: US$ 400.00 (four hundred US dollars) for an applicant without dependents.

The total cost does not include the payment of:

• Certified check for US$800.00 (eight hundred US dollars) payable to the National Immigration Service.

• Certified check for US$250.00 (two hundred and fifty US dollars) payable to the National Treasury.

The requirements to apply for a Professional Visa are as follows:

1. Power of attorney and application signed by the foreign national (notarized).

2. Three (3) passport-size photographs.

3. Duly certified copy of passport (notary or corresponding authority).

4. Criminal record certificate from your country of origin or last residence, duly apostilled.

5. Health certificate issued by a qualified Panamanian doctor.

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. Copy of university diploma or degree, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate, duly apostilled or authenticated by the authorities of your country.

10. Comply with the homologation or revalidation process before the corresponding national authorities, in this case the University of Panama or the Technological University.

Foreigners in Panama may practice any profession that, according to Panamanian law, is not reserved for nationals. In Panama, there are many professions reserved exclusively for Panamanian nationals. For more information, click on the following link: protected professions in Panama. 

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:

1. Permanent residents.

2. Temporary residents.

3. For humanitarian reasons (melting pot).

4. Foreign professionals.

5. Family reunification.

6. Spouse of Panamanian nationality.

7. Within 10% of ordinary staff.

8. Expert or technician within 15%.

9. Panama-Italy Treaty.

10. 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.