Friendly Nations Visa
Overview
Citizens of 50 countries are eligible to apply for the Friendly Nations Visa. The Friendly Nations Visa is one of the more popular options of obtaining residency in Panama. Not only is this a great opportunity to gain permanent residency abroad, but the visa is an affordable and easy process.
Requirements:
- Passport
- 2nd ID (such as Drivers License)
- 5 photos (1.5 by 2 inches)
- Apostilled National Police Background Report (valid for 6 months)
- Financial solvency
- Economic solvency
- Health Certificate (obtained in Panama)
- Additional paperwork for dependents
Eligible Countries
- Andorra
- Argentina
- Australia
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- Costa Rica
- Croatia
- Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia Finland France
- Germany
- Great Britain
- Greece
- Hong Kong
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Israel
- Japan
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxemburg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Montenegro
- Netherlands
- New Zealand
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Serbia
- Singapur
- Slovakia
- South Africa
- South Korea Spain Sweden
- Switzerland
- Taiwan
- United States of America
- Uruguay
- Mexico
- Paraguay
Paperwork Required For Dependents
For Spouses:
- Apostilled marriage certificate (must be recently issued as under Panamanian Law, marriage certificates are only valid for 6 months)
- Apostilled national police background certificate (valid for 6 months)
For children:
- Child’s apostilled unabridged birth certificate (must be recently issued as under Panamanian Law, birth certificates are only valid for 6 months)
For main applicant’s parents:
- Main applicant’s apostilled unabridged birth certificate (must be recently issued as under Panamanian Law, birth certificates are only valid for 6 months)
- Apostilled national police background certificate for each parent applying (valid for 6 months)
Apostille Service
An apostille is simply legalizing a document for international use. For example, South Africans can apostille their documents at DIRCO (located in Pretoria) and United States citizens can apostille their documents at the Secretary of State.
In some countries, such as Canada, apostille services are unavailable. Documents must then be authenticated at the nearest Panamanian Consulate in said country. In some cases, the documents must be notarized first. It would be best to contact the Panamanian Consulate in said country directly for further instruction. Authenticated documents require an additional step at the Ministry of Foreign Relations in Panama City (Kraemer & Kraemer will take care of this additional step).
Contact Us Today To Find Out How You Can Obtain Permanent Residency
Financial Solvency
Banking in Panama can be a trick. With new KYC (know your client) regulations, banks are honing down on opening accounts to foreigners. Proving financial solvency is a requirement for obtaining permanent residency via the Friendly Nations Visa and opening a Panamanian bank account with sufficient funds is a must.
But rest assured, with the right connection a bank account can be opened in just 1 business day. That’s right, 1 business day- it’s not what you know it’s who you know and that it certainly how things are run in Panama.
When the account has been successfully opened and online banking has been set up, the account must be funded with the minimum amount needed to fulfill the financial solvency requirement for the Friendly Nations Visa. Once the the account is funded, a letter with proof of deposit along with certified checks must be requested.
The minimum deposit is not an expense and the funds can be used almost immediately after being deposited.
Documents Required To Open A Bank Account
- Passport
- Second ID
- 3 Latest bank statement from a personal bank account
- Bank reference letter from a bank personal account
- Proof of income (employment letter, latest tax returns or an income statement)
Minimum Deposit Needed
There is a lot of misleading information floating around on how much is needed to prove financial solvency. The minimum amount needed for an application with 1 main applicant is USD 5000. Additional funds are not needed for dependents.
For a joint account, USD 8000 is required to qualify for the Friendly Nations Visa.
Proof of Deposit And Certified Checks
The Panamanian bank account will issue a letter with proof of deposited funds. Certified checks to cover government fees must also be requested:
- USD 250 for the application fee, per applicant
- USD 800 for the repatriation fee, per applicant over the age of 12
These fees are included in the total quote provided by Kraemer & Kraemer as to provide you with an overview of all associated costs. However, this payment will not be made to Kraemer & Kraemer and the certified checks must be obtained by the applicants themselves.
Escrow Services
Wire transfers can take a couple of days to clear and many clients are nervous about carrying a large amount of cash around. Kraemer & Kraemer offers escrow services for an additional fee. Transfer the funds to the escrow account prior to your travel dates and Kraemer & Kraemer will then provide the funds to deposit into your newly opened Panamanian bank account.
Economic Solvency
One of the main requirements for the Friendly Nations Visa is proving economic ties to Panama. You can fulfill the economic solvency requirement by one of the following:
- Open a corporation
- Find employment sponsorship
- Purchase real estate with a minimum value of USD 10 000
Out of these options, opening a corporation is the easiest and more cost-effective approach, and not to mention highly recommended by Panama Residency Visa as well as Kraemer & Kraemer.
A corporation can be opened within 2 weeks (from abroad) and can be used in Panama or abroad. If you are obtaining the corporation for residency purposes only, you may dissolve the corporation after residency has been obtained.
Open An IBC
An International Business Corporation is one of the more popular corporation formations. The IBC offers complete anonymity thereby acting as a useful legal tool for asset protection in real estate and banking worldwide. IBC also offers limited liability to its directors, officers and shareholders.
3 directors are required as well as 3 officers- the president, secretary and treasurer. Shareholders are not disclosed in the public registry, however, directors and officers are. If you would like to remain anonymous, Kraemer & Kraemer offers nominee director services for an additional fee.
Open An LLC
A Limited Liability Company offers limited liability as well as complete transparency. To open an LLC, a minimum of 2 owners is required and their personal information will be entered into the public registry.
Submit Your Application In Just 2 Weeks
Application Approval Within 6 Months
Process And Timeline
Requesting Documentation:
Depending on how long your country takes to process the required documentation, we suggest requesting required paperwork 3 months prior to intended travel dates to Panama.
Documents needed to open the bank account are more time sensitive and should be requested closer to your travel dates.
Initiating Kraemer & Kraemer’s Services:
A minimum of 4 weeks before your first trip, a retainer of legal fees must be paid to Kraemer & Kraemer to intiate their services. Once payment has been recieved, their legal team will open the corporation, submit your documentation for translation (copies sent via email will be sufficient, however, please bring originals to Panama) and get your file ready for the immigration offices.
1st Trip To Panama: Submitting The Residency Application
1st Business Day:
- Meet Marcos or one of the attorneys at Kraemer & Kraemer and sign necessary paperwork
- Kraemer & Kraemer will obtain the health certificate on your behalf
- Open bank account, fund the account and request letter and checks
2nd Business Day:
- Register passports at Immgration with one of Kraemer & Kraemer’s paralegals
3rd Business Day:
- Present application at Immgration with one of Kraemer & Kraemer’s paralegals
- Receive temporary ID cards (can travel domestically with the temporary ID cards)
4th Business Day:
- Kraemer & Kraemer will apply for the multi-entry visa on applicant’s behalf
6th Business Day:
- Passport will be ready for pick-up at the Kraemer & Kraemer offices
2nd Trip To Panama: Completing The Residency Application
Your application will be approved within 6 months, typically between 2-4 months. Once your return to Panama, completing the residency will only take 1 business day. Though, 2-3 days is always recommended in case there are unexpected delays such as the government offices closing without notice (happens more often than you think). Please note: if you return to Panama to complete the residency after the temporary ID has expired, you will receive a penalty of USD 50 per month, per applicant.
Maintaining Residency
In order to maintain residency, one must visit Panama every 2 years for a couple of days. If you do not visit Panama in the 2 year period, your residency will be suspended. You will then have an additional 2 years to reinstate your residency or risk your residency status being revoked.
Once you arrive in Panama, you will hit the ground running and will submit your application within 6-8 business days.
Your application will then be approved within the 6 month period and all applicants must return to Panama to complete the process and obtain permanent residency cards (or stay and explore Panama while you wait!)
Work Permit
In order to legally work in Panama, you must obtain a work permit. Even if you own and work for your own business, a work permit is required (working online is the only exception). Once permanent residency has been approved, applicants are then eligible to apply for the work permit. This is a separate process and incurs additional fees.
Main applicants can obtain a permanent work permit. However, an applicant who applied for the Friendly Nations Visa as a dependent can only obtain a work permit through company sponsorship and would have to renew the permit annually.
Online Business
A work permit is not required if you work online or run an online business.
Work Permit Process
Coming Soon!
To Legally Work In Panama, One Must Obtain A Work Permit
Costs And Fees
Corporation
- Legal fees
- First years’ annual tax
- First years’ resident agent fee
- Corporation books
Main Applicant
- Legal fees
- Notary costs and translation fees
- Temporary and Permanent IDs
- Multi-entry visa
- Certified checks for National Treasury and National Immigration Services
Dependent Over 12
- Legal fees
- Notary costs and translation fees
- Temporary and Permanent IDs
- Multi-entry visa
- Certified checks for National Treasury and National Immigration Services
Dependent Under 12
- Legal fees
- Notary costs and translation fees
- Temporary and Permanent IDs
- Multi-entry visa
- Certified check for National Treasury
Optional Services
USD 200: includes revision of paperwork, referral letter from Kraemer & Kraemer and referral to a recommended banker
USD 200: escrow services for minimum funds needed to fund bank account
USD 150: general business license
USD 300: includes up to 3 nominee directors