Law number 16 of 1960 created this program (“Visa en Calidad de Agricultor”) as a means to offer foreigners the opportunity to become permanent residents and citizens in Panama by investing in farms and agriculture in the Republic of Panama.
Procedures for Applying for Residency:
- Provide all required documents, and sign the Special Power of Attorney for your law firm to handle your immigration paperwork. Your law firm will request all required governmental certifications, and organize all required documentation and applications for the immigration department.
- Your law firm will submit all required documents to the immigration department, where they will issue you a 3 month provisional (temporary) visa (Temporary Immigrant Card).
- After the 3 months, your law firm submits your application for a 1 year Temporary Immigrant Visa, under the Agricultural Investor visa requirements. You are issued a Temporary Immigrant Card, which is valid for 1 year.
- After the 1 year, your law firm submits your application for a 2 year Temporary Immigrant Visa, under the Agricultural Investor visa requirements. You are issued a Temporary Immigrant Card, which is valid for 2 years.
- After the 2 years, your law firm submits your application for a 5 year Temporary Immigrant Visa, under the Agricultural Investor visa requirements. You are issued a Temporary Immigrant Card, which is valid for 5 years.
- After the 5 year Temporary Immigrant Visa expires, your law firm will submit a new application for your Permanent Residency Visa. You will then be provided with a Panamanian Cedula (Permanent Resident Card).
- After 5 years of having Permanent Residency status, you may apply for Panamanian Citizenship, and a Panamanian Passport. This is called becoming "Naturalized", and requires that you accept the laws of the Republic of Panama under oath. Panamanian passports are renewable every 5 years thereafter.
Required Documents (For Immigration Processing);
- Photocopy of valid passport of the applicant (and dependents - if applicable), including the picture page (that shows the picture, name, date of birth, passport number, place of issue, etc.), and all other pages (every single page in the passport). Please note that during your initial visit to Panama
- Original Police record of the applicant, from the place of residence (and dependents such as spouse & children - if applicable), duly notarized and authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate or Embassy in the country or region where the police record was issued.
- Original Birth Certificate (of the children that are dependents - if applicable), duly notarized and authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate nearest you.
- Original Marriage Certificate (for the dependent if they are a spouse or husband - if applicable), duly notarized and authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate nearest you.
- Six (6) passport sized photographs of the applicant (and dependents - if applicable).
- Certificate of Good Health, issued by a licensed Panamanian hospital or clinic, signed by a registered, licensed physician, indicating that the applicant (and dependents - if applicable) has no contagious diseases and is in good mental and physical condition. THIS MUST BE DONE DURING YOUR INITIAL VISIT TO PANAMA .
- HIV Test results of the applicant (and dependents - if applicable), done by a licensed Panamanian laboratory, showing negative results. THIS MUST BE DONE DURING YOUR INITIAL VISIT TO PANAMA .
Documents that your Law Firm should provide for you;
- Special Power of Attorney, signed by the applicant (and dependents - if applicable), authorizing your law firm to process the immigration applications and documentation.
- Letter of Responsibility, signed by the applicant, whereby the applicant takes responsibility for his/her dependents.
- Certification issued by the "Alcalde" (Mayor) or "Corregidor" (Sherriff) of the area where your farm is located, certifying that they have in effect made the official inspection to confirm that you are dedicated to the agricultural business.
- Certification issued by the "MIDA" (Ministro de Desarrollo Agropecuario) (Ministry of Agricultural Development).
- Immigration Department Application for the Visa, duly completed (the applicant must sign).
Multiple Entry & Exit Visa (Optional): The Multiple Entry & Exit Visa should be applied for after or at the same time that any type of visa is applied for. The Multiple Entry & Exit Visa allows you to enter and exit the country as many times as necessary.
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