Legal procedure related to maintaining the status of a resident in Panama.
Permanent residence in Panama is a type of permit that entitles a foreigner to live in Panama permanently. All foreigners interested in living in Panama must complete this process at the National Immigration Office if they wish to stay in the country without a tourist permit.
Eberhard Advisory offers support in various immigration processes, including Panama Friendly Nations Visa, Panamanian Pensioner Visa, Panama Qualified Investor Visa, but also other types of residence permits in Panama.
Panama has no residency requirement. This means that a foreigner can have a permanent residence in Panama and physically reside in another country. However, there are conditions that all permanent residents must meet in order to keep their permit issued by the country's authorities.
Requirement to visit Panama once every two years
Permanent residents of Panama must visit the country at least once every 2 years and stay in the country for more than 24 hours (connecting flights are not considered a visit to the country). Otherwise, the resident's permanent residence may be suspended by the authorities of that country. However, the suspension of residency referred to above is not automatic under Panamanian law. When a foreign national enters Panama, the immigration officer has the power at his discretion to suspend the foreign national's permanent residence.
In the case of suspension of the permanent residence permit, the foreigner has 30 working days - from the date of entry into Panama - to submit an application and re-establish the residence permit. This is a legal process that requires the assistance of a local attorney.
If the foreigner does not visit Panama for 6 years or more, the permanent residence permit is canceled and the foreigner must start a new immigration process if he wants to obtain a new residence permit.
In other words, a foreigner with permanent residence in Panama can stay outside Panama for up to 6 years. However, he is threatened with suspension of his permanent residence permit. After 6 years, the permanent residence permit is automatically revoked by law.
Maintaining good relations in Panama
It is important to respect institutions and local government wherever a foreigner lives abroad. Participation in a conflict that violates the principles of national security, protests against the authorities or in activities that threaten the sovereignty of the country are reasons that may lead to the loss of a foreigner's permanent residence permit in Panama.
Having permanent residence in Panama, in principle, gives a foreigner the same rights as a citizen born in this country. In any case, however, the resident must be aware of the limitations of expressing disagreement or dissatisfaction. After all, all Panamanian immigration programs are designed to bring only people who care about the country's prosperity.
Start the permanent residency process today
If you have any questions related to obtaining resident status in Panama, please contact the law firm Eberhard Advisory.
