Gray and Co, lawyers, abogados, international legal services, Panama City

Beth Anne Gray J., LL.B. (Hons.) & Victoria Tejada LL.B.

P.O. Box 832-0816 - World Trade Centre - Panama City - Republic of Panama

International Legal Services

 

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Investment Proof

Investors & Businesspeople in Panama - Investment in a "Small" Enterprise (Macro)

All documents issued overseas must be Authenticated before being presented in Panama

Process in a Nutshell | Requirements: Immigrant Visa | Requirements: Permanent Residence

There are three types of Immigrant Investor Visas; but generally people are referring to the businessperson who invests US$150,000.01 or more in Panama, through a company, when they refer to the "investor" visa.  The other types are investor are the Micro Enterprise investor (US$40,000.00 - $150,000.00) or the Personal Income investor (who has a time deposit or CD in the bank of US$200,000.00 or more). 

Resolution number 10-386 of October 31, 2003 (National Immigration and Naturalisation Department) adopted by the National Director of Immigration and Naturalisation modified the requirements for this visa.  Although I struggle to understand the logic behind the resolution (some things in this life are obviously not meant to make sense), at the end of the day the resolution has the effect of requiring an investment of between US$150,000.01 and US$1,000,000.00 for Small Enterprise. 

Where the investor has dependents who will also be included in the application, an additional US$4,000.00 capital per dependent must be invested. 

It is no longer possible for two or more investors in a company to apply for residency through the investor visa using the same corporation. 

Process in a Nutshell

  1. Register with the Immigration Department
  2. Incorporate the Company, get the business license, register with Social Security and set up the payroll (see Doing Business in Panama);
  3. Apply for the Immigrant Visa as an Investor in Small Enterprise;
  4. Receive your temporary permit for a 3-month period and then pick up your Immigrant Visa and Immigrant card (Provisional Residency Permit) from the Immigration Department;
  5. Before the year of your Provisional Residency Permit expires, you should apply for Permanent Residency as an Immigrant Investor;
  6. You will be granted at this time another temporary permit, while your paperwork is reviewed;
  7. Granting of your Permanent Residency by the Immigration Department, and issuance of the letter to the Civil Registry authorising the granting of a Cédula;
  8. Go to the Civil Registry and get your Cédula;
  9. After 5 years of Permanent Residence, you will be eligible to apply for naturalisation and citizenship.

Requirements for the Immigrant Visa as an Investor

bulletPower of Attorney and Application via an attorney/law firm
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Certified cheque or cashier's cheque for One Hundred balboas (B/. 100.00) in favour of the National Treasury.   (1 balboa = 1 USD)

bullet

Repatriation Deposit  

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Medical Certificate of Good Health

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Police Certificate of Good Conduct

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Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents 

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Photocopy of the passport page where the applicant's general details and photo appear

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Four (4) passport-size photos

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Original passport, which must be valid for at least six (6) months

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Documents of the Corporation which evidence the Investment (if you don't already have a corporation set up, we can incorporate a company for you here in Panama).

Note:  Where the applicant has dependents, the following documents should be included:  

  1. Each dependent of legal age should issue a Power of Attorney to the lawyer/law firm to represent them; parents should issue the Power of Attorney for any minor

  2. Certified Cheque or Cashier's Cheque for One Hundred balboas (B/.100.00) to the National Treasury for each dependent 

  3. Repatriation Deposit    *Not required for dependents under 12 years of age

  4. Medical Certificate of Good Health

  5. Police Certificate of Good Conduct  (*Not required for minors)

  6. Photocopy of the principal page of the passport, where the dependent's general details are  

  7. Four (4) passport size photos for each dependent

  8. Original passport, valid for at least six months

  9. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents 

  10. Letter of responsibility from the principal applicant for each of the dependents  

  11. Evidence of Paternity: 
    bullet

    Marriage Certificate

    bullet

    Birth Certificate

Requirements for applying for Permanent Residence as an Investor

  1. Power of Attorney and Application via an attorney/law firm
  2. Medical Certificate of Good Health

  3. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents 

  4. Photocopy of the passport page where the applicant's general details and photo appear
  5. Four (4) passport-size photos
  6. Original passport, which must be valid for at least six (6) months. 
  7. Sworn Income Tax Return of the company, with the corresponding receipt of payment (if copies are presented, these must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance)
  8. Photocopy of the company Payroll, as presented to the Social Security Board, duly authenticated by the Social Security Board, which must show at least three (3) Panamanian employees.  (This must correspond to no more than 3 months before the date of presentation)
  9. Certificate of Good Standing issued by the Social Security Board in favour of the company
  10. Certificate of Good Standing of the applicant - by the tax authorities
  11. Expired Provisional Residency Permit
  12. Certificate of Good Standing for the Company

Note:  Where the applicant has dependents, the following documents should be included:  

  1. Each dependent of legal age should issue a Power of Attorney to the lawyer/law firm to represent them; parents should issue the Power of Attorney for any minor

  2. Medical Certificate of Good Health

  3. Certification of the full names of the Applicant's parents 

  4. Photocopy of the principal page of the passport, where the dependent's general details are 

  5. Four (4) passport size photos for each dependent

  6. Original passport, valid for at least six months

  7. Certificate of Good Standing from the tax authorities, for each dependent of legal age

  8. Expired Provisional Residency Permit of each dependent

  9. Letter of responsibility from the principal applicant for each of the dependents

For more information regarding the Immigrant Investor option, please do not hesitate to send an email.

To request an immigration form, please email us, or download a word document.

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Last modified 26-Sep-2007 17:37 -0400

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Last modified 26-Sep-2007 17:37 -0400