	Beth Anne Gray J., LL.B. (Hons.) P.O. Box 832-0816 - World Trade Centre - Panama City - Republic of Panama International Legal Services

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Panama Spouse 1
Panama Spouse 2

Immigrants Married to a Panamanian

Process in a Nutshell | Application | Permanent Residency | Fees & Costs

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

Being married to a Panamanian is possibly one of the easiest and quickest ways to obtain permanent residency in Panama, which will entitle you to request naturalisation and citizenship. Unlike most immigration programmes, immigrants who have Panamanian spouses are only required to have permanent residence for three years before requesting naturalisation. Nevertheless, like many other countries, the Panamanian Immigration Department requires that couples assist various interviews to ensure that they do not have a sham marriage. It is also possible that the Immigration Department will visit the family home as well as interview neighbours to ensure that the couple is actually cohabitating.

The requirements vary according to which of the spouses is working and which is economically dependent. Obviously, where the immigrant spouse is working, it will be necessary to get a work permit. If the spouse simply is running their own business, then it may be possible to avoid getting the work permit, although it is necessary to show economic solvency and the ability to support oneself in order to be granted the visa and subsequent permanent residency.

Procedures in a Nut-shell:

Irrespective of which spouse is working, the application process is pretty much identical:

	Registration at the Immigration Department
	Application for an Immigrant Visa as "Married to a Panamanian" - with a matrimonial interview date being set some time thereafter. Upon completing the process for the immigrant visa application, the applicant will receive an immigration card with the corresponding stamp in their passport (valid for one year).
	Approximately two years after being granted the Visa - before it expires, you should apply for Permanent Residency with a right to a cédula - with a matrimonial interview date being set for some time thereafter
	After three years of permanent residency, the immigrant may apply for naturalisation and citizenship.

You should anticipate that permanent residence will be granted about two years after the initial request for an Immigrant Visa, since usually a temporary permit is granted at the time of requesting the visa, as well as at the time of requesting the permanent residency.

Requirements for Applying for the Immigrant Visa:

	All documents listed in the general requirements, except that the $800.00 repatriation deposit is NOT required for this Visa.
	Marriage Certificate, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry.
	Birth Certificate of the Panamanian Spouse, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry.
	Children's Birth Certificates, issued by the Panamanian Civil Registry (if applicable).
	copy of the Panamanian spouse's cédula, duly authenticated by the Civil Registry.
	Work Permit or Pension Certification (if applicable).
	Proof of Economic Solvency.
	Letter of Responsibility (of the Panamanian spouse to the foreign spouse).
	Rental agreement, certificate of ownership of the property or receipt of electricity bill, etc. that can proof the marital residence.

Permanent Residence

In order to apply for Permanent Residence, in addition to the above documents, you must attach a Certificate of Good Standing from the Tax Department, confirming that you are up to date in the payment of your taxes.

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Last modified 06-Aug-2009 16:43 -0400

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Last modified 14-Apr-2011 10:06 -0400