RESIDENCY PACKAGES > PANAMA > SMALL BUSINESS INVESTOR VISA

This immigrant visa requires a minimum investment of Forty Thousand Dollars (USD$40,000.00) in a company or business.

The Application for an Immigrant Visa should be presented, which will give the applicant a Provisional Residency Permit, valid for one year, renewable thereafter for three consecutive periods. Upon completion of this period, the applicant will be eligible to request Permanent Residency as an Investor in Small Enterprise.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that upon requesting the Immigrant Visa, the applicant will receive a temporary permit, valid for three months, while the Immigrant Visa is being processed. If, at the end of these three months, the application has not yet been approved, the applicant will receive another temporary permit, valid for a further three months. Upon the application being approved, the applicant will receive their immigrant card, as a Small Investor (or Investor in Small Enterprise), with a Provisional Residency Permit and the respective stamp in their passport, both of which are valid for one year. As mentioned above, it is then necessary to request the renewal of the provisional residency and immigrant visa for three consecutive periods.

At the end of this term and upon fulfilling the above requirements, the applicant may then apply for Permanent Residency, with the right to a Panamanian ID card. It takes approximately four to five years from the date of the original application for the immigrant visa to obtain Permanent Residency.

The same procedure is followed to request the Permanent Residency. The applicant will receive a temporary card, valid for three months, while the application is being processed. The temporary card may be renewed for a further three months if the application has not yet been approved. Upon approving the application, the applicant will receive indefinite residency, with a letter authorizing the issuance of a Panamanian ID card for personal identification.

After five years of consecutive residency in Panama from the date of obtaining Permanent Residency, the applicant will be eligible to apply for citizenship.

Requirements to Obtain a Provisional Residency Permit as an Investor in Small Enterprise:

• Medical Certificate of good health, issued no more than three months before the presentation date. (Should have the signature and seal of the doctor, showing the doctor's name, code and medical registration number).
• AIDS/HIV test, taken no more than six months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used, and have the signature and seal of the laboratory/technician, with their name, code and registration number).
• Police Record (Good Behavior Certificate) from the applicant's country of origin (only where the applicant has lived for less than 5 years of continual residence in Panama).
• Police Record (Good Behavior Certificate) from the local Panamanian police (P.T.J.)
• Photocopy of the passport page where the applicant's general details and photo appear.
• Four passport-size photos.
• Original passport, which must be valid for at least six (6) months.
• Certification of the complete names and nationalities of the applicant's parents.
• Documents of the Corporation which evidence the Investment.
• Certificate of Good Standing from the Public Registry, which shows the Name of the Company, its Officers and Directors and the Authorized Capital of the Company (which must be at least US$40,000.00).
• Certification of the Secretary or Treasurer of the Company, which vouches that the shares are issued to the Applicant and that the shares are fully paid and issued (the shares must have a value of at least US$40,000.00).
• Certification by the company's CPA, stating that the shares are issued to the applicant and that they are fully paid and issued (the shares must have a value of at least US$40,000.00).
• Sworn copy of the Tax Return of the company, with the original payment receipts (if copies are presented, these must be duly authenticated by the Ministry of Economy and Finance).
• Photocopy of the company's Payroll, as filed with the Social Security Board, which must have at least three Panamanian Employees (this cannot be more than three months earlier than the date of presentation).
• Certificate of Good Standing for the company, issued by the Social Security Board.

• Proof of the investment, which may be shown by any of the following documents:

• Sworn Declaration before a Notary Public, stating the amount of the investment, the number of shares issued and that the shares are fully paid and issued.
• Contract for the Sale & Purchase of real estate or chattels, duly registered with the corresponding entity (Public Registry or the Municipality).
• Commercial Invoices, which must be accompanied by a detailed inventory, prepared by the company's CPA.
• Proof of payment of Customs Duties on imported goods.
• Declaration of Commercial Activity of the company, duly issued by the Free Trade Zone.
• Rental Agreements for Commercial property, in the name of the company.
• Proof of payment of ITBM (Sale of Goods tax) at the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
• Copy of the deposit slip where the money was invested by the applicant into the company, duly authenticated by the bank.

• Any other document which may show the capital invested in the company.

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

• Medical Certificate, issued no more than three months before the presentation date. Should have the signature and seal of the doctor, showing the doctor's name, code and medical registration number).
• AIDS/HIV test, taken no more than six months before the presentation date. (Should specify the method used, and have the signature and seal of the laboratory/technician, with their name, code and registration number). (*Not required for those younger than 12 years old).
• Police Record (Good Behavior Certificate) from the applicant's country of origin (only where the applicant has lived for less than 5 years of continual residence in Panama). (*Not required for minors).
• Police Record (Good Behavior Certificate) from the local Panamanian police (P.T.J.) (*Not required for minors). Dependants
• Photocopy of the principal page of the passport, where the dependant's general details are.
• Four passport size photos for each dependant.
• Original passport, valid for at least six months.
• Certification of the complete names and nationalities of the parents of each applicant.
• Letter of responsibility from the principal applicant for each of the dependants.

• Evidence of Paternity:
  • Marriage Certificate
  • Birth Certificate