Panama Immigration Services

Panama Immigration FAQ's

Q: Who are you and where are you located?

A: We are a full service law firm in Panama that specializes in Panama Immigration Law, Panama Corporate Law, Panama Real Estate Law. We also offer various complimentary services such as bank/brokerage/merchant account introductions, mail forwarding services, web-hosting services, and escrow services. Our attorneys are registered agents in the Panama Public Registry. We are located in Panama City, Panama and our physical address and PO box is listed at the bottom of the website. For more information about us, go to www.panama-offshore-services.com.

Q: Why are your prices so low?

A: We are efficient! We process a large volume of immigration transactions every month, therefore, we have established a very well trained staff and have put together a very organized and efficient system for processing immigration transactions that enable us to capitalize on economies of scale.

Q: How can I trust your service, can you provide references?

A: We are a reputable law firm and a long time provider in the offshore industry. If you would like, we can provide you with a list of professional correspondent references. Unfortunately, due to the confidential nature of our business, we cannot provide our clients information as references.

Q: Do I need to come to Panama to finalize anything?

A: Most of the initial Panama immigration documentation processing is done through email, fax and courier. However, to finalize any Panama visa transaction, the Panama Immigration Department requires that you physically appear at their offices. Panama is a beautiful country to visit and we encourage you to visit, even if it is only to process your visa. Once we have all of the documentation in order, we will notify you so that you can plan your trip to Panama. Once you have the exact dates established for your trip to Panama, our staff will schedule an itinerary for you to meet with our attorneys at our offices, and then our staff will escort you to the immigration department to finalize the immigration process.

Q: How long does the immigration process take before I get my legal residency?

A: The time frame for each type of visa varies. Please read through the detailed description of the visa type that you wish to apply for.

Q: How long does the process take to get my Panama passport?

A: The only program that offers an immediate Panama passport is what we refer to as the "Immediate Panama Passport Program" (Visa de Rentista Retirado), which takes approximately 2 weeks to process from the date that we have all the required documentation. However, most of the other visas require that you maintain permanent resident status for a minimum of 5 years before you can apply for "naturalization". Once you are "naturalized", then you are a citizen and can qualify to apply for a passport.

Q: The visa instructions say that I need to "authenticate" certain documents, such as my Police Record, through the Panamanian Consulate. How do I do that?

A: Simply download the list of Panamanian Consulate Offices , and contact the consulate of your choice. Inform the consulate of the documents that you wish to authenticate, and request a quote including the cost to courier the documents to Panama, and be sure to ask what name to make the payment check payable to. Once you receive the quote from the consulate, then mail or courier the documents to the consulate office along with the check for payment to the consulate, and a letter instructing the consulate to authenticate the documents and to forward the documents to our offices in Panama via Courier (FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.). Our office address is: Panama Offshore Legal Services, Ave. Ricardo J. Alfaro, Sun Tower, 1st Floor, Office # 39, Panama City, Rep. Of Panama, Tel: 507.236.8303.

Q: The visa instructions say that I need to obtain an original "Police Record" from my home country of residence. How do I get a Police Record?

A: Simply go to your local regional police station or sheriff's office and request an original police record. If you are not sure about where to get the police record, then we recommend that you contact a local attorney in your region to verify this information. The Panama Immigration Office requires that the police record be an original document (not a photocopy) and it must be signed and stamped (or sealed) by the respective authorities.