The Ministry of Health (hereinafter “MINSA” for its acronym in Spanish) through Executive Decree No. 804 of July 22, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), modifies the requirements to entry to Panama, applicable to Panamanian, residents, or foreigners during the State of National Emergency, as follow:

NEW RULES APPLICABLE FROM JULY 23, 2021.

• Digital Health Sworn Affidavit.Any Panamanian, resident, or foreigner who enters Panama must provide, prior to boarding, a Digital Health Sworn Affidavit, with a negative Covid-19 test up to 72 hours before leaving their country.

• Passengers coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk with vaccines.Any Panamanian, resident or foreigner coming from, who have stayed or transited, in the last 15 days, through countries identified as High Risk, will be exempted from the 3-day quarantine and do not have to take the Covid-19 test upon entry to Panama if they have:
  • A negative Covid-19 Test (PCR or Antigen) up to 72 hours and;
  • A Card o Digital Certification with the complete immunization scheme with vaccines approved by WHO, EMA and FDA, with the last dose applied at least 14 days before entry to Panama.

• Passengers coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk without vaccines.If the passenger does not have a complete Covid-19 vaccination card or if the last doses was applied less than 14 days before entry to Panama, he/she must:
  • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
  • Do a 72-hours of quarantine at home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama the quarantine must be done at a hotel for non-Covid-19 travelers, free cost or in an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
  • Take a third Covid-19 test after the 72-hours of quarantine. If the results are negative the quarantine will end and if the results are positive the passenger must do a 14-day isolation at their home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama, the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
• Passengers coming from countries with Low Epidemiological Risk.Any Panamanian, resident or foreigner coming from countries identified as Low Risk, who has a negative Covid-19 test (PCR or Antigen) up to 72 hours before entry to Panama will be exempted of the 3-days quarantine and the Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama.

NEW RULES APPLICABLE FROM AUGUST 9, 2021.

• Foreigner passengers without immigration process and without vaccines coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk.Any foreigner without immigration process in Panama coming from countries identified as High Risk, in the last 15 days, who does not have a complete Covid-19 vaccination card or if the last doses was applied less than 14 days before entry to Panama, must:
  • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
  • Take a Covid-19 test upon arrival to Panama,
  • Take a third Covid-19 test after the 72-hours of quarantine. If the results are negative the quarantine will end and if they are positive the passenger must do a 14-day isolation at their home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident, at the discretion of the authority, and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama, the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.

• Passenger with positive Covid-19 test coming from countries with High Epidemiological Risk.If the Covid-19 Test taking upon arrival to Panama has a positive result the passenger coming from, who have stated or transited in the last 15 days, through countries identified as High Risk, must do a 14-days isolation at home if the passenger is a Panamanian or resident and if the passenger is a foreigner without immigration process in Panama the quarantine must be done at an authorized hotel at the passenger expense with prior hotel reservation.
• MINSA retains the authority to randomly carry out Covid-19 test for any incoming passenger who enter Panama at the passenger expense.

• This Decree will take effect from its promulgation.

Comments.

• Previously, the exemption of the 3-day quarantine and the Covid-19 molecular test upon arrival to Panama, was only for Panamanians or residents who had the complete requirements. Now this measure is extended to foreigners without immigration process in Panama.
• The exemption of the 3-days quarantine is maintained for any passenger coming from countries identified as Low Epidemiological Risk.
• The validity of the Covid-19 test for entry to Panama is extended up to 72 hours. Before it had a maximum of 48 hours of validity.
• From August 9, 2021, the 72-hours of quarantine doing by a foreigner must take place in an authorized hotel at the passenger expense. Previously, this quarantine could be done in a hotel for non-Covid-19 travelers at free cost.
• Some of the countries or regions considered as High Epidemiological Risk are United Kingdom, Republic of South Africa, India, and South America’s countries.

The Ministry of Public Security through Executive Decree No. 226 of July 20, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), modifies the requirements to obtain the residence for foreigners from specific countries who maintain friendly professional, economic and investment relationship with the Republic of Panama, commonly known as “residence permit as friendly nations”, as follows:

• The Republic of Peru is included in the list of countries whose citizens can apply for this residence permit.
• A new option is included, to request the residence permit as a holder of a Fixed Term Deposit.
• To request the residence permit as a holder of a Fixed Term Deposit, the applicant must provide a Bank certificate issued by a Bank with a general license in Panama, which certifies the existence of the deposit (i) with a value of no less than USD 200,000.00; (ii) free of encumbrances; and (iii) with a minimum validity of three (3) years.
• If including dependents, the applicant must provide the requirement indicated in the Executive Decree No. 320 of 2008 related to dependents of permanent residents.
• This Decree will enter into force on August 7, 2021.

Comments.

• This residence permit will be granted in 2 stages. A first stage that grants a provisional residence permit of 2 years and a second stage that grants a permanent residence permit.
• This resident permit can be requested for (i) working reasons as employee of a Panamanian company, (ii) for investment reasons as owner of a real state in Panama (iii) for investment reasons as a holder of a Fixed Term Deposit.
• The applicants will have until August 6^th, 2021 to apply for the residence permit as friendly nations with the current requirements that were stablished in the Executive Decree No. 416 of June 2012.

The Ministry of Health (hereinafter “MINSA” for its acronym in Spanish) through Executive Decree No. 783 of June 18, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), modifies the requirements to enter to Panama, applicable to Panamanian or residents coming from, who have stayed or transited through the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa, India or South America as follow:

• As of 12:01 a.m. on June 23, 2021, any Panamanian or resident in Panama with the corresponding documentation, coming from, who have stayed or transited through the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa, India or South America, during the last 15 days, will be exempted from the 3-day quarantine and the Covid-19 Molecular Test upon they arrival to Panama, if they provide the following documents:

• • A negative result of the Covid-19 Test, with 48 hours of validity, issue by a certified laboratory or taking when entering the Tocumen International Airport.
  • Card or Digital Certification of the complete immunization scheme with vaccines approved by WHO, EMA and FDA, with 14 days or more after the last dose.

• The Digital Vaccination Certificate can be obtained in the link www.panamadigital.gob.pa

• In case of not having the digital vaccination certificate, the traveler can attach in his sworn statement a copy of the vaccination card, upon his arrival to Panama.
• This Decree will take effect from its promulgation.

Comments.

• Previously, anyone that came from the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa, India or South America, who enter to Panama, had to do a mandatory 3-day quarantine, despite their Covid-19 test results and their immigration status. However, now with this Decree, Panamanian and resident will be exempted from this measure, if they provide the requested documentation.
• With this Decree, Panamanian and resident will also be exempted from having to take a Covid-19 Molecular Test upon they arrival to Panama, if they provide the requested documentation.
• Passengers who enter to Panama as a tourist, coming from, have stayed or transited through the United Kingdom, the Republic of South Africa, India or South America during the last 15 days will need to (i) bring a negative PCR or Antigen test, no later than 48 hours prior to their arrival, (ii) take a Covid-19 Molecular Test upon their arrival to Panama, and (iii) do the 3-day mandatory quarantine, depending of the test results.
• This Decree modifies the articles 1 and 2 of the Executive Decree No. 589 of April 29, 2021.

The Ministry of Public Security modifies the requirements to request the residence permit for foreigners from specific countries who maintain friendly professional, economic and investment relationship with the Republic of Panama.

The Ministry of Public Security through Executive Decree No. 197 of May 7, 2021 (hereinafter the “Decree”), modifies the requirements to obtain the residence for foreigners from specific countries who maintain friendly professional, economic and investment relationship with the Republic of Panama, commonly known as “residence permit as friendly nations”, as follow:

• Taiwan is eliminated from the list of countries whose citizens can apply for this residence permit.

• This residence permit will be granted in 2 stages. A first stage that grants a provisional residence permit of 2 years and a second stage that grants a permanent residence permit.
• The applicant cannot longer request this residence permit for investment reasons as owner of the shares of a Panamanian corporation.
• This residence permit can be requested for (i) working reasons as employee of a Panamanian company, and (ii) for investment reasons as owner of a real state in Panama.
• To request this residence permit for working reasons the applicant must provide:

• • A job letter from the employing company, which certify the job position, salary, and the commitment of the company to assume the repatriation expenses, depending on the case.
  • Public Registry Certification of the employing company.
  • Notice of Operations of the employing company.
  • To obtain the approval of the residence permit, the applicant must request a work permit through the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development.
• To request this residence permit for investment reasons as owner of a real state the applicant must provide:

• • Public Registry Certification of the real state which prove (i) the ownership of the real state by the applicant, and (ii) the real state’s minimum value of B/. 200,000.00, which can be financed with a local bank.

• In addition to the requirements mentions above, the applicant must provide:

• • The general requirements established by the Article 28 of the Decree Law No. 3 of February 22, 2008, which are (i) copy of the passport, (ii) non-criminal record from the country of origin or residence of applicant, (iii) good health certificate, (iv) payment of B/. 250.00 to the National Treasury, (v) payment of B/. 800.00 to the National Immigration Authority, and (vi) affidavit of personal background.
  • Three (3) passport size photo.
  • If the applicant will include dependents, he/she must provide (i) evidence of kinship through a marriage or birth certificate, depending on the case, and (i) a responsibility letter from the applicant towards their dependents.
• To apply for the permanent residence permit, the applicant must provide the same requirements mentioned above, except the paymet of B/. 250.00 and B/.800.00
• This Decree will take effect 90 days from its promulgation.

Comments.

• This residence permit currently grants a permanent residence permit in a single stage, however, with the change introduced by this Decree, the permanent resident permit is granted in the second stage.
• Currently, this the residence permit can be requested if the applicant is the owner of a real estate, with a value of more than B/. 100,000.00. With this new Decree the amount increase to B/. 200,000.00
• With this Decree, it is eliminated the requirement of the bank certification or account statement of the applicant, with a balance of no less than 4 average figures.
• The applicants will have until August 20, 2021 to apply for the resident permit as friendly nations with the current requirements that were stablished in the Executive Decree No. 416 of June 13, 2012.

The Government of the Republic of Panama, in response to the new modalities of work worldwide, among these, remote working, considered it appropriate to create this subcategory within the Non-Resident Visas.

Executive Decree No. 198 of May 7th, 2021 (hereinafter, the “Decree”), published in the electronic Official Gazette on May 20th, 2021, creates the Short Stay Visa as a Remote Worker.

• This visa will be granted to those foreigners who intend to work remotely within the Republic of Panama for a period of nine (9) months, renewable once for the same period.
• The foreigner who applies for this Visa must meet, in addition to other applicable specific requirements, with the following prerequisites:

• • To (i) have a work contract with a foreign transnational company, or be a (ii) self-employed worker, in the remote working model.
  • Perform duties that have effects abroad.
  • Receive income from a foreign source and with an annual amount not less than USD 36,000.00 or equivalent in foreign currency.
  • Have a valid medical insurance policy, with coverage in Panama.

• For its renewal, the foreigner must meet the same requirements submitted with the first application.

Comments:

• Once the short stay visa is approved, it will not be necessary to carry out additional procedures or obtain authorizations from another governmental entity.
• If the foreigner were to represent the foreign company for local activities in Panama, the Short Stay Visa will be canceled.
• This Executive Decree became effective as of May 20th, 2021.

Panama, May 20, 2021. We are proud to announce that our partner Albalira Montufar was selected as Leading Immigration Lawyer in Panama byWho´s Who Legal (WWL) Central America 2021 edition, a comprehensive guide to the region’s legal market, including the most highly regarded firms and individuals across Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

Ms. Montufar features in the Labor, Employment, and Immigration chapter of the guide, highlighting her more than 15 years of experience advising local and multinational corporations on immigration law.

“The excellent Albalira Montufar is a tenacious, resourceful and articulate lawyer with strong judgement and problem-solving skills, in addition to her detailed knowledge of immigration law and regulation.”, WWL says.

More information can be found online here: Who´s Who Legal Central America 2021 – Albalira Montufar.