/ Published in Immigration Law_news, News

The National Immigration Authority established a new procedure for domestic worker visa applications.

The Resolution No. 2579 of February 10, 2022, published in the Official Gazette on February 21, 2022 (hereinafter the “Resolution”) established a new procedure for Domestic Worker Visa applications, as follow:

  • The registration and filed application of Domestic Worker Visa was authorized, prior to the applicant entry to Panama, which must be done through an attorney. The power of attorney must be authenticated by apostille or by the Panamanian Consulate in the country in which is granted.

  • The National Immigration Authority will proceed with the registration and opening of the process, prior to the payment of the cost of the immigration process and immigration Id card.

  • Once the application is filed, the applicant can enter to Panama, and he must come to the National Immigration Office to continue with the process.

  • Foreigners who are citizens from a country with a waiver of visa agreement or that do not require visa, may apply for Domestic Worker Visa as established in this Resolution.

  • Foreigners who are citizen from a country that require visa to entry to Panama, must obtain first the approval of their tourist visa in order to apply with the procedure established in this Resolution.

  • This Resolution will take effect from its promulgation.

Comments:

  • With this Resolution the National Immigration Authority authorized to file the Domestic Worker Visa application, prior the entry to Panama. Before, the foreigner had to be in Panama in order to file the application to the Nation Immigration Authority.

  • Once the applicant entre to Panama he must come to the National Immigration Authority to continue with the process and to obtain his immigration Id card.

  • Through this Resolution, it is established that foreigners, who are citizen from a country with a waiver of visa agreement or that do not require visa to enter to Panama, can directly file the Domestic Work Visa application, however, foreigners, that require visa to entry to Panama, must request their tourist visa and obtain the approval of it before they file the Domestic Worker Visa application.

  • This Resolution will take effect from February 21, 2022.