pensionado visa (pensioner / retirement visa)
The pensionado visa grants permanent residency within 6 months
What you need from your home country:
Valid passport (must be valid for 6 months or more when applying for the visa)
National ID and/or driver´s license for identification purposes
New recently issued national police (FBI for US citizens) criminal background report - Have it apostilled
New recently issued pension/social security income letter - Have it apostilled (income minimum single applicant $1000 pm + $250 per dependent)
New recently issued marriage certificate (if married) - Have it apostilled
New recently issued birth certificate (if you have children coming with you as dependents) - Have it apostilled (children 18-24 years must prove they are studying and a dependent) Children 25+ must process their own visas
All the apostilled documents are only valid for up to 6 months so plan accordingly
** If the pension comes from a private company, please also include the following: A letter from the company certifying the management of the funds, company certificate proving existence and validity to manage funds, copy of proof of payment or bank statements
** EXCEPTION: If the applicant(s) own private property in Panama of $100 000 or more, the applicant(s) require a pension income of only $750 per month or a combined $1000 for a couple.
Other requirements needed for the application process, that can be done in Panama
Passport photos x6 per applicant (photos can be taken here through various local stores, selected pharmacies etc)
Complete notarized copies of passports (we handle this)
Certificate of good health issued by Panama doctor (we can assist with this, or visit any local doctor)
Proof of address in Panama (hotels/airbnb hosts must provide you with a letter stating you are residing there and include copies of their identification)
Power of attorney documents for all procedures - Issued by us
Background declaration forms - Issued by us and to be completed by each applicant in pen in Spanish (we assist with this when you meet you)
Why Pensionado visa?
The pensionado visa program offers the easiest, quickest and most affordable option to permanent residency
You qualify for various discounts including flights, hotels, restaurants, medical costs, utilities and more
You qualify for a 1-time tax exemption on the import of household goods up to $10,000
You qualify for tax exemptions on importing a new car every 2 years
You are allowed to bring dependents (spouses & children under 25) if your pension amount is enough (Minimum $1000 for the applicant + $250 per dependent)
You are allowed to own a business (unfortunately you do not qualify for a work permit to work in Panama)
You can apply for a Panama driver´s license (you will need authenticated/apostilled license from your country)
You can open bank accounts (you will need latest 6 month bank statements, proof of income, bank reference letter and identification documents)
You can apply for citizenship, if preferred, after 5 years permanent residency (this is a separate process with separate costs and requirements)
**Important to note that pensionado residents cannot acquire a work permit or work in Panama and earn money in Panama. You are not allowed to vote. Do not leave Panama for 2 or more consecutive years or your residency status could be revoked. Pensionados can own a business (director) and can work online.
The process:
You will have to start by acquiring the documents needed from your home country - Police records, marriage certificate, income letters etc.
Keep in mind that these documents are only valid for a maximum of 6 months so plan accordingly
These documents MUST BE APOSTILLED to be accepted for your visa application (Alternatively the documents can be authenticated by a Panama Consulate, but note this will require an additional step in Panama to verify authentication through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which can take a couple of days and has a small additional fee)
Once you have your documents apostilled and ready, scan and email us copies at least 4 weeks before your flight (minimum 2-3 weeks) so we can review it to ensure everything is correct. We can also use these copies to start translations as all documents must be translated to Spanish by an authorized Panamanian translator
It is recommended that the applicant(s) be available in Panama City for at least 5-10 days
Once you are available in Panama, we will meet with you to acquire all your original documents and there are some documents that need to be completed and signed, and we can also do your initial registration process
The initial registration and application for temporary residency can normally be done in 2-5 days (up to 10 days)
Once your temporary cards have been issued, you are allowed to travel the rest of the country to explore or exit Panama completely
Permanent residency is generally granted after 3-4 months (up to 6 months) at which point you will be notified by us. You will need to return to Panama City to acquire your permanent residency cards in person.
The application for the ID/cedula can be done after permanent residency has been granted and the cedula is generally issued 1 week after the application process.
The total processing time from our first meeting to you having your cedula (ID) in hand is approximately 5-6 months (based on your availability and travel schedule)
The costs:
The cost including all government, legal and visa costs, but excluding hotel & airport transportation
Single applicant - $1600 flat fee
Married couple - $2200 flat fee
Dependents - $700 each flat fee
The cost including all government, legal and visa costs + a 3-night stay in one of our 4-star hotels with breakfast and airport pickup
Single applicant - $2000
Married couple - $2600
Dependents - $850 each
What is included in our prices?
The prices listed above includes all costs associated with the visa process including document reviews, translation and notary fees, government and legal fees, passport photos, doctor´s certificate cost, registration process, declaration forms, power of attorney documents, application process, temporary and permanent residency cards and cedula (ID)
What is excluded in our prices?
Taxes (7%)
Consulate authenticated document verification and authentication through the Ministry of Foreign Relations (only applies if the client has not apostilled their documents)
Any additional documents, translations or notary services outside the standard visa process (if applicable)
Panama driving license support and costs (only applies if the client wishes to acquire a Panama license)
Any costs associated with acquiring your documents from your home country and any shipping costs
Any travel expenses including airlines tickets, car rentals etc. to or in Panama
Any other costs associated with your stay in Panama (additional hotels/airbnb/rentals, transport, eating, shopping, attractions etc)
You can contact us directly to verify any costs and procedures.
Email us copies of your documents and we will review it before your travel date - support@guerraalvarez.com
Click here to download the official government document
Please note that our flat rate costs for visas are structured according to average procedures provided that the client has supplied the normal amount and type of documents with the correct apostille authentication where required. In any event where the client has not acquired the correct apostille or has any supporting documentation outside of the normal process that requires translation, notary and/or authentication services, these costs may be invoiced separately as additional procedures need to be carried out that falls outside of the standard process. This also applies to any person with a criminal history, as this will increase the amount of documentation in your application. We ask all clients to please confirm documents and procedures with us.
Please note that no lawyer can guarantee a successful residency process outcome. Your residency approval is at the sole discretion of the Panama immigration department.
