15 WAYS TO SECURE WORK PERMIT

Consult with us to ensure compliance with Panama law

1) 10% or less of the employees in a Panamanian company are foreigners 

If that is the case, you (the foreigner) can be hired, since the company is under the maximum threshold (10%) for foreign employees.  But they must pay you at least $850 per month.  You can work for them for a  maximum of 6 years.  However, you still have to apply for a work permit.  Your permit cannot be used at a different company.

2) City of Knowledge Work Permit Program  

The City of Knowledge is located inside the former U.S. Army Base of Fort Clayton in Panama City.  Foreign investors owning a company located within Panama’s City of Knowledge can have 5 special work permits for their foreign employees. This work permit is for up to 6 years for foreign businessmen, researchers, professors, students, and technicians.  For the City of Knowledge website & its list of job opportunities, go here.

3) Marriage Work Permit

After you marry a Panamanian you can apply for a work permit.

4) Friendly Nations Visa Work Program 

This visa was created to help ease the lack of skilled workers in Panama, and therefore, friendly nations visa holders had a fast track to a work permit. However, that all changed in early 2017. Now Friendly Nations visa holders can only get a work permit if they are hired by a qualified Panamanian employer.

Read more about updated information on work permits for Friendly Nations Visa holders.

5) Highly Skilled Worker Permit  

Under this new work permit category, which is exempt from quotas and local sponsorship requirements, there is no minimum level of professional experience that the applicant must possess. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or post-graduate degree.  The Highly-Skilled Worker Permit can be renewed annually.  After two years, the work permit holder can apply for permanent residence.

6) Italian National Work Permit  

Based on a treaty between Panama and Italy, work permits are now available to Italian nationals. The Italian National Work Permit is exempt from quota and local sponsorship requirements and will be issued with indefinite validity.

7) Work Permit for Parents of Children Born in Panama 

Parents of children, who were born in Panama and are at least five years old, are eligible to apply under this new work permit category. The work permit can be renewed annually, and after two years, the permit holder may apply for permanent residence. This work permit is also exempt from quotas and local sponsorship requirements.

8) Resolution by the Ministry of Labor

A company must apply for special treatment/exemption above the 10% maximum quota.  Again, they must pay you at least $850 a month with a maximum stay of 6 years.

9) Panama Specialist Workers Visa

This is a relatively new visa that comes with a work permit for a maximum of 9 months. The National Service of Immigration will create a registration of businesses dedicated to activities of specialists inside the Republic of Panama. No one knows what a “Specialist” is until the immigration department issues rules and regulations defining what type of job titles or functions qualify as being “special”. Due to the 9 month maximum stay; this is intended as a temporary specialist position.

10) Cultural, Sports, or Educational Visa  

Immigration law allows companies to hire a foreigner to work for a single occasion carrying out cultural, technical, musical or artistic, sports, educational field, professional, or scientific work.  This visa is for a maximum of 3 months.

11) Domestic Workers Visa

This is a new immigration law allowing a Panamanian citizen, or a permanent or temporary resident, to hire a foreigner to work as a domestic worker.  This includes maids, cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners, nannies and butlers. The employee can then apply for this Panama Foreign Domestic Workers Visa.  It is good for one year and can be renewable four times.

12) Short Stay Visas

These visas are also new and allow for up to a 9 month stay.  This visa/work permit applies to foreigners who want to establish business subsidiaries; investigators and scientists conducting research for embassies or governments or foreign businesses; investors or businessmen entering Panama to analyze investment possibilities or to perform transactions in the Food Processors Zone for Export, Call Center, or special areas appointed for the development of the Audiovisual and Film Industry.

13) Temporary Visitor via Marrakech Treaty

treaty is for temporary workers intending to live in Panama for a maximum of 5 years.  This visa is only available to companies employing between 3 to 10 employees earning at least the minimum wage. Only one foreigner is allowed to be employed and they must be paid at least a $1,000 a month.

14) Temporary Residency Work Permit 

This permit is another new immigration law allowing a foreigner to live and work here for 6 years.  It applies to an employee of the government, semi-autonomous companies, small business contracting with the government, executives or management for a Colon Free Zone company, non-diplomats working for a foreign government or international agency or news media correspondents.

15) Special Temporary Residency For Special Reasons 

This is a new immigration visa providing temporary residency for 6 years for all employees in the film or audiovisual industry, including producers, directors, actors, and technical support; Panama Canal workers; Panama-Pacifico Special Economic Area workers (like the former Howard U.S. air force base); Foreigners hired by businesses inside the Food Processors for Export Zone; Foreigners employed by Call Centers for commercial purposes; Foreigners hired as executives for an international business with a subsidiary in Panama.