Foreigner hired as an Executive in companies in the Free Zone of Colón.

The Republic of Panama's Ministry of Public Safety's National Migration Service offers a Permit for Temporary Residence for foreign executives hired by companies operating in the Colón Free Trade Zone. This permit is available to individuals who hold executive, management, or specialized technical positions with a minimum salary of B/.2,000.00. The permit is valid for annual periods, up to a total of six years.

In order to apply for this permit, the following requirements must be met:

1. A power of attorney and application (notarized)
2. Three photographs
3. A copy of the passport that has been verified by a Panamanian notary or by an accredited diplomatic representative in the country of issuance
4. A criminal background check from the country of origin or residence
5. A health certificate issued by a qualified professional within three months of the application
6. A certified check for B/.250.00 made payable to the National Treasury as a fee for the application
7. A certified check for B/.800.00 made payable to the National Migration Service as a deposit for repatriation
8. A sworn declaration of personal background
9. A work contract endorsed by the General Comptroller of the Republic or a copy of the official government gazette in which the contract is published
10. Proof of affiliation with the Social Security Fund and a copy of the ID card

In the event of a renewal, most of the above requirements need to be presented, except for the criminal background check and the checks, the following additional requirements must be met:

1.     A certification from the Social Security Fund, showing that 9 consecutive payments have been made, regardless of any changes in employer.

2.     A release from the National Revenue Service

The legal team at LEGAL@work would be more than happy to assist you in this process by guiding you through the required steps and providing an estimate of the costs involved. We will work with you to ensure that your application is complete and error-free, and that it is submitted in a timely manner.