Foreigner hired by companies under the Marrakech Agreement

At LEGAL@work, we understand that navigating the legal requirements for hiring foreign workers can be a daunting task. That's why we're here to help. The Permiso de Personal Extranjero Contratado por Empresasen virtud del Acuerdo de Marrakech (PRT-G) is a permit for foreign workers who are hired by companies with less than ten Panamanian employees and are earning a salary of at least B/.1000.00 per month. This permit is valid for annual periods, up to a total of six years.

To obtain this permit, there are several requirements that must be met. These include a power of attorney and application that must be notarized, three photographs, a copy of the passport that has been verified by a notary or authorized official, a criminal background check, a health certificate, and two certified checks - one for B/.250.00 made out to the Tesoro Nacional and another for B/.800.00 made out to the Servicio Nacional de Migración. Additionally, there is a form for declaring personal background information, a copy of the employment contract that has been endorsed by the Ministry of Labor and Development, a letter from the company on official letterhead, signed by the legal representative of the company that states the position and salary of the employee, a copy of the company's operation notice, a copy of the company's public registry certification, and permission to work and a copy of the ID card.

If the employee has dependents, they will also need to provide a letter of responsibility, proof of relationship, proof of address, and a certificate of single status and education (if they are over 18 years old).

For renewals, most of these requirements will still need to be met, except for the criminal background check, the CSS affiliation proof, and the two certified checks. Additionally, you will need to provide a certification from the Caja de Seguro Social that the employee has made 9consecutive payments, even if they have changed employers.

At LEGAL@work, we are dedicated to making the process as smoothand stress-free as possible for our clients. We will work with you to gatherall necessary documentation and ensure that everything is in order beforesubmitting your application. Our fees for this service are competitive and wewill provide you with a detailed estimate before any work is done. So, ifyou're looking to hire a foreign worker and need help navigating the legalrequirements, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We're here to help.