PANAMA REFORESTATION VISA PROGRAMA

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS

Panama has two attractive programs that allow forestry investors to apply for legal residency in Panama. This forestry program is particularly appealing for those who want to live in Panamá but do not qualify for another visa.

The applicant needs to present themselves to immigration authorities in Panama several times during the process. Once the visa is approved, the applicant needs to travel every year and a half to Panama to prevent losing the residence.

This Panama Forestry Visa Program required a minimum investment of USD 350,000 or USD 100,000 in a reforestation project. A USD 2000 increment in the investment is required for each dependent. If the applicant invests USD 350,000 will be granted permanent residence immediately.  However, in any case, the investment should be maintained for at least five years. 

All documents must be Apostille or notarized and authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate nearest the applicant's domicile. The Apostille is an internationally recognized authentication process by attaching specific seals to the document. The Hague Convention of 1961 is a faster way of authenticating documents and is usually obtained through the Secretary of State in your home state (in the USA) or the Foreign Office (in the UK). Not available in Canada.

Documents shall not be older than three (3) months since issuance.

Documents that come in a language other than Spanish must be translated in Panama through an official certified translator.

The Panamanian Government may reject any application in case of criminal history, including DUI.

This residency permit does not grant work permits unless specified otherwise.

Passport validity should not be less than six months.

For further information about this visa or investing in timber, please contact lill@kerycruz.com

PANAMA REFORESTATION VISA PROCESS

The Reforestation Company that we work with is Panama Forestry. The information is available at https://www.panamaforestry.com

If you choose Panama Teak & Forestry, Inc., the process will be as follows:

Purchased of Panamanian Reforested Land:

Lill Martínez' Legal and Real Estate Office can represent you in the purchase of the reforested plot. This process can be done through a Power of Attorney. Once the land is purchased, takes up about four months to prepare the paperwork to submit the petition at the Immigration Office.

Note: The applicant must send some documents in advance to translate it, authenticate it, or legalize them in order to save time. Those documents are:

1. Marriage certificate (In case of spouse dependent).
2. Birth certificate (in case of son or daughter under 21 dependent).
3. Criminal records (of all the applicants). For information about the requirements of the criminal records visit https://www.kerycruz.com/en/news/police-records-fo...
4. Wire transfer certification.
5. Any other document that is needed.

Prepare yourself to travel at least five times to Panama to complete this process.

Trip No. 1

Purpose of the trip: Apply for a Panamanian Provisional Residence

Plan for a seven-businesses day trip but good to plan a two-week trip in case anything does not go perfectly during this time. Always check for Panama's holiday as nothing will happen in the holiday season. If the applicant has dependents, all the applicants shall visit if all want to go through the processes at the same time.

Once you arrive in Panama, we will register your passport at the immigration office. You will need:

1. Two passport-size pictures.
2. Copy of the page of the passport with the general information and entry seal.
3. Fill out the immigration form.
4. The immigration fee is USD 5.00.

After the registration, we will submit the visa application for a provisional residence card. Once the application is submitted, the applicant will receive a six-month process card. This card allows the applicant to live legally in Panama until Immigration approves or refuses the Visa. This card has a cost of USD 50.00

Immigration may vary the extension of the process card.

Note: The applicant can spend between an hour or more in Immigration so prepare yourself and bring water, snacks, a book, toys for kids, and patience.

Once the application for the provisional residence card is submitted and the applicants receive the six-month process card, the applicant will need a Multiple Entry and Exit Visa. Every foreigner who is processing a residence visa is obligated to have a multiple entry and exit visa.

To bear in mind:

The applicant shall enter and exit Panama with the Multiple Entry and Exit Visa in force.

Travel without getting a Multiple Entries Visa or entry with an expired Multiple Entries and Exit Visa will levy a USD 2,000.00 fine.

Processing this Visa takes up to forty-eight (48) working hours.

The fee for a Multiple Entry & Exit Visa is USD 50.00

Trip No. 2

Time Frame: Within six months of obtaining a process card

Purpose of the trip: Obtain the Two Years Provisional Residence Card

The applicant has to return within six months to pick up the two-year provisional residency card if approved by Immigration. The applicant needs a minimum of five business days but good to plan a little extra time. Usually, the Immigration Office processes an application within six months or less. However, if Immigration has not approved or rejected the application within six months, the applicant has to return to renew the process card for another six months.

To Bear in mind: The applicant needs to return before the multiple entries and exit visa expires.

Trip No. 3

Time Frame: 11 months after obtaining a Provisional Residence)

Purpose of the trip: Apply for a Panama Permanent Residence

A month before the two-year provisional residence card expires; the applicant has to return to Panama to apply for permanent residence. Plan for seven business days, but always is good to plan a bit more time if possible.

The applicant needs to submit a new application to the Immigration Office, and the applicant needs to submit the same requirements provided to get the provisional residence except for the Checks and Police Records. Besides, the applicant needs to provide a Panamanian National Clearance Certificate issued by the Directorate of General Revenue (DGI).

The applicant will get a new six-month process card and a Multiple Entry & Exit Visa once the application for a permanent residence is submitted.

If Immigration does not approve the Visa within six months, the applicant needs to plan an extra trip to renew the process card and the multiple entry visas.

Trip No. 4

Time Frame: Within six months of obtaining a process card

Purpose of the trip: Obtain the Panama Permanent Residence Card

The applicant has to return within six months to pick up the permanent residency card if approved by Immigration. The applicant needs a minimum of five business days but good to plan a little extra time. Usually, the Immigration Office processes an application within six months or less. However, if Immigration has not approved or rejected the application within six months, the applicant has to return to renew the process card for another six months. Bear in mind that the applicant needs to return before the multiple entries and exit visa expires.

If the application is approved, the applicant will receive a permanent residence card, which allows the applicant to process a Panamanian Identification Card (Cédula).

Trip 5

Time Frame: Within three months since permanent residence is approved

Purpose of the trip: Process and Obtain a Panamanian ID (Cédula)

Two to three months after the applicant obtains the Permanent Card issued by the Immigration Office; the applicant shall plan a five-business day trip with the purpose of getting a Panamanian ID.

Note: To prevent the Immigration Office cancel your residence, we strongly recommend that once the applicant becomes a permanent resident, do not stay continuously outside the country for two years or more at a time.

Panamanian Citizenship and Passport

Time Frame: Five years after permanent residence is approved

Five years after obtaining Permanent Residency, counting since the date of the Permanent Resident Resolution, the applicant can process for Panamanian citizenship. However, if the applicant is a national of Spain or a Latin American State, and if Panama has a bilateral treaty with those countries, the five-year period could be less.

For Panamanian citizenship requirements visit https://www.kerycruz.com/en/panama-naturalizations

REFORESTATION VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR FOREIGNERS THAT APPLY UNDER THEIR NAME

General Requirements

1. Power of Attorney duly authenticate (Our office provides this)

2. Complete photocopy of the passport and dully authenticate (This is done in a Panamanian Notary after passport registration)

3. Affidavit (Our office provides this)

4. Health Certificate from a Panamanian Medical Center

5. A Certified USD 250.00 check issued to "Tesoro Nacional" for the request of an immigration category.

6. A Certified USD 800.00 check issued to "Servicio Nacional de Migración" as a repatriation deposit.

a) Certified check costs USD 5.35 in Banco General.

b) Minors of 12 years old do not pay repatriation deposits

7. Six (6) Passport photos (You can get them in Panama at Farmacias Arrocha or Immigration Office entrance)

8. Proof of your residence in Panama

a) Rental Agreement

b) Copy of utility bill showing the address where you stay in Panama. For the Utility Bill, the validity can be up to one (1) month from its issuance at the moment of application.

Special requirements:

1. Proof of Investment:

a) Original certificate of the property issued by the Public Registry. (Our office can assist you with this - Cost US$30.00)

b) Original or authenticated photocopy of Invoice (Reforestation Company provides this)

c) Authenticate photocopy of the deed of the purchase contract and stewardship contract (Our office can assist you this)

d) Administration Contract dully authenticate (Our office can help you with this)

e) Bank certifications of the transfer of the funds (The Client/Reforestation Company)

f) Certification of Public Licensed Accountants detailing the total amount invested. (Reforestation Company provides this)

g) Forestry Registry (Reforestation Company provides this)

Other requirements

1. Personal identification of the Public License Accountant. (Reforestation Company provides this)
2. Authenticate photocopy of the license of the Public Licensed Accountant (Reforestation Company provides this)
3. Authenticate photocopy of the identification card of the Public Licensed Accountant (Reforestation Company provides this)
4. Authenticate photocopy of the resolution approving the licensed to the accountant (Reforestation Company provides this)

If dependent, requirements will be as follows:

1. Marriage Certificate (apostilled or authenticated by Panamanian Consulate)
2. Birth Certificate of son or daughter apostilled or authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate.
3. Translation of the marriage certificate and the birth certificate (We have a certified Panamanian translator who assist us with this issue – Our legal fee does not include this cost)
4. Letter of responsibility duly authenticated by a Panamanian Notary (Our office provided this)
5. Bank reference letter showing that the client has at least four figures account, duly Apostille or authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate if it was issued abroad and by a Panamanian Notary if a local bank issued it.
6. If the dependent is 18 years old and less than 25 years old, should present:

a) Certification of a college attesting that is student

b) Affidavit of singleness.

About the Police Record

Immigration will not approve a visa to a person who has any criminal history, including DUI.

The record must be Apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified Panamanian translator.

If the applicant leaves Panama before the application is submitted, but after the police report has been issued, then the Police Report loses validity for immigration purposes.

Police record must be from the country of the last two (2) years of residency and must contain the following premises to have validity at the moment of application:

a) The police report cannot be older than six (6) months.

b) The Police Report must be duly Apostille or authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate in the country of its issuance.

c) For any application, the Panama Immigration Office requires the applicant to provide an authenticated criminal history report issued by a federal, central, or national police force or criminal investigation authority. The Panama Immigration Office requires an applicant's criminal history covering the entire country in which he or she is from or has been living for the last two years. The document must be authenticated by Apostille or by the Panamanian consulate in that country.

For U.S. Citizens the FBI publishes an online Checklist for requesting a criminal background check at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks...

A U.S. citizen needs to complete an application form, attach prints to their fingerprint card, send a cashier's check, money order, or make a credit card (using their form) payment of $18 and include your contact information.

The application can be downloaded and printed from this web page after answering a question regarding the purpose of the form, such as "To live, work, or travel in a foreign country.": https://forms.fbi.gov/departmental-order-website-q...

An FBI standard fingerprints card can be downloaded and printed from this FBI web page: http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks...

The FBI does not require a specifically authorized fingerprint applier and suggests local police and even printing companies do this. A request to have the report Apostilled must be made when applying for the FBI report. The alternative to an Apostille is to have the document authenticated by any Panamanian Consulate in the USA.

For Canadian Citizens. Canadians will need to visit the RCMP website providing all of the information on obtaining a full criminal history report at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm

While the form of a full fingerprint is required, the RCMP does not provide one online. However, their website states that they will accept Fingerprint forms from foreign countries that contain the following:

a) Flat and rolled impressions of all ten fingers taken with black ink

b) Full name, sex, and date of birth of the applicant

c) The name and address of the police organization taking the fingerprints

d) The signature of the police officer who took the fingerprints

The above means that the RCMP will accept the FBI fingerprints form which can be downloaded and printed from the FBI's website at http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks...

Any police force offering fingerprinting services will be acceptable to the RCMP. The Canadian embassy or consulates will not provide this service.

The RCMP processing fee is $25 CAN or USD equivalent per record requested. Payment must be made by certified cheque or money order to the Receiver General for Canada.

RCMP predicts a four-week processing time.

Canada does not offer the Apostille, so the only option is to authenticate the criminal history report through any Panamanian Consulate in Canada.

To bear in mind:

1. The Immigration Office can deny the visa to persons with a criminal police record
2. None of these residency permits grants work permits unless specified otherwise.
3. Expenses: Approximately USD 1400 (without dependents). We give the client invoices for each expense
4. Legal Fee: USD 2500 for the Immigration Process

For more information contact our attorney at lill@kerycruz.com