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tramite para visa amistad en Panama

tramite detallado para sacar el visa países amistad de Panamá.

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tramite para visa amistad en Panama

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  1. Legal Services Panama City, Rep. Of Panama IPASA Building, 3rd Floor 41st Street and Balboa Avenue, Panama City, Panama. Phone: (507) 610- 947-16 contact@aupanama.com IMMIGRATION FRIENDLY NATIONS RESIDENCY PROGRAM In May of 2012 the Presidential Decree 343 was issue, declaring that citizens of 22 friendly nations could apply to become permanent residents in a fast track manner. Since then, other Decrees have increased the number of friendly nations to 50 along with clarifying the requirements to apply. The formal wording of this permanent residency visa is for “citizens of friendly nations with professional and economic ties with the Republic of Panama”. The 50 Friendly Nations are: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Marino, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, United States of America, Uruguay, United Kingdom (Great Britain & Northern Ireland). Clarifying the Requirements The words “professional and economic ties with the Republic of Panama” means that citizens of these 50 countries must establish professional or economic relationship with Panama. This can be accomplished by starting a new business or purchasing an existing business or being hired to work for a Panama company. An “Economic Activity” means the applicant owns either a Panama corporation or a Panama company (new or bought an existing business) which is doing business in Panama. Foreigners are prohibited from owning a Panama retail business. Another option is to prove “Professional Activity”. Meaning the applicant is employed by a professional Panama company, has a work permit, and is registered with Panama’s Social Security system. In addition, proof of income like the employment wages needs to be provided by the employer. Documents proving these activities must be submitted. Foreigners are prohibited from practicing certain professions such as: medical & veterinary doctors, attorneys, architects, and engineers. Proof of Economic Solvency is another requirement. This can be met by having at least $5,000 USD (plus $2,000 for each dependant) deposited in a Panama bank account. Whether an applicant 1 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  2. is solvent enough is not clearly defined leaving the matter up to the discretion of the immigration officials. Dependants include the spouse and children up to the age of 25 if they are full time university students. The applicant must provide a written letter of responsibility regarding the dependants. Every son or daughter dependant over the age of 18 must prove they are not married by providing an authenticated certificate of “single” status (not married) from their respective country. After the application is filed along with all required documents the immigration office will issue a one year temporary residency card (carnet) which will be replaced by a permanent residency card once the application is approved. Once the application has been approved, the Client / Applicant can apply for a Work Permit. Panama’s president recently issued a Presidential Decree ordering Panama’s Ministry of Labor to fast track acceptance of work permits for the 48 friendly nations citizens. IMPORTANT ITEMS: - notice to schedule appointments & coordinate documentation that is required for immigration processing. Please note that the immigration application process takes a total of approximately 9 business days, so plan on being in Panama City for at least that time frame. Scheduling: Client / Applicant(s) must contact our law offices with at least 30 days prior - months) prior to the presentation of the Panama immigration residency application. Document Validity: All required documents must be recently issued within 90 days (3 - authenticated by apostil or by the Panamanian Consulate in the country of issue. Document Authentication: All required documents for immigration processing must be - scanned email or fax to our law offices for review and approval, at least 30 days prior to client / applicant(s) arrival in Panama. Document Review: All required documents for immigration processing should be sent via - trip to Panama, we recommend applicants’ to send to our law offices (by courier) all required and duly authenticated documents, at least 2 weeks prior to applicants’ arrival in Panama. This will allow our attorneys enough time to process the necessary authentications of the documents at the Ministry of Foreign Relations. Document Preparation: For highest level of efficiency and time savings during applicants’ - (Passports), then at the moment of "entry" into the Country of Panama (at the airport or border), the client / applicant should enter Panama using the same Passport that will be used for the Panama Immigration residency application, and said passport should be stamped when entering Panama. The required documents for immigration processing that the applicant must provide (police/criminal history report, etc.) must be issued in the same country of the applicants’ passport, because if not then the applicant would need to provide proof that they are residents in the country where the documents are issued from. Clients With Dual Nationalities: If the Client / Applicant has two (2) different Nationalities - Dress Code:  For Men: Male Clients / Applicants must wear long pants, collared shirt, and shoes with socks. Do not wear shorts, cut-off shirts or t-shirts, or any footwear that shows toes.  For Women: Female Clients / Applicants must wear a dress or long pants, collared shirt or top that covers shoulders, and formal footwear (shoes). No mini-skirts, shorts, cut-off shirts or tops showing shoulders or t-shirts, and no sandals or footwear that shows toes. 2 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  3. REQUIREMENTS: Immigration Required Documents: Law 3 of 2008 under Article 28 requires the following documents from an applicant: Required Documents that Client must provide: 1. Eight (8) Passport Size Photos; 2. Criminal history background check from the applicant’s country of origin or the country where he/she has lived for the two past years. The Panama immigration department requires the applicant to provide an authenticated criminal history report issued by a “federal”, “central”, or “national” police force or criminal investigation authority. This document must be authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Panama, or Apostilled. (a) If the applicant is providing a criminal background report from a country where he/she is not a citizen, but a resident, the applicant must provide the legal residency identification, of said country, which must be authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Panama, or Apostilled. (b) If the applicant has been residing in Panama for the past two consecutive years (without leaving the country) the criminal background check must be prepared by the national police (DIJ) in Panama. Panama immigration will require the national criminal history report to be authenticated by a Panamanian Embassy or Consulate, from the country that issued the document or by Apostille which is an internationally recognized government agency authentication of its issued documents by attaching certain seals to the document. Contact Us for a list of Panama Consulates Worldwide. Note 1: The criminal history background check has a validity term of 3 to 6 months from its issuance date, depending on the specific nationality of the client / applicant, according to the Immigration of Panama. Note 2: Between the issuance date of your criminal history background check, and your Provisional Residency application, there can be only “one (1) entry stamp” in your passport in the Republic of Panama. This means that after the date of your last trip to the Republic of Panama (Stage 1), and prior to your following trip for your provisional residency application (Stage 2), you must process your Criminal history background check (Police Report) as explained previously in the required documents. 3. A written Statement describing the economic or professional activities to be conducted by the applicant in Panama. These can be explained in the following manner: Option (a) Economic Activity: Produce documentation that the applicant is a member of the Board of Directors or majority shareholder of a Panama Corporation or is the owner of a Panama company. If the Panama Corporation or Panama Company is new provide proof of its franchise tax being paid and its commercial license. If the corporation or company is over one year old provide proof of its tax return, and good standing certificate. In other words, Client must set up a Panama Corporation and be appointed in the Board of Directors. This Corporation must be existent until the Residency process is approved. Note: The economic activity of the company cannot be one reserved for Panamanian nationals such as a retail business. 3 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  4. Option (b) Professional Activity: A professional activity is a job or work contract with a local company. The applicant must provide proof of an employment contract, the company must be registered with Panama Social Security, and the applicant must get a social security card and work permit. There are several ways to obtain a Panama work permit including the allowable 10% foreign employees or the Marrakech Treaty (which allows Panamanian companies to hire a certain percentage of foreigners). The professional activity cannot be one reserved only for Panama nationals such as an attorney, architect, engineer, medical doctor or veterinarian doctor. 4. Copy of Applicant’s second I.D. (different than Passport): From applicant’s country of origin such as driver’s license or government issued photo I.D. This is in addition to the passport to prove residency and citizenship. This document must be Apostilled or authenticated by a Panamanian Consulate where the document is issued. 5. Proof of Solvency: In addition to the documents that demonstrate the applicant’s economic or professional activity the applicant must also provide the following: (a) Proof from a Panama bank that the applicant has at least $5,000 USD deposited, plus $2,000 USD for each dependant. (b) Proof of income such as employment salary with a letter from the employer which includes applicant’s social security number and work permit. Note: Part (b) is vague which can be interpreted by Panama immigration at its discretion to verify the applicant’s solvency. 6. Dependants require a letter of responsibility from the primary applicant (we will draft this letter of responsibility). (a) Client must provide proof that the dependants are related either with a "birth certificate", if children, or if it’s a spouse, a "marriage certificate". This document must be Apostilled or authenticated by a Panamanian Consulate where the document is issued. This document must be issued within six (6) months before the residency application date (this means that at the time of application, this document should not be over 6 months old). (b) Dependants other than a spouse can apply up until the age of 25 if enrolled as full time university students or are disabled, and must provide an authenticated certificate of single status (not married). (c) Dependants over the age of 18 must submit an affidavit that they are single (not married) which must be Apostilled or authenticated by a Panamanian consulate. 7. Personal Sworn Affidavit explaining the purpose for seeking Panama Permanent Residency and ability to support family and dependents. (This form will be supplied by Panama Offshore Legal Service’s immigration attorney.) In "sumary" client must provide the following documents: 1. Eight (8) passport size pictures 2. Criminal history background check, duly authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Panama, or Apostilled. 3. Copy of Applicant’s second I.D. (different than Passport) from applicant’s country of origin such as driver’s license or government issued photo I.D., duly authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Panama, or Apostilled. 4 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  5. 4. Birth certificate, if dependants are children, or if dependant is a spouse, a Marriage certificate, duly authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of Panama, or Apostilled. 5. A bank reference letter, from a licensed bank in Panama, addressed to: "Servicio Nacional de Migracion", that certifies that the applicant has at least US$5,000 USD deposited in a "personal bank account" (in clients personal name) plus the amount of US$2,000 USD must be deposited for each dependant. 6. Certification from the Public Registry of Panama, certifying that the applicant appears on the board of directors of the Panama Corporation. Required Documents that our Law Firm will process: 1. Application for Permanent Residency with a Special Power of Attorney authorizing our Law Firm to act on behalf of the applicant, duly authenticated by a Panamanian Public Notary with the proper government stamps. 2. Copy of the entire passport notarized by a Panama Public Notary. 3. Original medical examination report from a certified Panama medical doctor. Our paralegal will personally accompany Client to the clinic for the medical examination. 4. Two Certified Checks: (a) $250 USD in favor of the National Treasury (Tesoro Nacional) for immigration fees; and (b) $800 USD in favor of the Immigration (Servicio Nacional de Migracion) for repatriation purposes (deportation fund). IMPORTANT: Once immigration has issued a resolution of an approval (or denial) of the application of residency, the above mentioned checks are then non-refundable. 5. Official translations, signed by a licensed official public translator from the Republic of Panama, of all documents from the English to the Spanish language. If documents are in a different language than English and Spanish, then the Client must pay the fees of the respective licensed official public translator in Panama to translate the documents from whatever language they are in to Spanish. PROCEDURE: Procedures for Applying for Residency: The following are the steps involved in the Residency process. Stage 1 (Trip No.1 to Panama): Open a Personal Bank Account in Panama: The first step is to open a personal bank account in a licensed Bank in Panama. Opening a personal bank account in Panama can take around 2 weeks to 1 month, depending on the bank and depending on the supporting documents you provide to the bank, since all banks require doing a due diligence prior to the account approval. Once your personal bank account is approved by the bank, you need to fund it and make a minimum deposit of US$5,000.00 for qualifying for the residency process, plus you need to add US$2,000.00 per dependent you want to include. You could accomplish this trip (only the bank account interview, not the bank account opening, because of the process and timeframe the bank takes to approve and open your personal account) 5 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  6. in 1 business day (please contact us prior to your visit, if you want us to help you with setting up an interview with a bank officer to attend you). The basic requirements by the bank for your personal bank account are: 1. Passport copy 2. Second I.D. copy (for example: drivers license, state or country I.D.) 3. Original bank reference letter, addressed to the bank in Panama where you are applying to open the account. This letter should be issued within 3 months from the account application date. 4. Original business reference letter (for example: from your accountant, lawyer, etc.), addressed to the bank in Panama where you are applying to open the account. This letter should be issued within 3 months from the account application date. 5. Annual tax declaration, employment letter, or retirement income document (document that proves your source of income). 6. Personal resume / curriculum vitae, describing your education and work history. 7. Letter addressed to the bank, explaining the purpose of establishing the bank account, what banking services will be required (checking/savings account, debit card, credit card, online banking, etc) estimated monthly deposits / withdrawals, estimated average balance of the account, etc). 8. Any other documentation that the bank may require from the client / applicant. 9. Personal interview required at the bank. We recommend that when you come to Panama, try to interview with 2 or 3 different banks in order to assure that you will get an account opened, because some banks may deny the account, depending on the due diligence documentation provided. Stage 2 (Trip No.2 to Panama): Passport Registration and Provisional Residency Application: In this Stage we would require your stay for minimum 9 business days as follows: BUSINESS DAY 1 (PASSPORT REGISTRATION): - Client / Applicant(s) presence IS required. - NOTE: No shorts, t-shirts or sandals are permitted in government offices. At 8:00 a.m. Client / Applicant(s) should meet at our law office with two (2) Passport size photographs, US$5.00 in cash, and the actual original physical passport in hand. At around 8:30 a.m., our Immigration Attorney and/or Paralegal will guide the Client(s) to the government Immigration office of Panama City. The passport registration process is generally done in the same day, however, the time it takes will depend on the volume of applicants ahead of you in line, so the earlier you get there the better. The Panama immigration office will place a "stamp" in the applicants Passport that will show a Registration number, which is used throughout the immigration process, which is why it is also advisable that the passport used should have at least 1 to 2 years time remaining before the passport expiration date. Once the passport is registered at the Panama Immigration office, the applicant will receive their passport back. Client should keep a photocopy of their passport and entry stamp page with them at all times in Panama. - - - BUSINESS DAY 2 & 3 (DOCUMENT PREPARATION): - Client / Applicant(s) presence is NOT required. 6 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  7. A complete photocopy of the applicants’ passport (including a copy of the Panama Immigration Registration stamp page) must be made and it must be authenticated by a Public Notary in Panama, which requires that we have the passport accessible. If time permits, this step could be Other documents such as the Health Certificate (this can only be done in Panama, through a Licensed Medical Doctor in Panama), authentication of all documents, and translation to the Spanish language of all documents that are issued outside of Panama, etc. There is a possibility that we could expedite the authentications and translations of documents, if the client / applicant(s) delivers all documents to our law office by courier prior to their arrival in Panama. By all means (as mentioned above), client should always scan and email or fax these documents to our law offices prior to their arrival in Panama, for verification purposes to ensure that the documents are prepared correctly. - completed on Day 1. - BUSINESS DAY 4 (RESIDENCY APPLICATION PRESENTATION): - Client / Applicant(s) presence is NOT required, however, we will need to keep applicant(s) original passport for the immigration application presentation. The passport will be returned the same day or the following business day. - If all documents are ready, authenticated, translated to Spanish, and the completed package with a full set of copies for the Immigration office is ready, then our Attorney/Paralegal will file the application by going to the Immigration office early in the morning. BUSINESS DAY 5 (TEMPORARY RESIDENT CARD ISSUANCE): - Client / Applicant(s) presence IS required. - At 8:00 a.m., the client / applicant(s) should meet at our law office. - At around 8:30 a.m. our Immigration Attorney / Paralegal will guide the Client / Applicant(s) to the government Immigration office for the Temporary Residency Card issuance. A photograph of the client / applicant(s) will be taken at the Immigration office, and the Client / Applicant will receive a “Temporary Resident Card” (I.D. Card). This card will have a validity of one (1) year, which means that within that one (1) year the Immigration office should approve the client / applicants’ residency resolution. From our experience, the Immigration office generally approves this residency program in around a 4 to 6 months time frame. - Our attorney / paralegal will need to keep applicant(s) original Passport for the Multiple Entry-Exit Visa application & processing. - Applicant(s) will keep their Temporary Residency Card and a photocopy of their Passport with a photocopy of the most recent entry to Panama stamped page. BUSINESS DAY 6, 7 & 8 (MULTIPLE ENTRY-EXIT VISA APPLICATION AND PROCESSING): - Once the "Temporary Residency Card" is obtained, Client(s) / Applicant(s) require a Multiple Exit and Entry Visa, in order to exit and enter the country. - Client / Applicant(s) presence is NOT required, however, our attorney / paralegal will need to have applicant(s) original passport for the presentation of the Multiple Entry-Exit Visa, 7 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

  8. which approval will take approximately 3 business days. Applicant(s) will receive their original passport back once the Multiple Entry-Exit Visa is completed (3 business days). Our Attorney/Paralegal will file the application for the applicant(s) Multiple Entry-Exit Visa, which is required for applicant(s) to travel out of and into the Republic of Panama. IMPORTANT NOTE: If you leave Panama without the Multiple Entry-Exit Visa, a fine of US$2,000.00 will be applied by the Immigration officials. - - BUSINESS DAY 9 (RETURN OF PASSPORT & MULTIPLE ENTRY-EXIT VISA): - Client / Applicant(s) presence is NOT required. - Our Attorney / Paralegal will go to the Immigration office to collect applicant(s) original Passport with the stamp of the Multiple Entry-Exit Visa, and applicant(s) may pick up their passport(s) at our law office that afternoon. NEXT STEPS: - Once the residency application has been submitted, the Immigration office will take several months to process the resolution of approval. Our immigration attorney and paralegals will perform a weekly follow up at the Immigration office and all the different departments where the paperwork is processed, and will inform you by email or phone, once the resolution of approval is issued, at which point you will need to return to Panama to continue the immigration process. Generally you will have a term of 3 months to come to Panama, once the resolution of approval is issued, so you will be informed in advance. Stage 3 (Trip No.3 to Panama): Permanent Residency Approval (at the Immigration): Once the permanent residency resolution is issued with the approval, you will have a term of 3 months to come to Panama to get your picture I.D. card at the Immigration office. One (1) business day is required for this process. Stage 4 (Trip No.4 to Panama): Permanent Residency Card (at the Civil Registry): Please kindly coordinate with our Attorney if you would like to process this permanent residency card (“cedula”) from the Civil Registry of Panama. Once your permanent residency card is issued by the Immigration, you could request the permanent residency card issued by the Civil Registry (“cedula”). This process, from Stage 3 till Stage 4, could take around 2 to 3 months, for the Immigration File to reach the Civil Registry. Then, the Client will be required to just come to Panama and stay 2 or 3 business days for this 4th stage. Once our Immigration Attorney or Paralegal informs you that the permanent residency card is ready at the Civil Registry of Panama, you would need to make a trip for one (1) business day to sign said card and to take your picture at the Civil Registry. 8 contact@aupanama.com www.aupanama.com

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