Panama Offshore Legal Services has years of experience processing Panama Reforestation Visas.
Panama Reforestation Visa offers two options:
1. Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa $60,000 (Non Permanent Visa)
2. Panama Reforestation Large Investment Visa $80,000 (Permanent Residency Visa)
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
Here are the basic requirements for both Panama Reforestation Visas:
- All visa applications must be processed by a Panamanian lawyer.
- All overseas documents must be authenticated by a Panamanian Consulate nearest you or by Apostil.
- All applicants must provide a Police Clearance report on a police department’s letterhead, signed by a police official.
- All documents must be issued no more than 4 months prior to submitting the visa application.
- Passports must have at least 3 months remaining before expiration.
- Dependants can be included with both options.
- Applicant and dependants must present themselves in person to the Immigration office for the initial application and subsequent renewals.
- Initial Application: Expect to be in Panama for 5 business days. After registering and submitting all documents, immigration will issue a 3-month provisional visa.
Note that immigration request that the applicant for any type of visa, be present physically at the immigration office in Panama, at the time of Visa application.
Panama Immigration will not allow people to visit wearing shorts, t-shirts, or sandals. Immigration will not accept U.S. currency in denominations of $50 or $100.
When the immigration visa is approved plan to visit Panama for two weeks because immigration may hold onto your passport for 5 business days while they insert the official stamps and information in the passport.
Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa is obtained with a $60,000 minimum investment to purchase at least (3) hectares in a government certified reforestation project. This will be a six (6) year temporary resident visa (no longer converted into a permanent residency visa leading to Panama citizenship). In addition to the named applicant personally making this investment, a corporation can make the investment. An additional $2,000 investment must be made for each applicant’s dependant applying under the Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa. Dependants include spouse and children. We must reiterate the disadvantages of the Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa of minimum $60,000 investment once again: The permissions of temporary residents for the Panama Small Reforestation investment Visa will be for the period of six (6) years, extendable every two (2) years. The applicant can’t use this Visa to obtain Panama Permanent Residency or Panama Citizenship. The specific requirements are:
“Foreigners that invest with personal title or through legal entity in activities of reforestation or authorized forest plantation, or any other activity authorized by the National Authority of the Environment (ANAM), of at least three (3) hectares and whose minimum investment be Sixty Thousand dollars ($60,000) will be able to request this visa.”
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PANAMA REFORESTATION SMALL INVESTMENT VISA
In addition to the basic requirements established in Article 28 of the Decree Law, the applicant must submit the following documents:
When using a corporation, the following additional requirements must be met:
1. Affidavit by the secretary or treasurer of the corporation (cannot be by the applicant), attesting to the reforestation activities, attesting that the ownership of the nominative shares emitted in favor of the foreign applicant, said shares are free and full, and attesting to the total capital stock;
2. Certification by the Authorized Public Accountant (CPA) detailing the grand total directly invested in the activity of reforestation and that the capital is from the investor;
3. Authentication of the certificate shares in favor of the reforestation investors;
4. Copies of the tax returns of the business, where the invested capital appears.
5. If a fiscal period has not yet lapsed since the creation of the business, a copy of the inscription in the Unique Registration of the Taxpayer;
6. Copies of the resolution by the National Authority of the Environment certifying the Reforestation Project Registration;
7. Original certification of the inscriptions of the business and the property in the Public Registry;
8. Proof that the investment is directly for reforestation activities with a minimum of sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) proven with documents such as:
a. Bank Certification of the funds transfer or of the payment (obligatory);
b. Audited Financial Status;
c. Commercial bills of buying and selling;
d. Documents proving importation of supplies & equipment;
To request an extension, besides the requirements mentioned in the previous article, the applicant should contribute the following documents:
1. Paz y Salvo of the applicant;
2. Bill or other documents that show disbursements performed in the last year for the project of reforestation, or certification of the business carrying out the plan of maintenance that the contract continues in force.
Procedure for obtaining a Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa:
- Minimum investment of $60,000 for purchasing at least three (3) hectares.
- Applicant and dependants must present themselves in person to the Immigration office for the initial application and subsequent renewals.
The procedure for temporary (non-resident) permits (visas) are the following:
1. Register passport at Immigration.
2. Present application with all required documents to immigration, with Government fees & Repatriation Deposit (if applicable).
3. Immigration department issues applicant 3 months Temporary Permit (Visa) & Multiple Entry-Exit Visa.
4. Immigration department issues applicant 2 year Temporary Permit (Visa).
(Steps 3 and 4 are repeated every time the temporary visa is renewed).
Immigration Processing Fees for Panama Reforestation Small Investment Visa:
Phase 1:
- Legal Fee – 1 year Provisional Resident Visa: USD $2,000
- Government Fee to Tesoro Nacional (National Treasury): USD $250
- Repatriation Deposit (refundable once the permanent visa is approved): USD $800
Total Government Fees & Repatriation Deposit: USD $1,050
Phase 2:
- Legal Fee – 1st renewal Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
- Legal Fee – 2nd renewal Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
- Legal Fee – 3rd renewal Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
For Dependents (spouse or children under 18 yrs):
Phase 1:
- Legal Fee – 1 year Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,500
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $1,000
Phase 2:
- Legal Fee – 2nd renewal Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
- Legal Fee – 3rd renewal Provisional Resident Visa: USD $1,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
Panama Reforestation Large Investment Visa.
This is a permanent Panama Reforestation Residency Visa requiring a minimum $80,000 investment including a minimum purchase of five (5) hectares in a Panama government certified reforestation project, forest plantation, or other authorized project. This is the only Panama Reforestation Visa leading to Permanent Residency and eventual Panama Citizenship. After a term of two (2) years has elapsed, the applicant will be able to opt for permanent residence. The specific requirements are:
“Foreigners that invest with personal title or through legal entity in activities of reforestation or authorized forest plantation, or any other activity authorized by the National Authority of the Environment (ANAM), of at least five (5) hectares and whose minimum investment be Eighty Thousand dollars ($80,000) will be able to request this visa.”
In case of bringing dependents, the investment should be increased by Two Thousand dollars ($2,000) for each dependent, which can be justified with a local banking reference.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR PANAMA REFORESTATION LARGE INVESTMENT VISA
In addition to the basic requirements established in Article 28 of the Decree Law, the applicant must submit the following documents:
1. In the case of using a legal entity applicants should present: affidavits by the secretary or treasurer of the business (cannot be from the applicants), verifying the activities, the ownership of the nominative shares emitted in favor of the foreign applicant, properly free and full, and the total capital stock;
2. Certification of the Authorized Public Bookkeeper (CPA) that details the grand total invested in a direct way in the activity of reforestation and that the capital is from the applicant. (The bookkeeper should include copy of the decree and of the card in force);
3. Authenticated certificate of shares in favor of the Panama Large Reforestation Investors;
4. Copies of the tax return of the business, where the capital invested appears. If a fiscal period has not yet lapsed since the creation of the business, in its place the copy of the constancy of inscription in the Unique Registration of the taxpayer and copy of the unique rate should be submitted;
5. Copies of the resolution by the National Authority of the Environment of the Certification of the Forest Registration;
6. Original certification of the inscriptions of the business and the property in the Public Registry;
7. Proof that the investment is carried out in direct form in activities of reforestation, by a minimum of Eighty Thousand dollars ($80,000) which can be proven with documents such as:
a. banking Certification of the funds transfer or of the payment (obligatory);
b. Financial Status audited;
c. Commercial bills of buying and selling;
d. Documents of merchandise importing;
To request an extension, besides the requirements mentioned in the previous article, the applicant must submit the following documents:
1. Paz y Salvo of the applicant;
2. Bills or other documents that show disbursements performed in the last year for the project of reforestation, or certification of the business that is carrying out the plan of maintenance and that the contract continues in force.
Procedure for obtaining a Panama Reforestation Large Investor Visa:
- Minimum investment of $80,000 for purchasing at least five (5) hectares.
- Applicant and dependants must present themselves in person to the Immigration office for the initial application and subsequent renewals.
The procedure for all resident permits (visas) is now the following:
1. Register passport at Immigration.
2. Present application with all required documents to immigration, with Government fees & Repatriation Deposit (if applicable).
3. Immigration department issues applicant 3 months Temporary Permit (Visa) & Multiple Entry-Exit Visa.
4. Immigration department issues applicant 2 year Temporary Permit (Visa).
5. Immigration department issues applicant 3 months Temporary Permit (Visa) & Multiple Entry-Exit Visa.
6. Immigration department issues applicant Permanent Residency Permit (Visa).
7. After 5 years of Permanent Resident status, applicant may apply for citizenship through Naturalization process (once a citizen, then passport may be obtained).
For more detailed information Click Here
Immigration Processing Fees for Panama Reforestation Large Investment Visa:
For Primary Applicant:
Stage 1:
- Legal Fee – 1 year Temporary Immigrant Visa: USD $2,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $800
Stage 2:
- Legal Fee – Permanent Residency Visa: USD $2,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
Stage 3:
- Legal Fee – Naturalization (Citizen / Passport): USD $4,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $1,500
For Dependents (spouse or children under 18 yrs):
Stage 1:
- Legal Fee – 1 year Temporary Immigrant Visa: USD $1,500
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $800
Stage 2:
- Legal Fee – Permanent Residency Visa: USD $1,500
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $300
Stage 3:
- Legal Fee – Naturalization (Citizen / Passport): USD $3,000
- Government Fees and Costs: USD $1,500
Multiple Entry & Exit Visa (Optional): Foreigners applying for residency wishing to leave and return to Panama prior to receiving their temporary residency must obtain a Multiple Entry & Exit Visa. The Multiple Entry & Exit Visa should be applied for after or at the same time that any type of visa is applied for. The Multiple Entry & Exit Visa allows you to enter and exit the country as many times as necessary. For more information about the Multiple Entry & Exit Visa, please CLICK HERE
If you are interested in relocating to Panama, or obtaining legal residency in Panama, please contact us for a personal consultation with Panama Offshore Legal Services.
