porsche3
2/11/2017 10:23 EST
The plan is to move to Panama in June. We want to spend a year before going through process of long-term visa. Websites all over the place on going back and forth for US passport visa updates. Anybody out there doing this RIGHT NOW who knows how often you have to leave, what you need to get back into Panama, how long you have to be away?
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RICOBREEZE802MARK
2/12/2017 11:50 EST
If you are a American, then you get 6 months in panama. You must leave for three days before that 6 months is up. then you can return and get another 6 months. One thing to keep in mind is that you can only drive for the first three months. weird huh.. to sum that up, the law states three months here as a tourist, but the government said give them 6, and they never voted that into law nor did they change the law when you only got three months to drive the whole time, so you can stay here 6 months, but only drive for the first three. you will also have to keep your passport on you at all times. a copy of it is NOT THE LAW.
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ranadelnorte
2/12/2017 12:15 EST
To add to Rico's excellent info, to get back into Panama you can be asked to show $500/person, and you must have a passport that is good for 6 months before expiry date, and a return ticket to the U.S. Technically you can come right back in after leaving, but some border agents, particularly at the border with Costa Rica, want you out for 72 hours. The agents have wide discretion when it comes to interpreting and applying regulations.
Please remember that the length of the tourist visa can change at any time, as it has recently for some nationalities.
Good luck!
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porsche3
2/12/2017 13:13 EST
but if you come in with 6 okay and 3 to drive, back go out at 3 and come back, does a new 6 begin. that way, going out once every three months and you could drive on............
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ranadelnorte
2/12/2017 14:14 EST
Yes, that is it. The visa "resets." To get technical with you, it is 90 days, not 3 months, and 180 days, not 6 months.
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coronadochris
2/12/2017 14:18 EST
Yes, when you re-enter the country the time clock starts again (at least it does under the current law). It is actually 180 days and 90 days (not six months and three months).
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gvida
2/12/2017 20:31 EST
So, does this mean that I could leave before the 180 days (let's say after 100 days, for example), stay away for three days or more, and when I return my 180 days start over again? Do I have to return to my home country or do I just need to leave Panama?
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ranadelnorte
2/13/2017 06:51 EST
Yes, anytime you leave and return the tourist visa "resets" for 180 days. You don't have to return to your home country, BUT when you return to Panama you must have a return ticket that is good for 180 days or less, plus $500 cash.
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PanamaJackie
2/17/2017 10:19 EST
If you are driving in Panama, you can only stay for 90 days. Then you need to leave for at least 72 hours before you can come back. Then if you will still be driving, you only get another 90 days.
My attorney says there is a lot of talk at immigration about requiring 30 days out of the country before you can come back. This could get passed while you are in Panama..
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golric
2/18/2017 15:21 EST
@PanamaJackie
That will be very difficult. Businessmen need to travel to Panama anytime they have meetings or work that requires traveling to the country. Also persons with sick familiy member etc. etc Very Very difficult.
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Panama2017
3/9/2017 09:51 EST
Panama's Immigration Director says that tourists trying to live perpetually will not be allowed to in the future. But who knows...
http://m.prensa.com/in_english/Extranjeros-deben-legalizar-estatus_21_4706739282.html
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golric
3/9/2017 10:24 EST
The Director of Migracion said on a TV interview they will not allow people who enter the country and leave every 180 days to reset their stay in Panama because they have jobs and are staying in the country ilegally. They want everyone who is in the country on this sort of situation to go to their website and apply for a visa.....no guarantee they will obtain one.
The people not allowed into the country at Paso Canoas were mainly Venezuelans.
No Americans, Canadians or Europeans were mentioned.
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ranadelnorte
3/9/2017 10:55 EST
Agree with @golric that the situation for permanent tourists is very fluid now. Anyone in this situation is advised to keep a close watch on the news in Panama. Immigration agents have been particularly vigilant since carnival on the border with Costa Rica. President Varela made a statement yesterday that abuse of the tourist visa will no longer be tolerated.
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XSMEMORIES
3/9/2017 16:33 EST
Contact your lawyer or embassy right now all is confusing, with no clear explanations for me anyway best to know for sure however I'm sorry I don't think anyone knows. Good Luck Sheila xsmemories@hotmail.com
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Panama2017
3/9/2017 16:51 EST
Another Prensa article did state that 4 or 5 people from other countries, including European, had also been detained. They also stated that the Director indicated that the policy on perpetual touristing will be regardless of nationality. Definitely should keep an eye on this new development if it impacts you.
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porsche3
3/10/2017 15:10 EST
I am moving to Panama in May and fully intend to get my pensionado visa, which should be no problem at all. However, I am curious. What if you go to Panama, stay 6 months, and go away for a month or more before returning? There has to be a cutoff line somewhere, I would think.
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ranadelnorte
3/10/2017 16:54 EST
This is all very abstract and hypothetical right now until the government clarifies its position. In my opinion, reading between the lines, and talking with those in the know, Immigration officials will be looking for patterns in stamping in and out of the country, like the permanent tourists do - in for 180 days, out for 3 days, and repeat indefinitely. In other words, being in the country as a tourist for longer than being out of the country. Your hypothetical case would probably be ok. Best to follow the news until this is settled.
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porsche3
3/10/2017 17:23 EST
my wife was born in canal zone and lived there until 18. she is applying for cedula. she has birth certificate and depending on which lawyer we talk to, getting cedula should be quick and easy or needs lots of research that could take a year or more. I am assuming I will get pensionado easily, but should we face delays, wonder what options are. frankly, we will likely leave country a couple of times a year for long vacations elsewhere in the world, so going in and out every six months for an extended stay is a snap if needed.
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ranadelnorte
3/10/2017 19:44 EST
@porsche3
If your wife will become an instant Panamanian citizen through her birth in the CZ, why would you as her husband have to go through the expense and rigmarole of getting a pensionado visa? Just asking!
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porsche3
3/10/2017 19:56 EST
I just assumed I would have to get visa first and then apply for permanent residency..........if I don't that would be fine with me. hoping we have found a lawyer who knows what he is doing this time.
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tjo50511
3/10/2017 22:12 EST
We just went through this on Thursday 3/9/2017. Things have changed. The are trying to stop the "permanent tourist" border hops. You get 180 days on a tourist visa. If you try a border hop they will not let you back in. We were almost rejected. The only thing that saved us was we contacted a Panamanian lawyer and got a letter stating that we had retained her services for getting permanent residency. They were not going to let us back in until we showed them the letter.
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Panama2017
3/10/2017 23:09 EST
tjo50511, they haven't even changed the law yet. What did you attorney say about what the future may hold?
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porsche3
3/11/2017 00:45 EST
we are waiting to hear back from second lawyer (after first said he had never done a cedula before). the second lawyer has birth certificate. I will ask him how we each proceed and to provide us each a letter as soon as we get there saying that our applications are in the works. it sounds too fluid a situation to even know what it will be like six months from now. and we will have to leave every 90 days anyway to be able to drive while we wait...............
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tjo50511
3/11/2017 08:27 EST
The law doesn't need to be changed. They have just started enforcing the law as it is written. No changes necessary.
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RedHatLady
3/11/2017 08:29 EST
The plan to do the tourist 6 months to go across a border leave and come back is a bit sketchy at the moment. Recently there are several Venezuelan people who have been stopped from coming back into Panama from Costa Rica. Has been a common practice for years for folks who didn't want or can't qualify for residency in Panama to do the border jump. Don't know where this will go as in our 11 years in Panama as residents the government has gone up and down on the length of stay for tourists. So you will take your chances and hope for the best. It is TIP... This is Panama
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