Hello and welcome to the forum. This topic has been discussed many times. Please use the search function using the term "single."
Good luck!

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00abuse

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Cagirl; think about this very carefully and do your research before making this decision. I have decided to move back to the US. Spend some time here before committing. In my opinion, ordinary living is as expensive or more than in the US Read the Panama news!! You will be amazed!! Good luck

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10abuse

I live in Puerto Armuelles, a beach town. There are a LOT of single women here, all of which are very happy to be here. In fact, I have a new friend who just moved here with her 7 little dogs. My cost of living dropped by 2/3. If you want to discuss this more, please pm me

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00abuse

But P.A. is a VERY hot and mosquito/ infested town.
Please go there and check it out.
I found it a most undesireable place to visit, let alone live.
But to each his or her own.
Some folks do like it, it seems.

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10abuse

@cagirl 2017
Have you visited Panama? Before you make any decision you should come and visit and rent a place near the beach for @ least 6 months. Make sure is a gated community or a building with a security guard.

Beach Areas in the Pacific side Coronado, Gorgona, Punta Barco, Santa Clara, Farallon. etc.

It all depends whats your lifestyle. Coronado is full of expats other places are more quiet and some very very quiet.

Do not buy only rent until you are completely sure this is the place you want to stay more than 5 years at least.

Also if you speak Spanish it might be easier if not you should start practicing it does make a difference.

Cheers.

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00abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

I personally know 6 single expat women in my town of Puerto Armuelles, and 5 of them are over 50. All are happy and safe here!

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00abuse

Augieman,

The statement you made about PA is so wrong. I have not been bothered once by a mosquito. If you stand in the sun during the summer, you will be hot. But, the ocean and mountain breezes help to mitigate that. All you have to do is stand in the shade. I'm sitting right now in my house with the most wonderful breeze coming through my window, and I'm in the city. At the beach, the breezes are even better. The temperatures drop at night and early morning. I've gotten up early some mornings and would have needed a light jacket if I stayed outside very long

I don't know when you were in P.A. , or what you did when you were here, but to make a blanket statement like you did is wrong.

I visited a lot of places before I found Puerto Armuelles, and I personally think this town is one of the best town in Panama for single women. We have police, security, hospital, shopping, fire department, wonderful people who give a lot of support, good housing, and the beach

And I'm not the only who feels this way. We have people who lived in other parts of Panama and some who visited. like myself. But as soon as we came here to Puerto, we knew this was the place we wanted to stay. And this scenario is happening everyday.

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00abuse

As i wrote lots of folks like it.i dont knock it.
But to minimize the mosquito problem is wrong, as in " you are wrong"
i stoon maybe 1000 feet from beach with real estate person who was aghast at my swollen arms."My gosh you really did get bitten"
she wore a very long skirt and long sleeves.she knew better.
You are defending your turf.
thats cool.
seems like there is a push to get expats there, by persons with their own agendas.
thats cool too.
but dont tell me about mosquitos.
And walk around that little non descript town,takes 10 minutes,and tell me its not hot.
not a decent tienda or bar or restaurant except maybe the two tiny hotel/hostels,when they feel like opening.

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00abuse

I'm also 63 and single and I just attended the IL conference in Panama City. It was very informative.

I'm planning to rent a place in one of the cities (haven't decided which one) so that I can get a reality check.

Being single, of course you want to make sure that you choose a safe location just as you would for any country. Also, make sure that you REALLY think about what your new lifestyle might be because it will be different.

I'm going to "test" the lifestyle in a couple of cities of my choice and then decide. I'm going to keep an open mind.

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00abuse

Augieman,

From the way you just described Puerto Armuelles, I can see that it has been a long time since you have been here. A lot has changed and will be changing a lot more very soon,

I am not defending my turf. I have NOT encountered mosquitoes, even at the beach. I have been to several different beaches at various times throughout the day, even in the late evening, and I have not encountered a mosquito.

I answered this lady's question because I can relate to it. I've been where she is. I have no economic interest nor any business in Panama.

But what is your agenda? Why does it bother you so much that someone says something good about Puerto?

By the way, I've never seen any woman in Puerto wear a long skirt, except the native tribe. Women wear shorts, jeans and short dresses.

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00abuse

You can say all the wonderful things about PA You want.
Just dont tell me there are no mosquitos there.
And you must know Betsy the local real estate person.
She wore a long dress and sleeves,and dragged me away from the property in horror when she saw my swollen arms.last year, not long ago.
Folks need to use the search function here "international living" to view the very many comments about that outfit.
i do not appreciate being called a liar.

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00abuse

I am a seventy-year-old widow and will have my permanent pensionado visa in June. I feel completely safe traveling in Panama. My dogs and cats will make the permanent move with me. The only difficulty I have with Panama is the incredibly high property tax, which is 2.1%, so I am planning on building a home to take advantage of the property tax exemption.

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00abuse

Please check with your attorney.
Your permanent pensionado visa
is good for only 10 years.

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00abuse

So, if the longest-term visa (pensionada) is for 10 years, what are the expats there thinking they'll do when the 10 years are up - return home?

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00abuse

Please listen to the many expats who state NEVER buy or build until you have actually lived here full time for at least 6 months ,preferably a full year.
may i say very gently that trying to build a house in Panama is only for experienced builders, and they often fail.
please run searches on this forum for the horror stories so very many expats tell of trying to build in Panama.
Please.

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00abuse

A permanent pensionado visa with cedula has no expiration. What the heck are you talking about augieman?

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00abuse

My pensionada cedula with the large E,--"Carne de Residente PERMANENTE" ,states at bottom:
expedida 18-abr-2016. Expira: 18-abr-2026.
I would be pleased to know if other recently issued Carne's do not have expiration dates. to take to my attorneys for explanation.

Someone asked what to do after 10 years, go home?
Give it some thought.

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00abuse

Check "building in panama" on this site .look for ricobreeze long comment about 7/2016.
An excellent discussion of what you are up against from an experienced builder.

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00abuse

Everyones Cedula expires after 10 years, even natural borrn Panamanians. At which time you go to your local Tirbunal Electoral office and plunk down $40 and say I want to renew my Cedula. This process can be done at any TE office in the country only the first one needs to be done in PC.

My passport also expires in 10 years and, my drivers licence expires after 5 years.

Same as every other country in the world.

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00abuse

Check out the Azuero peninsular, Pedasi & Las Tablas.
Sonrisas PL

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00abuse

"Carne ---" interesting?

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00abuse

------ then trying to sell a house augieman. LOL

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00abuse

------ then trying to sell a house augieman. LOL

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00abuse

Yes but the renewal is not necessarily " automatic".
In that sense it is not permanent.

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00abuse

Lou cannot understand your comment re ....then trying to sell a house.?????

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00abuse

Go home? I haven't even moved there yet. I'm just at the "THINKING ABOUT IT" stage. LOL.

So, does this mean that your plan was to live in Panama no more than 10 years? I mean that could be my plan too after I check it out, but when you say, "go home" it sounds like you're not too happy living there and that you wouldn't recommend it.

It's always good to hear from people who warn you against moving there.

Thanks for the feedback augieman.

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00abuse

One correction, you only have to pay for the replacement cedula if it is lost or damaged, ones that expire are replaced for free as long as you turn in the expired one.

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00abuse

Thanks for the clarification StanleySankey. That makes sense. I thought that augieman meant that the "visa" wasn't permanent, not that the "card" expires.

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00abuse

gvida,

You need to make up your own mind about what is the right choice for you. I can introduce you to people that will tell you that Panama is the greatest place in the world, and I can introduce you to people that will tell you Panama is the largest pile of excrement that exists. Both views are valid depending on your experience and perspective. If you spends any amount of time on the ground here you will find that you will alternate between both views at some point in time as well as a thousand shades between them. As everything else in life you need to discover your own truth and that is always changing as circumstances change.

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00abuse

@ guvida
i never said go home.
You did.
I said give it,( what to do after 10 years) some thought, ie research your options.
Surely you would have thought about some sort of renewal,or at least speak with your attorney.
I would never tell anyone to come or go anywhere.

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00abuse

Sorry. Evidently, I misread when I saw "Someone asked what to do after 10 years, go home? Give it some thought." I asked if people go home after 10 years. Apparently, the expats renew their visas after 10 years.

My interpretation is that the pensionado visa has an unlimited extension (as of today), but requires renewal every 10 years.

I really do appreciate the feedback because even before people come to check the place out for months or years, we have to do research. I have come to rely on feedback from this group. Of course, I'm doing lots more research, but it helps to hear from the expats who are actually there.

Again, thanks augieman. I have the response that I was looking for.

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00abuse

This might just be sematics but just to clarify...the visa itself does not expire. The card just needs to be reissued after 10 years. And my Cedula does not have an expiration date on it at all. So apparently, some do and others don't.

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00abuse

And to clarify further: there are 2 cards under discussion here. The first is the plastic card with photo that is the actual Pensionado Visa. Mine is indefinite. The second - after you receive the Visa, you then apply for the Cedula, which may or may not have a 10-year expiry. Expiry of the Cedula - which is primarily an identification card - would not affect the validity of the Visa.

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00abuse

Hi,
I am a 69 year old woman in the process of moving to La Chorrera with 3 dogs and will be arriving at my house on Mar 16. I feel very safe there. La Chorrera is 7 km from the Pacific but the beach is not great for a beach person. You may want to look in the area north of there if you want to hang around on the beach. My house is maybe 3 or 4 kilometers from the coast and I get a constant breeze and I have everything I can need near me from shopping to medical care including English speaking. There is even a Veteran's Service Officer in La Chorrera. Contact me if you want to talk about the move and what info I have amassed. My email is tjdabosstx@sbcglobal.net

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00abuse