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Residence Permit under 10% of Ordinary Personnel

Obtain your residency through a work contract with a Panamanian company that has the capacity to hire foreigners on its payroll.

Panamanian companies can grant you a residence permit if you are one of the foreign employees on their team, following the rule of one foreigner for every ten national employees.
To apply for this residency, your minimum monthly salary must be $850.
You can include your family group (spouse, children, and parents) in your application.
In just 5 days, you will start the process of your residency, with final approval in a maximum of 6 months.
This residence grants you a work permit with the company that hires you.

Main Applicant
$3,000

Dependents ea
$2,200

Under 12 years old
$1,400

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Detail

Who can apply?

Any foreigner who is sponsored by a Panamanian company under its regular employee payroll and earns a monthly salary equal to or greater than $850.

[ Conditions to obtain this 10% Visa in Panama ]

The foreigner must be hired by a Panamanian company with a payroll of at least 10 nationals. This company must provide other documents for the Residence process, such as the Clearance Certificate from the DGI, Social Security payroll, the payroll of registered workers, and the earned salaries. It is mandatory in this Residence Permit to process the work permit.

A Visa for the Whole Family

The foreign employee who has been hired may include in their application their spouse, children (under 25 years old, single, who are studying in Panama), and their parents.

A entry for Permanent Residency

With the Residence Permit as an ordinary employee under 10%, you will obtain a Provisional residence for two (2) years, and after this period, you will have the right to apply for Permanent residence. Permanent residence is for an indefinite period.

Work Permit

This residence permit implies a work permit with the contracting company. It is valid for 2 years and renewable for 3 years. This work permit is mandatory.

Our lawyers review every detail of your application to ensure its successful approval

Power of Attorney and Request (notarized).
Three (3) photographs.
Properly certified copy of the passport (Notary or corresponding authority).
Criminal Record Certificate.
Health Certificate.
Certified Check for B/.250.00 in favor of the National Treasury.
Certified Check for B/.800.00 in favor of the National Migration Service.
Affidavit of Personal Background Form.
Employment Contract endorsed by the Ministry of Labor.
Employment letter on company letterhead, signed by the legal representative of the company, stating position and salary.
Copy of the Company's Operation Notice.
Simple copy of the company's certificate of validity issued by the Public Registry.
Work Permit.
Proof of affiliation to the Social Security Fund and a copy of the card.
National Tax Clearance Certificate of the company.
In the case of dependents: Upon the expiration of this residence, you may apply for Permanent Residence. The previous requirements will be presented with the exception of the Criminal Record Certificate, proof of affiliation to the CSS, and the Checks.
1. Letter of Responsibility.
2. Proof of kinship.
3. Proof of address.
4. Over 18 years old must present a certificate of single status and certified studies.

Upon the expiration of this residence, you may apply for Permanent Residence. The previous requirements will be presented except for the criminal record certificate, proof of affiliation to the CSS, and the checks.

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Process

How do we work at Legalys?

Validate online that you qualify for this residency and that you have the necessary documents.
Download the requirements, a family budget, and get a free call from our team to clarify any questions.
If you include your family group, validate the supporting documents of your affiliation (Birth Certificates, Marriage Certificates).
Get an online quote to lock in the rate for 90 days.
We will enable your user account on our platform ORBIS so that I can upload all the documents to our cloud.
Our team will review that all your documents are appropriate to apply for this visa.
We will coordinate with you your visit to Panama or the start of your process if you are already here.
Once the process is started, you will have your provisional Resident Card in your hands in 5 days.

Price

Main Applicant

$3,000

Dependents

$2,200

Dependents under 12 years old

$1,400

All immigration fees and processing costs are included in this rate.

$350 Notary fees, forms, processing and provisional card, multiple entry visa.

$250 Treasury Check

$800 Check to National Migration Services

$1,600 Professional Fees.

The most competitive rates with the most experienced team in Migration.

Unlimited access to our platformORBIS - Track the status of your application online, with direct assistance available at all times.

All our rates include ITBMS taxes.

Assistance

Assistance Center

These are some common questions about the Residence Permit under the 10% of Ordinary Personnel in Panama.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Residence Permit under the 10% of ordinary personnel in Panama?

It is a Residence Permit in Panama granted to foreigners hired by Panamanian companies under the 10% ordinary personnel figure. This Visa allows companies to include foreign workers in non-specialized positions, as long as they do not exceed 10% of their total payroll in terms of the number of workers and salary..

How many foreign workers can a company have under 10% of regular staff?

It depends on the size of the payroll. The calculation is as follows: 10 Panamanian employees on the payroll = 1 foreigner allowed; 20 Panamanian employees = 2 foreigners; 100 Panamanian employees = up to 10. The percentage is calculated based on the total number of Panamanian workers registered with the Social Security Fund of Panama and their salaries. Legalys advises the company to determine exactly how many foreigners it can incorporate..

What is the salary requirement for foreign workers hired by a company with less than 10% of ordinary staff in Panama?

The salary of the foreign worker must meet two simultaneous conditions: The salary cannot be less than $850.00 per month, and the salary of the foreign worker must not exceed 10% of the total salaries earned by all Panamanian employees of the company..

The 10% Residence Permit includes a foreign work permit in Panama?

Yes. The 10% Residence Permit in Panama is processed simultaneously with the 10% work permit, which speeds up the process for the applicant. Both procedures are managed at the same time, and once the work permit is approved, the immigration residence is approved..

Who is requesting this permit, the employee or the company?

The process is joint. The employer company sponsors the application and provides corporate documentation (commercial registration, clearance from the CSS, updated payroll, documents of the legal representative), while the worker provides their personal documentation. At Legalys, we coordinate with both parties to ensure the process is smooth and efficient.

What is the difference between the 10% of ordinary staff and the permit for professional foreigners?

10% of regular staff applies for general positions without requiring specialized qualifications. The Professional Foreign Worker permit applies to workers with specialized university education in positions that can be held by them. Legalys determines which modality corresponds to the worker's profile and the position before starting the process.

The 10% work permit is renewable?

This residence permit implies a work permit with the contracting company. Its validity is for 2 years and renewable for 3 years. This work permit is mandatory to process..

I can include my family group in my residency application for the 10%?

The immigration law allows you to include your spouse, unmarried children under 25 years old (if they are over 18 and under 25, they must be studying in Panama), and your parents in this Residence Permit. You can include your family group at the time you make your request or later, with no time limit.

The 10% residence permit can be converted into permanent residence?

With the Residence Permit as a regular employee under 10%, you will obtain a provisional residence for two (2) years, and after this period, you will have the right to apply for Permanent residence. Permanent residence is for an indefinite period.

What happens if you resign from the company or are fired?

Your residency remains valid for the duration it has been granted (2 years) and you may seek another company to hire you under the same conditions in order to apply for permanent residency once this period expires.

Can I apply to this Residency with a job offer?

You cannot. It is necessary to have a signed employment contract validated by the Ministry of Labor..