Too many foreigners pretending to be retired Immigration clamps down on visa abuses
By Steven Rich
Life used to be easy for foreigners in Panama. They automatically renewed their 90 - day tourist cards without hassles. Everyone over 18 years old getting, $500 or more a month from his or her own company could call it a "pension" and qualify for a Pensionado Visa. But Panama is clamping down on immigration visa requirements, because of abuse by applicants.
Pensionado Visas now require a letter from a government entity or private company stating that the applicant receives a lifetime minimum $500 per month (plus $100 for a spouse and each dependant).
Letters from private companies must now state what job title the applicant held and the company's complete contact information including physical address, telephone number, and e - mail address.
Panama´s Immigration Department requires proof of at least five previous pension payments. Some immigration officials only accept internationally recognized corporations and it seems that whoever processes your application has lots of discretion now.
Police clearance reports are now required for the applicant and the spouse. Local police clearance reports are not enough. Immigration wants a national police clearance report or computer printout from a national criminal database showing no criminal convictions.
Those younger than 50 are now closely scrutinized because Immigration believes that too many young, non - retired foreigners are applying as pensioners.
The original spirit and intent of the Pensionado Visa law was to qualify adults with social security or medical disability payments, private pension plans, or military pensions for the special visa. But now, too many foreigners pretend to be retired or pensioners and create phony companies with fake pension plans.
Tourist visas, too Tourist visa extensions used to be an automatic 90 days, no questions asked.
On May 22 Panama eliminated the automatic 90 - day tourist visa for a 30 - day one. Instead of two more 90 - day extensions, Immigration now only allows one extension up to 60 days for a maximum 90 - day stay.
