The application process for the FNV begins with filing the initial application with the immigration office for a Temporary Residency Permit. Keep in mind that throughout the duration of the entire visa application process, you will be assisted by an attorney, or law firm who will handle practically all of the paperwork and back-and-forth with the government departments, only calling on you to fill out a few forms, sign a few documents, and show up to appointments which mark progress along the path to residency. 

Expect approximately 3 – 6 months to finalize the initial application and receive a provisional residency permit. Once the provisional residency permit is issued, it is valid for 2 years, during which the applicant must maintain the requirements mentioned in the next section below.

After two years, the holder may apply for permanent residency through this same program. This may also take up to 6 months but once the application is approved, the provisional residency permit is replaced by a permanent residency permit.Congrats!

Requirements which need to be met for the FNV are relatively simple. As of the date of publishing of this guidebook, the current requirements are as follows:

• Five passport size photos (must be headshots, and appear to be professionally taken)
• Passport plus a second ID, such as a driver’s license or state ID.
• In terms of economic capacity, the applicant will need to provide one of the following: 
  • Employment contract in Panama, requiring an employment contract between the applicant and a Panamanian company. Note, the applicant can be a shareholder, or on the board of directors of the company, or even the sole owner of the company. This means you can create a company in Panama, and then create yourself an employment contract with that company, thereby meeting the economic capacity requirement of the FNV.
  • Real Estate Ownership: Requires the applicant to own a titled property in Panama with a registered value of at least $200,000 USD.
  • Certificate of Deposit: Deposit of at least $200,000 USD in a national bank in Panama.
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    • Background Check A clean criminal record from the country of citizenship, or country of residence for the last two years (in this case proof of residency in said country is also required). The criminal record  must be national, so for the U.S. for example, it must be from the FBI.
• Fixed Cost of $800.00 USD certified check issued to the National Immigration Service.
• Fixed Cost of $250.00 USD certified check issued to the National Treasury for the application fee.
• Health Certificate issued by a local doctor within the last 90 days prior to submitting the application. Don’t worry, you aren’t expected to be in fantastic health and impressive athletic condition in order to acquire residency! 
• Sworn declaration signed by applicant.

To obtain Permanent Residency, the applicant must have held the provisional residency for at least 2 years and still be able to meet the same requirements as the provisional permit. An additional application for permanent residency will be completed at this time, with assistance from your attorney/chosen law firm. 

Including Dependents: If the applicant wants to include his/her spouse, a marriage certificate (valid for 6 months only) and all the requirements listed above must be presented. If the application includes dependent children, you must include the birth certificate for each of them, along with the above mentioned requirements.