Exploring The Friendliest Side Of Panama: Country Visa Requirements For Spouses In The Friendly Nations

The residency visas in Panama are straightforward, but they do have their edges. A frequent question we are asked at Mundo is closely connected to Panama visa requirements within the Friendly Nations.

When it comes to dependents, programs get more complicated. Besides presenting documents for themselves, the main applicants will have to submit documents and forms for all the members of the family: the more the merrier, and also the more documents to submit. Let's delve into Friendly Nations and the spouse residency requirement.

 A Panama Visa Policy That Favors Certain Nationalities

First things first. Let's summarize what FN is about. Its origins place it in 2012, when the country was in its heyday regarding development. It wasn't long before when the state-of-the-art skyscrapers started to appear across the city, not only giving it a cosmopolitan vibe, but a stylish ground for huge business growth.

This is when the government understood that supporting foreigners was a good idea. They were helping shape the nation's business structure, whose rise was based on healthy policies.

On the other hand, the newcomers were renting apartments, eating in restaurants, booking hotels, and buying homes. All in all, they were spending money in the country, and this was something to encourage. 

To foster this win-win situation, new Panama visa requirements had to be stipulated. They had to be innovative and flexible enough to provide residency for those people. Moreover, they had to be focused on individuals whose talent was going to help the process. This was the birth of the Friendly Nations Visa Program.

Panama Country Visa Requirements: Financial Commitment

However, they weren't just going to give it away. From day one, there has been a key condition which is proving to have financial ties with the country. Thus, if you were hired by a Panamanian company or would establish your own business, you could apply to the Friendly Nations Visa Program to obtain immediate permanent residency.

It was unprecedented for the time to grant the possibility of permanent residency without an investment, especially with golden visas on the other side of the ocean that wouldn't ever go below a couple of hundred thousand euros. In Panama, there wasn't anything like it because the Qualified Investor Visa didn't exist yet. 

Changes In The Friendly Nations Visa Program

Like the country, each Panama visa policy has evolved. Now, the only program to grant immediate permanent residency is the Qualified Investor.

Once the government set forth its own version of the golden visa, Friendly Nations slowly slid into a different square on the board. Now it grants a 2-year residency while the Panama visa requirements have become tighter, especially when it comes to businesspeople. While before establishing a company was enough, now applicants must establish a company and hire themselves. 

Apply for the Friendly Nations

Spouse, Residency, and Nationality 

Requirement number one is being a citizen of one of the approximately 50 friendly jurisdictions. There's nothing one can do to circumvent this because even acquiring a new nationality may not be sufficient if you weren’t born there. The field is open, however, for the spouse.

Many wonder whether the spouse can be included in the application if not from one of the designated nations, and, luckily, they can. Our experts have encountered situations in which the main applicant was American and their spouse from Peru, and others in which the main applicant was from Brazil and his wife from Russia. 

Certainly, this helps keep the program accessible for more people who want to access the incredible benefits of the country. 

Other Dependents

Naturally, the applicant can include children if they are younger than 18 years of age. After 18, children must study at the university, and due proof must be provided. In all cases, relations must be proven through birth certificates and certificates of marriage.

Disclaimer: The information in this article must not be interpreted as a legal consultation, and the reader should not base their decision solely on this information. Before applying for a residency in Panama, make sure to consult with certified professionals.

Reach Out To Mundo And Move To Panama: Country Visa Requirements Made Easy

At Mundo, we have ample experience in all Panama-related services. Our team has deep expertise in every Panama visa policy and knows each one of the programs. If you're going for the Qualified Investor, we can help you find the suitable real estate that will open the doors to the program and, therefore, to the country. Also, consult with us about companies, banking, and structures to protect wealth.

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