Welcome to our July 2018 immigration update. This month we are having a brief look at how Panama is getting all illegal Chinese immigrants to register with immigration. We are also looking briefly at the situation regarding applications from India for stamped visas, the ILO (OIT) conference held in Panama in June, and basic requirements for a tourist visa when you arrive at the Tocumen Airport (for those who don’t require a stamped or authorised visa).
Chinese immigrants
In June, the director of immigrant, Javier Carrillo, requested that all illegal Chinese immigrants come forward and register at immigration. Executive Decree 183 (May 28, 2018) approved these applications and establishes that Chinese immigrants must pay $2,500.00 (for an individual). These applications no longer pass through the Security Council, since the change in October 2017 to stamped visas for Chinese citizens. Now, the immigration department will accept their immigration application process under the Crisol de Razas system. The system was previously offered for Venezuelan, Nicaraguan and other illegal over-stayers.
We note that this process is only available to those Chinese citizens with more than 2 years in Panama. As of July 1st, they are invited to register for an appointment at www.migracion.gob.pa. Upon approval, they receive a 2-year temporary permit (leave to stay). After this two-year period is completed, they may request permanent residency. For permanent residency they must provide tax returns or employment, criminal record from the DIJ, etc. Furthermore, minors must be enrolled in school.
Back to Zero…
During the month of June, and in response to the previous news of cancelling more than 750 visa applications with fraudulent documents, the immigration department announced that it would allow those applicants to reapply. This means that the applicants whose visas were reviewed and rejected because of documentation obtained fraudulently through the tax department or Social Security are back to zero.
However, for many of these immigrants, this will mean a huge sigh of relief. Initially it had been indicated that they would all be deported. However, the majority of these applicants were from Venezuela, and there is an attempt to assist them to get their paperwork in order. They are now required to restart their immigration process and present the documentation as required.
Following the investigations, new measures have been put in place in the CSS (social security), DGI (tax department) and the immigration office.
In 2017 more than 5,000 foreigners were deported from Panama by the Immigration department.
2018 Labour Migration conference
June 22-26th – Panama was the host at PARLATINO (Latin American Parlament) of the International Labour Organisation conference. This conference centered on labour immigration and was aimed at immigration professionals (particularly of government and NGO backgrounds). The conference opened with an introduction by the Minister of Labour, Luis Ernesto Carles, who commented on the many professionals and manual labourers who have immigrated to Panama over the past century. These immigrants are from all over the world, although many are from our neighbouring countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Nicaragua. Nevertheless, we also have many immigrants from China and even the United States.
The conference looked at the social, cultural and political implications of immigration – for both the country of origin as well as for Panama. Conference members discussed the benefits and controversies that immigration brings to the host country. These issues include an education policy that ensures that our national work force is properly educated. As new niches arise in a changing world, Panama cannot simply bringing in foreigners to fill these gaps.
Tourist visa requirements
There are currently three types of visas to arrive in Panama as a tourist:
- authorised visas – requested through the Panamanian Consulate and passed to the Security Council for approval
- stamped visas – requested through the Panamanian Consulate and approved at the Consulate following review by an “in house” immigration office
- tourist card issued at the airport
When you arrive in Panama, if you are not required to have an authorised visa or stamped visa, you must still show that you qualify for the tourist card (by the way, they no longer give you the card).
The basic requirements are:
- Valid passport (must have at least 6 months valid in it, because you are allowed to stay up to 6 months in Panama on the tourist card). It should not be expiring during these 6 months (even if your trip is only for 2 weeks)
- Return ticket or ongoing ticket – unless you have residency in Panama already, you are required to have a return ticket or ongoing ticket. You cannot have a one-way ticket to Panama
- Economic solvency – you must have a way to show that you can cover your own costs while in Panama. Typically, this requires that you certify you have at least $500.00 available to you (in cash or credit card).
For more information regarding our immigration services, please do not hesitate to contact us.