An official request issued a week ago by the Panamanian Government has caused a great deal of perplexity among the expat group in Panama. The request was interpreted by many as meaning that Panama was decreasing the length that tourists could stay in the nation for one stay from 180 days to 90 days. Numerous in the English and Spanish media announced this. Subsequent to counseling a few migration legal advisors, all who read the request and interpreted it to imply that the visa length had been decreased to 90 days.
So what was the deal? The fact of the matter is that the Panamanian government made a significantly more minor executive change to migration law than everybody thought. The request, Decreto Ejecutivo 590, essentially decreased the time frame that a transitory home permit was conceded for those during the time spent applying for residency down from one year to just 6 months. The request caused perplexity, on the grounds that in it, it mentioned a section setting the length of the tourist visa at 90 days. Nonetheless, this was not change from existing law.
Tourist visas have dependably been legitimate by law for 90 days, yet naturally stretched out for 180 days by official activity. Many hoped that the incorporation of this section implied that the visa time frame had been changed to 90 days. Be that as it may, the government has elucidated that this is not the situation.
Additional doubt was cast on the govern changing from 180 days, as a few expats who came into the nation after the announcement detailed that they were told by immigration that it was still 180 days. The one-year brief permit issued to visitors while they finish the procedure to gain stable or transitory residence has now been reduced to six months. This shouldn’t be a major problem, given that migration issues are normally settled within six months for a wide range of candidates.
Also, in March 2017, the administration reported stricter enforcement of entry under tourist visas more extensively. Guests entering Panama on traveler visas will now need to leave the nation for at least 30 days before re-entering once again. Colombians, Venezuelans, and Nicaragua visas have also been reduced to 90 days.
Lastly, US Immigration administrations said something subsequent to being reached by numerous Americans over the perplexity with respect to the law, and issued this announcement: “In view of various request from U.S. nationals in Panama with respect to Decree No.590 dated December 28, 2016, the Consular Section reached the Panamanian Servicio Nacional de Migracion (SNM or Panamanian Immigration Office) for additional elucidation on the time span U.S. Residents can remain in Panama as tourists. The SNM affirmed that U.S. residents (and in addition, citizens of the UK, Canada, and Australia) are still permitted to enter Panama without a Panamanian visa, and they can remain for up to 180 days as tourists.”
This elucidation has been quite valued, as the underlying request, and the absence of clarification and proper scope of the request in Panamanian press just encouraged disarray. Numerous expats will be eased to realize that they can, in any case, remain in the nation for 180 days at a time on a tourist visa. Please note, though, this is just for the individuals who already could go into Panama for 180 days simply using their international ID. On the off chance that you are from a nationality that entails a visa, your guidelines might be distinctive, and make sure to check with your nation’s office.
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