FAQ - The Most Frequently Asked Questions for Those Planning to Move to Panama
1. What about a visa?
2. How can I ship my car and household goods?
3. What about buying furniture and appliances in Panama?
4. Is there anything like a Home Depot?
5. What about other shopping for clothes
6. Grocery Stores
7. How can I safely send and receive mail in Panama?
8. Can I get a job in Panama?
9. How can I get around Panama City and get all the things I need?
10. What about meeting fellow Americans?
1. What about a visa?
There are two main kinds of visas. If you can prove a minimum of $600.00 in monthly income, you get a Retirement (pensionado) visa regardless of your age. If you want to start a business, you can get an investors visa. This usually requires a $200,000 temporary deposit in Panama to show you have the funds to begin a business. Soon there will be another visa for persons who purchases a home, mortgage free for $200,000 or more. Another alternative is not to get a visa right away but to go back and forth on a tourist visa which presently gives you up to 90 days.
What is the most important advice you would give me?
Our most important advise would be to be sure for whatever you do that involves legal work, that you retain a reputable lawyer. That means using one of the law firms listed on our Law Firm page or a law firm that is a member of the American Chamber of Commerce. See our Law Firms and Services for Relocation to Panama pages for listings. You can also listen to the advice of other ex-pats who recommend lawyers but the best guarantee is to work with a lawyer that belongs to a reputable firm. The main reason we emphasize this is that if you get into trouble because you have an imcompetent or crooked lawyer, you can't resolve things quickly like in the States. Panama's legal system is very slow and complicated.
2. How can I ship my car and household goods?
Ship from any shipping company in the USA-Panama is a close and convenient port. Most people can put all their household goods in one 40 foot container. This can be loaded right in front of your house in the States and brought to the front of your house in Panama.
There are no import taxes on importation of your household goods. ( There is some rule that there is no tax on up to $10,000.00 worth of household goods but no one is going to be able to say exactly how much all your used household goods are worth, so not to worry.)
For your car, it can be put in your container or shipped separately. Whether you are a Retiree or not, taxes will apply for your car.
For customs entry and processing your goods and car once you arrive, you just hire a customs broker who will get things out for you- the charge is reasonable.
3. What about buying furniture and appliances in Panama?
No problem. Prices are comparable to US prices, but don’t expect sales. At Furniture City in Panama and David you can order from extensive US furniture catalogs if you don’t find what you like on the floor. There are also a number of upscale furniture stores in Panama City. Banyan Leaf in Panama City has a magnificent selection of both Oriental and Western furniture and accessories.
For appliances, Raenco and Do-It Center in Panama City are excellent. Price Costco in Panama City and David also has some good deals, but a limited selection.
4. Is there anything like a Home Depot?
Do-it Center and Novey Center come the closest-you will find the basics for your do-it-yourself needs.
5. What about other shopping for clothes?
We recommend you buy all your clothes in the States. Clothes, especially for women are hard to find because the clothes sizes are for the more petite woman and just don’t fit Americans. Two exceptions- the department store Felix B Maduro at the Multicentro Mall and BMB at Albrook Mall. Feliz Maduro has a number of standard American brands, but nothing inexpensive. Their Liz Claiborne store is the best American clothes store in Panama- but no bargains. BMB in Albrook Mall is our favorite place-almost all well known American brands like Liz Claiborne and at 30-50% discounts.
6. Grocery Stores:
We have been all over Latin American and do hereby declare that Panama has the best American-style supermarkets anywhere. El Rey and Riba Smith are very complete and large supermarkets with well trained personnel. Riba Smith which has only 3 stores, all in Panama City, is popular with Americans because it has the most American goods and a housebrand of prepared foods that are delicious- don’t miss the chicken pot pie,lasagna and their ice cream. El Rey has a store in almost every neighborhood and also in Coronado and David. Spotless, well-organized, and with friendly personnel- So enjoy.
7. How can I safely send and receive mail in Panama?
The Panamanian mail system is not reliable- we don’t recommend it for anything. Fortunately there are two excellent companies dedicated receiving and sending your mail as well as bringing stuff you have ordered over the internet etc: Air Box Express and Mail Boxes Etc. Airbox Express delivers your mail and packages directly to your home. Mail Boxes receives them at the offices where you can go pick them up. They give you your own PO Box address in Miami. They bring your mail from Miami for a starting fee of about $25 a month. These mail services are invaluable for life in Panama. For more info see Air Box Express.
8. Can I get a job in Panama?
The best way at this time to work in Panama is to set up your own business. At this time, to get a job at a Panamanian business is very difficult because of laws limiting foreign employees. There are even specific laws forbidding for example foreign lawyers, doctors, translators, university professors etc. to work here. These laws will most probably be modified in the short term as Panama’s booming economy needs more skilled persons, but for now it is the reality.
9. How can I get around Panama City and get all the things I need?
For the newly arrived, Panama City is chaotic and not easy to get around by car. For stress-free and fun shopping, if you can, we recommend you hire a personal driver with fluent English. Judy Tovar of Easy Travel Panama is a great choice. Contact Judy at: email: easytravel@cwpanama.net/Cell Phone: 507.6617-4122
10. What about meeting fellow Americans?
There are three excellent organizations for Americans and others. Expats in Panama hosts a monthly dinner meeting at a local restaurant and it is the best place to start. www.expatsinpanama.com There isNewcomers Club for women-Contact Sandra Snyder: Tel:264.0567 and The American Society. In Boquete there's a monthly meeting at the Panamonte Hotel.
If you are a businessman, join the American Chamber of Commerce. It is a great place to network and learn the ropes from fellow businessmen.
