Applicable Procedure and Processing Time

At Delvalle & Delvalle we manage the visa process divided into 5 steps and 3 different quotes/payments.

First Step – Creation of the Corporation;

Most of the times when the clients contact us, they are not in Panama and ask about costs, procedures and how to begin the process.

After clarifying the abovementioned information and having approved the 3 quotes, we begin from the first step which is creating the corporation. The client may begin the process to create the corporation before their trip, since it can be done from abroad, so we encourage our clients to begin with this.

In order for our firm to initiate the process to create the corporation, the client must pay for the first installment.

At Delvalle & Delvalle we are experts on corporate issues and can advise you on the best way to form a corporation to meet the migratory requirements.

Once the corporation creation process has finished, we consult with the client regarding their arrival date in Panama which leads to the second step.

Second Step – Introduction to Open the Bank Account

In order to apply for the friendly countries visa, a fundamental requirement is for the applicant to keep a personal bank account in one of the local Banks with a minimum balance of US$5,000.00, at Delvalle & Delvalle we specialize in the introduction to open personal as well as corporate bank accounts. At this point it is very important for the client to be advised correctly regarding the requirements and the type of bank process that is more convenient for them.

Before we perform this process we carefully analyze your account profile in order to determine with which bank the process is fastest.

For further information on the requirements for opening an account please visit; https://www.delvallepanama.com/es/Cuentas-Bancarias-Offshore/informacion-general.html

After coordinating a travel date, we set up an appointment at our offices and then with the recommended bank. The 2nd installment must be paid at the appointment at our offices before going to the corresponding bank interview.

Most of the clients will also require an introduction for opening a corporate account (in the name of the corporation they are opening), even if it is not a requirement for the visa, it is almost mandatory if the applicant intends to operate in Panama using their company, regardless if its offshore or onshore.

The period of time that it takes to open a bank account, depending on the circumstances may be between 4-5 days up to 1-2 weeks.

For the personal account, which is required for immigration, the account must be approved and the initial deposit must be deposited in the bank in order for the bank to issue a certified letter to immigration indicating that you have an account with them and that you hold the minimum required amount in that account.

Many clients prefer to travel to first in order to open the account since they don’t wish to remain in Panama for that long, taking into account that the process to open a bank account can last between 1-2 weeks and then the client must be present in Panama for the formal request of the visa, that client would have to be in Panama at least two (2) weeks more, for this reason, many clients take two trips, one for opening the account and another for requesting the visa, especially when the principal applicant has dependants.

Third Step – Affiliation/ Presentation of the Application for Friendly Countries Visa/ Obtaining the provisional residence ID card/ Obtaining the Multiple Entry Visa in order to enter and leave the country as a resident in processing.

Once the bank account has been approved, the client has made his initial deposit and the bank has issued the certification, we are then ready to submit your visa application.
If the client has decided to do all of the process in a single trip, it is required that they bring some documentation from their countries which we will detail further ahead.

The principal applicant as well as all of their dependants that will be applying are required to be in Panama during the procedure to submit the application until the multiple visa has been given.

When all of the requirements have been gathered, we will meet in our offices to review the documentation, sign documents and set up the first visit to the Migration Offices for the affiliation process.

The client must pay the 3rd invoice in its entirety, by using any of our payment methods available, before we present the Visa.

After setting up the first visit to immigration, a member of our staff will accompany the principal applicant and their dependants (should they exist) to the affiliation procedure which will be done once we have ensured that the file is complete and ready to be presented. The affiliation process is started early in the morning and may take up to a few hours. As is mentioned earlier it is necessary for the clients to be present at the department of immigration offices.

After finalizing this process, the account representative from Delvalle & Delvalle that assisted you at the affiliation will remain with the original Passport(s) from the clients as they will be needed to submit the application.

The formal application is normally presented by our team within 1 to 2 days after the affiliation has been carried out. When the application is accepted by the migration department, the residency Identification Carnets are given out. The photograph for this may be taken on the day the application is accepted or the following day depending on the time. The process for taking pictures and such may last between 2-3 hours.

After the client has obtained their residency in process identification, we proceed on that very day to begin processing the multiple entry visa for the applicant to be able to travel, enter and exit the country, as a resident in processing, and without losing this migratory status. This visa will be required for the principal applicant as well as for the dependants, should they exist. Once again our team will keep the original passports from the client in order to process this visa (since it is stamped into the passport), which can take approximately three (3) business days.

Our work team is in charge of picking up the corresponding Passports from the authorities once the multiple entry visa process has concluded. The client will be notified to come to our offices to pick up the Passports which concludes the third step.

Fourth Step – Definite approval of the Visa / Notification of the resolution / obtaining permanent card.

After approving the visa, we will be notified of this resolution and the client will be notified immediately to schedule their trip (if they are not in Panama (to take the photograph for the corresponding permanent card. We will once again schedule a meeting in our offices, to gathers the original passport(s) from the client so that we can begin the process to take the photograph for the permanent resident card, which is given the day after the passport is delivered to our offices. Once again a member of our team will go to the migration offices to accompany the client to carry out this process. After having taken the picture the client will immediately receive this permanent residence card, their original passport and the original resolution that approves the visa.

Fifth Step – Obtaining the Panamanian Identification Cedula Card as a Foreign Resident.

A month must be waited from the time when the Department of Migration has approved the Visa, so that the applicant can go to the Electoral Tribunal to request their Panamanian citizenship. Our team will notify you when this is possible and will accompany you to the institution to obtain the document. Completing this will finalize the process.