Work Permit established by special immigration conditions

Pursuant to Executive Decree No. 6 of 2023, relevant changes are introduced in the regulation of labor immigration, including the creation of the category of Work Permit established by special immigration conditions.

Foreigners who have one of the following immigration categories can apply for said work permit:

1. National migrant worker from specific countries that maintain friendly, professional, economic and investment relations with the Republic of Panama;
2. Migrant worker with a Residence Permit authorized by the General      Immigration Regularization program;
3. Professional migrant worker;
4. Migrant worker for family reunification for resident dependents.
5. Students.

Applicants must comply with the conditions of self-employed or employed, to wit:

• Self-Employed: when the applicant is found to be properly developing a permitted income-generating activity or is self-employed directly in a condition of economic dependence or legal subordination and not developing activities that are by law for Panamanians.

For this procedure, a Notice of Operation must be provided in the name of the applicant and the Single Taxpayer Registry and for the extension, an Income Tax Declaration must be submitted.

• Employed: when the applicant maintains an employment relationship based to an employment contract under the conditions of legal subordination and economic dependence. In this case, the Ministry of Labor will apply the percentage rules established by law for the hiring of foreigners, i.e., 10% or 15% of the Panamanian workforce of the company that does the hiring.