Panama · Step by Step
Key Facts
Two approvals needed. A foreigner working for a Panamanian employer needs both a work permit from MITRADEL (the labour ministry) and an immigration permit from the Servicio Nacional de Migración.
It starts with a job offer. The employer is the sponsor; you cannot generally apply for an open-ended work visa on your own without a position.
Foreign-staff cap. Companies are broadly limited in the share of foreign workers they may employ, commonly cited as around 10 percent of the payroll, with several exceptions — confirm the current rules with a Panamanian attorney.
