Requirements for a Panama Citizenship?

Panamanian citizenship can only be acquired after five years of legal residence and full immigrant status. Citizenship may be applied for by all foreigners who have been conferred immigrant status (i.e. not pensionado or retiree residence status), after a period of five years following the date of approval of the Immigrant Visa (“Provisional Resident Permit”). For immigrants married to Panamanians or with Panamanian children, this period is reduced to three years.
With the new migratory Law, Citizenship is still obtainable but the permanent nature of them has been removed. The citizenship from Panama doesn’t exist. If one lives in Panama for 18 years under the new law and deposits fees in the bank to obtain the residency but then die, the surviving spouse would need to submit her own visa application with her own bank deposit otherwise would lose her status in the country. If you wish to live in Panama it is still not hard to get a residency just will not have any permanence to it.
To apply for Panamanian citizenship the following documents are required:
- Five testimonials, rendered before a Civil Court of Panama, by five witnesses, who cannot be relatives, acknowledging that the applicant is known to them and has lived in Panama for more than three years or five years, according to the case, on an uninterrupted basis, from the date the Immigrant Visa was granted.
- Negative HIV Test; X Rays of the lungs, and a general medical certificate attesting that the applicant does not suffer from any physical, mental or infectious diseases.
- Notarized copy of the entiry passport (i.e. every page of the passport).
- Two passport photographs.
- Various fees and stamp duties, totalling about US$600.
- Written statement renouncing to the previous nationality. However, such renunciation may have no effect , whatsoever in the country of the applicants current citizenship.
- Stamps in the total amount of US$ 300, which must be adhered to the Letter of Naturalization. (Stamps may be bought when the Letter of Naturalization is issued).
- Letter from the employer or banking reference letter or any other document certifying the monetary solvency of the applicant; and the Social Security Fund Record if the applicant works in Panama.
- Power of Attorney to request a Certificate from the Personal Identification Division attesting to the date of issuance of the “Cédula” (Identiy card).
- Upon filing of the application for a Letter of Naturalization, the applicant will be required to appear before the Electoral Tribunal to the effect of rendering examinations on Spanish language and geography, history and civil rights of the Republic of Panama
New Citizens will be able to obtain a passport and Personal ID card, which give them the rights vote for their desire candidate during elections, in the same way they acquire other Constitutional rights and duties of the Country.

2. To appear before the Governor of the Province of Panama so as to solemnly swear that the Panama Constitution and laws shall be respected. US$ 200 will have to be paid to the Governor’s Office, in terms of official fees.

3. To be registered as a Panamanian Citizen before the Electoral Tribunal and to obtain a new “Cedula” for which it will be necessary to pay the amount of US$ 60.

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