While I have heard a lot of chatter from various law firms touting the new Visa laws and the ease to obtain one along with a work permit, I decided to ask my attorney who processes thousands of visa applications including forestry and investor visas, work permits and more to see what was the real story.  Here is what he tells me.  So before you plunk down a thousand dollars thinking it will be a piece of cake, check with competent counsel please.  I hate getting the calls and emails after the fact about getting screwed over.

Tom, obtaining this New Permanent Work Permit is not so simple.
First the foreigner has to be hired by a Panamanian corporation with minimum wage and social security benefits. Only 10% of the working force can be foreign.
If the corporation has less than 10 workers then the salary of the foreigner has to be at least $1000 plus $250 per each dependent.
The worker also has to file for a Permanent Residency Card at the Immigration Office presenting labor contract, good health certificates, criminal background checks, marriage license (if applying with wife), birth certificates (for children), social security receipts, etc.
The immigration office demands from the foreigner a $800 repatriation deposit plus a $250 fee. We charge $1500 for the Permanent Residency of the principal person and $250 per each dependent.
The foreigner (assisted by his attorneys) has to take the residency card and other paperwork to the Ministry of Labor to then apply for the permanent work permit.