A new edict orders procedures which are very similar to the “melting pot” held under previous administrations, in order to regularize the status of undocumented immigrants.

As with any new legislation there may be changes so best to consult an attorney on immigration procedures here in Panama.

An article on Prensa.com reports that “…Decrees 167 and 168 issued on June 3, 2016 by the Executive for general regularization and also for migrants from China, respectively, have generated a debate about its resemblance to Decree 547 of July 22, 2012, whereby migratory regularization fairs known as the Melting Pot were created during the administration of Ricardo Martinelli.”

The policy of relatively easy regularization and expeditious procedures of people with undocumented status, in order to grant residence permits, has been strongly questioned in different social sectors. However, the need for skilled labor in areas where Panama had and still has labour shortcomings, has forced previous governments, and now the Varela administration, to enact policies to regularize immigration in Panama.

“… With the new general migratory regularization process, foreign citizens must meet certain requirements, including having stayed for a year or longer in the country. Under the rules of the Melting Pot a minimum of a two year stay or more was required, later, under the previous government it was relaxed to a minimum of one year. Temporary residence permits were also approved for 2 and 10 years. With existing measures applicants must pay $517 in respect of immigration charges in the case of nationalities with visa waiver agreements, and $1022 dollars in case of nationalities without visa waiver agreements. Citizens of restricted nationalities must pay $2102.”