If I were to move to Panama City...From USA?

Question

what are the regulations of becoming a citizen?

Answer 1

You need to contact the Panamanian Embassy in the US to get the appropriate paperwork to get the ball rolling for your immigrant visa.

Be patient, these things take time.

Answer 2

Panama city is the US, Panama is not.

Answer 3

You Better speak the language, I would say that is a big one. Don't be like them when they come here and cant speak ours, that is just setting a bad example!

Answer 4

First you need to apply for an immigrant visa as the first step to become a Panamanian Citizen.  The 6 most popular immigrant visas are:

- Financial Solvency

- 10% of the labor force

- Married to a Panamanian

- Small/Medium Business Investor

- Investor

- Reforestation Investment

Please be advised that a resident visa will not allow you to become a Panamanian Citizen, so if someone recommends to immigrate as a Pensioned Tourist, as Personal Retirement, or invoking the Marrakesh Treaty, you won't be able to claim citizenship.

After Panamanian Immigration issues you the first visa you start counting.  After 5 years you may be eligible to apply for citizenship.  When you apply you must comply with certain requisites, virtually similar to those in other countries, and once you have covered all of those, then you get in line to be sworn as a Panamanian.

The whole process may take around 8 years from the first visa to the citizenship.

All this must be done with an attorney.  You can't do it by yourself, at least until now.  Maybe in the future if they change the law they will allow some procedures to be carried out by yourself, but not right now.

Try to get an attorney that has some references, meaning that he, she or they are knowledgeable in immigration, that way you'll get someone that's not using you as a guinea pig.

Good Luck!