Comments on: How to Get Celebrity Status in Panama, Courtesy of the Pensionado Program

By: Nan Wolfe

Nan Wolfe — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:44:21 +0000

I am constantly surprised by the lack of updated information on residency requirements for all the countries. Panama’s new laws take effect March 1st , 2010. Your above article addresses that to a point. There is still no clarification on whether a spouse can come in with the $1000 a month pension. Some sites say the spouse needs an additional $250 a month to qualify, yours says no. Anybody know what the real story is here? It does make a difference for those of us on a tight budget. I think that the realestate companies keep showing the old requirements on their websites to entice people to come to these countries. If people are going to have websites giving out infomation they should keep them updated.

By: ROBERT .WRIGHT

ROBERT .WRIGHT — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 05:06:56 +0000

I have been operating a business in Panama for 5 years and you cannot imagine the degree of stealing and the incompetence of a lot of the lawyers and the volume of paperwork and bureaucracy involved.
The labor law is 100% for the workers and the employer has no say in anything.
You have to pay them a salary, 4 weeks vacation, decimo which is about 1 week salary every 4 months and their social security.
$8 per day does not seem much but it adds up with decimo, overtime, vacation and social security so be careful before hiring anybody, speak with a lawyer who understands the labor laws, even then, the labpor office will make up the rules to suite the worker.
It seems that the different offices make up the rules on the spot and most of them have no idea what their job entails.
Firing a worker will land you in front of a labor officer who will tell you how much you have to pay the worker even if you caught him/her stealing you blind or if he walks off the job without giving notice, he is still entitled to a pay off.
I find taxes and fees higher than here in the states and there is no set amount for different permits, it is made up as you go along.
The office workers and permit offices seems to make up the prices as they go along.
Of course, you need a permit for everything and you will never know how much it is going to cost you and when you will get it. Nothing is standard and the prices vary on the person at the desk and if you are a gringo or a Panamanian. There is a GRINGO price and a Panamanian price.
The prices are not much different than in the states and I wonder how the Panamanians survive.
I could go on forever.
Robert C Wright.

By: Dr. Dias

Dr. Dias — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:00:55 +0000

I have live here on the Pensionado Visa for over three years now! NO airfare here for anything close to what you have stated! Food can be cheap when you eat out! But not at those prices! Panama is not cheap any more! Even if you live with the Panamanians like I do! Movie tickets are cheap! Medical costs are about one quarter of the USA! Auto Insurance about half of the USA! Car are more expensive! Corruption is still a way of life here! Lawyers, businesses, craftsmen that take your money and never deliver the services paid for! Panama is still a great place! But crime is on the rise and the infrastructure needs to be completely rebuilt! Other wise Panama is a Paradise!!

By: Nick Hodges

Nick Hodges — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 23:53:39 +0000

Hi Laura,

Great job!

You detailed what Panama has to offer. Anyone looking to retire overseas should take a long look at Panama.