Panama is repeating the process of granting residence and work permits to foreigners who have resided in its territory for more than a year.
A statement from the National Immigration Service reads:
Javier Carrillo, Director General of the National Immigration Service (SNM) and Samuel Vargas, Director of Employment, Ministry of Labour and Social Development (MITRADEL) explained at a press conference on Wednesday September 26, all the features of the tenth Special immigration Regularization Process, known as "Crisol de Razas" (Melting Pot).
The General Migration and Foreign Affairs Office issued new regulations and guidelines for entry visas.
A press release by Lexincorp Central America reads:
On May, 17th, the highly anticipated Alien Bylaws were finally issued as a complement to the General Migration and Foreign Affairs Law, which is in force since March, 10th 2010. In these bylaws, several aspects of the law are specifically regulated such as residencies, visas, guest workers, among others mentioned.
A new law will enable companies to request an exception allowing them hire foreigners when necessary.
Though Panama's Employment Code allows companies to employ up to 10% of their workforce with foreign workers, employers may now increase this percentage, provided they can demonstrate that it is necessary.
Companies that are finding it difficult to hire local people for certain posts should contact the Ministry for Employment ("el Ministerio de Trabajo y Desarrollo Laboral" in Spanish) asking for an exception allowing to increase the percentage of foreign employees in their workforce.
After May 19, the list of types of companies that can contract foreign workers through special work permits will be expanded. Previously, foreign workers were restricted to jobs within the special economic zone.
Companies included in the new system are those that operate special programs of export promotions and productivity improvement, exporters of goods and services, tourist and financial operations, and the non-export sector.