Here is the complete transcript of the interview. It is not that long and well worth the read. I have posted it in its entirety, but here is a word doc if you want to download it. It is only four pages.
Download transcript_of_conversation_with_ricardo_vargas_62207.doc
Transcript of Prima Panama’s meeting with Ricardo Vargas, Director of Immigrations
June 22nd, 2007
1. There has been a lot of controversy concerning the recent changes in the tourist visa regulations that went into effect on May 22nd. Why did the government feel it was necessary to reduce the number of days a visitor can stay in Panama on a tourist visa?
It’s a part of the government’s foreign and migratory politics, to evaluate from time to time the circumstances that allow a person to remain in our territory as a tourist. Before 1999 the maximum days allowed were 90, but in 1999 Law 47 extended it to a maximum of 180 days, after some careful consideration of several situations the government decided that 90 days is sufficient to be in the country as a tourist. Although, people interested in residing in the country have the options to any of the 30 different categories that allow a person to change from a tourist status to one more formal, like a temporary residency.
2. Sub-Director of Immigration Lic. Garcia Tovar was recently interviewed by Don Winner of the website Panama Guide. During the interview he is quoted as saying "tourists are those people who come here to visit for a short time, not to live here as a perpetual tourist. Those days are over”. What does that mean and how does this apply to foreigners that are buying second homes in Panama and plan to spend 4 or 5 months in the country?
Precisely, a person buying a home in the country can obtain a migratory status different from the tourist, as long as they meet certain conditions or prerequisites. Among the requirements is buying a property for $200,000.00 or above and that the person meet the rest of the prerequisites established by the law. They are basic protocol prerequisites, like a copy of their passport, payment to the national treasury for relocation services, certificate of good health, photo; just basic requirements. The person must own the property free and clear, with no mortgages. This would allow the person to change their tourist status to a category established in the law.
3. Mr. Garcia went on to say “…we are going to require people to register and to normalize their immigration status under one of these programs”. He was referring to one of the other visa programs available to foreigners like the pensionado visa or the person of means visa. Does the immigrations department feel that buyers of vacation or second homes (and planning to spend 3, 4 or 5 months in Panama) should be required to apply for a permanent residency visa?
If you are considering to buy a piece of property, the law favors you and offers you the opportunity to acquire a formal status, without giving up whatever nationality you have at that time, its an additional benefit, it does not take away from a previous right you have acquired previously.
4. The immigrations department is on record as saying that the 60-day extension to the 30-day tourist visa is at the discretion of the department. Who will be responsible for making the decision to grant or deny these extensions? What reasons would you use to deny an extension?
The analysis is that if you are going to a country as a tourist, generally you would not need a year or even six months; this would be an exceptional case. 90 days is considered to be enough time for a normal tourist to stay in a country. If you want more time the law offers other options, special permits that require a justification and of course other basic requirements. The visa is for 30 days, renewable up to 60 days max. By experience a person that wants to stay in a country over 90 days ends up staying a year or more as an illegal alien. The law is trying to help these people find a way to normalize their status. The majority of these people perform lucrative activities to help sustain their economic necessities, without having the proper authorization from the Ministry of Labor, the immigration authorities and from the fiscal point of view, they do not pay taxes, they are even be excluded from really being an instrument to the true development of the country. Are goal is for these people that are staying longer than the law allows, seek other options that the law offers them, and obtain a permanent status.
Example: a person that is applying for a 60 day extension must submit the following:
-written application
-fill out form with reason for extension
-present basic documents
-copy of airline ticket
-photos
-economic solvency
They have many cases where the person applying for the extension does not have the means to sustain himself while in the country; the reality is that no one can perform tourism without money.
The immigration Director stated that the process only takes hours and then he said minutes.
5. An article in La Critica yesterday reported that two foreign tourists (one from Chile and one from the US) were arrested by immigrations authorities for not having their passports and tourist cards with them. Can tourists now expect to be asked to show their passports and tourist cards and face arrest if they don’t have these documents with them?
He wanted to be clear that immigration did not arrest anyone, the national police detained some people while performing an exercise, they asked for their identification and the people did not have any documents that would identify who they were.
When this happens the police have two options:
-allow the people to go to the place where their documents are, verify documentation and allow them to continue their way.
-take them to the immigration office where the immigration office can verify that they have no impediments and are free to go.
6. Are there any plans to make the pensiondo visa more restrictive? For example, are there any thoughts on limiting this visa to people of retirement age of say, 62 or 65 years old? How about restrictions on the type of retirement plans that can be used to qualify for the visa like only accepting government retirement programs or large company retirement plans?
The Director of immigration is preparing, in conjunction with other government institutions a proposed law to modernize and organize the institution. Once this process is completed it will be submitted to the legislative office and to the public scrutiny so that everyone involved can give suggestions on how to modernize the institution. At this time the pensionado visa is not going to be changed, but it will be subject to revision when the proposed law reaches the legislature. The legislature is almost out of session, we hope to present it at the next one. This is a very sensitive topic that we plan to bring up to some serious debate. It is necessary that Panama’s new immigration policy, show a 25 year vision of Panama’s policies. These laws are modified with much difficulty from time to time. The original law from 1960 that regulates immigration has been modified in a timely manner, but is up for a revision of its immigration policies, defined under 3 concepts of balance:
-Commercial and investment opportunities
-Tourism opportunities
-Security issues
If we have an intelligent balance of these 3 concepts I think we can produce a law with benefits and can become a national strategy for development.
7. Since there’s been a lot of concern from foreigners regarding the tourist visa changes, is the government considering rescinding the changes and going back to the previous rules? If so, how long do you expect this to take?
I do not know of any intentions for changes, the law was recently approved; it’s been less than a month. Not enough time to really know what kind of impact its going to have. We’ll have to wait some time before we see what kind impact it’s had on the people visiting the country.
Would the government revise the law? The governments are always willing to revise a law, as long as it is for the best interest of the country.
8. How do you think the new restrictions on the tourist visa will affect Panama’s competitiveness against other countries, like México, Costa Rica and even the US, that allow visitors to stay longer?
I don’t think this new law is going to have a negative effect on people visiting Panama. The people coming to Panama are increasing every year and I don’t think it will be an obstacle for this continued growth. The measure taken to reduce the time in country goes hand to hand with the states security measures, and I reiterate that I don’t think it will affect the national tourism.
9. Is there any thought of doing a 2 tier Visa, for example if North Americans or Europeans come in under one time frame for 60 or 90 days?
At this time it has not been considered, I think this proposal deserves a chance for analysis and study. When the new proposed law reaches the legislature, would be an excellent opportunity for all the people involved in tourism and investment in the country present new proposals that would benefit the development of activities of our country.
Recent Comments