I'm in South Africa looking to gain residency by investment in Panama without having to travel during the pandemic. Would I qualify for the Friendly Nations visa if I don't visit? Would I need to show a vaccination certificate?
Unfortunately, it’s no possible to apply for the Friendly Nations visa without visiting Panama first; the applicant must be in the country. There are other visas that you can apply without visiting Panama, such as the qualified investor visa with an investment of 300,000.
Unfortunately, at the moment, this type of residency permit still requires your physical presence in Panama for at least 10 business days. Vaccination certificates are not being requested, but a negative COVID-19 test, not older than 48 hours, will be required.
The Friendly Nations Visa requires a personal visit to file the application. Those who visited South Africa are required to go through mandatory quarantine upon arrival. Please note the current program is valid until Aug. 18 as per an executive decree.
With the Golden Visa, it is not necessary to be on that list of Friendly Nations for investing in Panama.
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