Immigration Law
Work Permits
Work Permits
All workers rendering their services under conditions of legal subordination and economic dependence in Panama are required to maintain a valid work permit granted by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development. As of the promulgation of Executive Decree 6 of April 13, 2023, articles 17, 18, and 19 of the Labor Code are regulated and the following categories of Work Permits are created:
- Work Permits for migrant workers with ten (10) or more years of residence in the country.
- Work permit for a migrant worker married to a Panamanian national.
- Work permit for migrant workers with children of a divorced Panamanian spouse.
- Work permit for a migrant worker with the spouse of a Panamanian under parental authority, in case of widowhood
- Work permit for a migrant worker with special permanent residency
- Work permit for the migrant worker as a Panamanian father or mother in the condition of dependency
- Work permit for migrant workers according to the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between Panama and Italy
- Work permit for migrant workers dependent on diplomatic, consular, and administrative personnel and of international organizations accredited in Panama
- Indefinite work permit according to Executive Decree 140 of August 2, 2012
- Work permit for migrant workers hired by an employer as ordinary personnel of 10% of the total labor force
- Work permit for a migrant worker hired by an employer as a specialist or technician within 15% of the total labor force
- Work permit for a migrant worker hired by an employer as trust personnel within 15% of total workers
- Migrant worker hired by small employer
- Migrant workers hired as reliable personnel of an employer whose transactions are perfected, consummated, or take effect exclusively abroad
- Migrant worker hired as an executive by a company of the Colon Free Zone, City of Knowledge Foundation, Panama Pacific Area, Free Zones, or Multinational Company for the rendering of services related to Manufacturing (EMMA)
- Migrant worker hired as a pilot for a commercial aviation company
- Student work permit
For more information on our services for filing your work permit application in Panama please contact us at info@jquijano.com