Panama passport

Studio Panama Italia guarantees obtaining a Panamanian passport within the legally established deadlines. Obtaining a Panamanian passport is a dream for many. In reality, few people realize that it cannot be purchased for any sum, even millions. Panama does not offer "economic" citizenship, meaning it can be purchased like in some Caribbean countries. A true Panamanian passport, which confirms true Panamanian citizenship, requires a previous residency or marriage in Panama and passing an exam.

The Panama Bank Passport, on the other hand, is a travel document on which your real citizenship of origin is always shown (such as Italian if you are Italian), (it is called Panama Traveler Passport and you can read more about this travel instrument on the dedicated page where we also deal with the real acquisition of Panamanian citizenship ) and it is not a document that certifies citizenship so you cannot use it to boast rights in Panamanian embassies and consulates or before any Panamanian authority.

The Panamanian passport is the travel and identification document for Panamanian citizens. Like the Italian passport, the Panamanian passport formalizes the passenger's nationality during travel. A Panamanian passport helps you travel between countries, nations, and so on without the need for visas. A Panamanian passport can be obtained in various ways. A Panamanian passport is issued to Panamanian citizens. In the case of permanent residents, Italian citizens residing in Panama with an E-certificate, whose E-certificate has been issued or maintained for five or more years, have the legal right to proceed with naturalization and therefore apply for Panamanian citizenship. Once obtained, they can request a Panamanian passport.

Obtaining a Panamanian passport requires meeting certain requirements and procedures. Here are the main steps:

 Naturalization

• Legal Residency permanent residency status , or three years in the country, depending on your country of origin. Europeans (except Spaniards) and all holders of the Panama Friendly Nation Visa must have completed five years of Cedula E before applying for naturalization, and Spaniards must complete three years of Cedula E, as must Latin Americans. Italians must have five years of residency, but Italians are the only country with an exemption from remaining in the country, free to not return during the residency period every two years.
• Integration : Demonstrate knowledge of the Spanish language and Panamanian culture.
• Documentation : Submit documents such as your birth certificate, criminal record, and residency certificate.

 Citizenship by Investment

• Special Programs : Panama offers fast-track programs for those investing in the country. For example, investing in real estate or creating jobs can expedite the naturalization process.
• Minimum Requirements : Investments must meet criteria established by the Panamanian government.

 Marriage to a Panamanian Citizen

• If you are married to a Panamanian citizen, you can apply for citizenship after 2 years of residency in Panama.

A Panamanian passport can be obtained in various ways. Applying for a Panamanian passport, remember, is only the final step in the much more complicated initial process leading to Panamanian naturalization, or rather, obtaining Panamanian citizenship . Therefore, to have a real Panamanian passport for life—not to be confused with a Panamanian bank passport—you first need to be a naturalized Panamanian citizen.

To obtain citizenship and therefore naturalization, there are numerous legal methods and procedures but few are truly valid and quick.

You can become a Panamanian citizen by marrying a Panamanian citizen. While this process is possible, it is particularly difficult because Panama's immigration system vigorously avoids marriages of convenience. In fact, it is currently almost impossible to become a Panamanian citizen and obtain a passport through marriage, unless you arm yourself with a healthy dose of patience, countless checks, and many years of waiting in the event that one day, perhaps, you will be accepted as a citizen (provided you speak Spanish, pass the citizenship exam, and have been present in Panama for three years after obtaining the Cedula E).

This is the easiest way to obtain a passport in Panama. You must obtain a Panamanian Friendship Treaty. Note that only the Panamanian Friendship Treaty is required to become a citizen. If you obtain residency through the Pensionado program, you will never be entitled to Panamanian citizenship, naturalization, or a passport. If you obtained residency through the Panamanian Friendship Treaty, you can apply for citizenship five years after becoming a resident of Panama. At Studio Panama Italia, we can process naturalization for our clients after five years of residency. The process actually takes more than three to seven years from the application date to the expiration of the fifth year of residency. It is very important to remember that residency in Panama must be genuine and continuous, and the last two years of the minimum five years required must be continued in the country to then be eligible to proceed with the naturalization application via a historical/cultural/geographical exam in Spanish. For those in a hurry and want to skip all these steps, there is Mexico or the Caribbean express citizenships of Nevis, St Lucia, Grenada and Dominica

How important is it to have a second citizenship? Nowadays, it's common to hold more than one or two citizenships. Frequent business travelers know that, as people around the world travel, those with multiple citizenships now tend to have business, family, and social lives in multiple parts of the world. People are no longer content with just one passport; they strive to possess as many passports and associated citizenships as possible to avoid a whole host of problems: economic/financial, family, social, political, military, border, privacy, health, business, and banking.

A second passport is therefore a safe haven for citizens who can apply for it to fulfill multiple functions. Obtaining a second passport therefore greatly benefits the holder compared to competitors and allows them to live in multiple countries simultaneously, taking advantage of rights exclusively acquired by naturalized citizens of a second or third country. Taking on a second or third citizenship and obtaining a second or third passport is therefore always worthwhile.

In recent years, Panama's second passport has become one of the most attractive options for those seeking international mobility, tax advantages, and personal security. More and more investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals are seriously considering obtaining a second Panamanian passport thanks to the country's favorable immigration policies and international treaties.

Unlike other jurisdictions, a second Panamanian passport is not reserved for a privileged few: several legal programs exist, such as the Panama–Italy Friendship Treaty or permanent residency through investment, which allow you to start the process quickly and at a low cost. After a period of continuous residency, you can apply for naturalization and, consequently, a second Panamanian passport.

One of the strengths of Panama's second passport is its practicality. With this document, you gain visa-free access to over 140 countries, including those in the European Union and the Schengen area, as well as a favorable position for doing business in Latin America. Furthermore, Panama's second passport offers indirect wealth protection, thanks to the territorial tax legislation that does not tax foreign-sourced income.

Anyone seeking a second Panamanian passport, however, must plan ahead. It's not just a matter of submitting documents: it requires a migration strategy, assessing the physical residence requirements, and properly managing relationships with local authorities. Therefore, relying on a law firm with expertise in residency and citizenship is often the safest option to avoid delays or errors that could jeopardize your application.

In an increasingly uncertain world, having a second Panamanian passport is no longer a luxury, but a form of personal insurance. It offers freedom of movement, greater protection of your assets, and a concrete opportunity to live or invest in one of the most stable and dynamic economies in the Americas.

When talking about a second passport, the professional who works with application procedures on a daily basis must distinguish between a second passport from the same nation, therefore a double passport, and a second passport from a second nation where one has naturalized as a citizen.

Having clarified that we are talking about a second passport from another nation, and in this case we are focusing on Panama, which is one of the exclusive destinations for finding a highly functional passport, we must try to help the client who requests it to understand that in Panama, as in any other country in the world, taking the step of applying for a passport requires a complete naturalization process; it requires having had a history, often relating to one's entire adult life, which is fairly transparent, easy to decipher, and to be reported by the numerous security agencies involved in this procedure.

In Panama, we have seen how, during the citizenship application process, an essential step prior to receiving a passport upon naturalization, state agencies such as the MinSeg (Ministerio de Seguridad Puplica), the CCP, and Interpol conduct exhaustive and particularly detailed, meticulous, and lengthy investigations. Events associated with immediate family members (mother, father, and any siblings) are also investigated, and through any social reconstructions, contact with friends who may have committed crimes.

Applying for a second passport, like the second Panamanian passport, is always a very sensitive issue. Ultimately, you're providing a foreigner with rights (and obligations) and a powerful document allowing them to travel without being identified as a European or American citizen. Ultimately, the state has the right to investigate as thoroughly as possible.

The timeframes are therefore calculated by averaging the history each law firm is able to provide based on the number of naturalized clients they have had over the years. Obtaining a second passport in Panama therefore requires the client to take responsibility for finding a law firm truly experienced and familiar with the discipline, as the law firm is the only intermediary that interfaces with all these security agencies. Studio Panama Italia has created its own benchmark and a standard that has not yet been surpassed in the process of obtaining a second Panamanian passport.

The best second passports to obtain are the Panamanian and Paraguayan . Both are easily obtained after obtaining permanent residency and the respective Cedula E.