Roy's answer regarding the Pensionado visa that: "There is no difference between a Panamanian and a foreigner in this aspect, the sole requirement is that you be of "jubilado age" = 57 for women, 60 for men" is incorrect. There is no age requirement or limitation for obtaining the Pensionado visa and its myriad benefits. I obtained mine at age 41. My neighbors from Germany each have one (they're in their 30's) as does their 5 year old son. Other than...
Roy's answer regarding the Pensionado visa that: "There is no difference between a Panamanian and a foreigner in this aspect, the sole requirement is that you be of "jubilado age" = 57 for women, 60 for men" is incorrect. There is no age requirement or limitation for obtaining the Pensionado visa and its myriad benefits. I obtained mine at age 41. My neighbors from Germany each have one (they're in their 30's) as does their 5 year old son. Other than the typical health screening and clear criminal record all you need is proof of an ongoing income stream from outside of Panama. Company pensions and Social Security are most commonly used to meet this requirement.
I know about four or five couples who have decided to retire here in the city of Managua. They are renting a house similar to what they had in the US for about half the price, so that has reduced their expenses by half and they still have some money left over for recreational purposes. That is why they decided to move here. They want to save a little more money and to have a better quality of life.
The quality of life here is easy going and stress free....
I know about four or five couples who have decided to retire here in the city of Managua. They are renting a house similar to what they had in the US for about half the price, so that has reduced their expenses by half and they still have some money left over for recreational purposes. That is why they decided to move here. They want to save a little more money and to have a better quality of life.
The quality of life here is easy going and stress free. You don’t have to fear anything. You won’t worry about not having enough money by the end of the month. They don’t fear about running out of money when they get older. Because of the dollar exchange rate, people here can buy more and spend less on expenses.
It is another thing if you retire in the Pacific areas of Nicaragua because those places were designed and patterned after the US, so they are a bit more expensive. In general, retirement and what you can buy with your money is different in the greater areas of Managua, with the most expensive being the planned Pacific beach communities. The city of Managua is in the middle. The fishing villages on the Pacific coast that are not part of the big communities are even cheaper than Managua.
There are doctors here in Corozal but they are not American-trained; they are trained in Cuba and Guatemala. I find that their level of expertise, being trained in those countries, is equivalent to an American doctor. Cuba is world-renowned for their medical training so I feel comfortable going to Cuban-trained doctors here in Corozal and I am an American.
I have had a couple of health issues here and so has my husband. The cost of treatment of what we spent...
There are doctors here in Corozal but they are not American-trained; they are trained in Cuba and Guatemala. I find that their level of expertise, being trained in those countries, is equivalent to an American doctor. Cuba is world-renowned for their medical training so I feel comfortable going to Cuban-trained doctors here in Corozal and I am an American.
I have had a couple of health issues here and so has my husband. The cost of treatment of what we spent in the States is phenomenally different compared to all those years that I was healthy and paying the insurance companies. Considering all the money I’ve wasted paying for insurance in the US to the cost of healthcare here in Corozal, it’s crazy.
(University of San Carlos of Guatemala , College of Medicine and Pharmacy in 1897, pictured.)
The worst reason that I can think of for retiring overseas is that you’re unhappy where you are. I have seen very few examples, if any at all, of somebody being fundamentally being unhappy where they are, and coming to a different country, and miraculously becoming happy. It’s very hard to chase happiness from that regard.
If you have a marriage that is failing where you live, it’s unrealistic that you’re going to move to a foreign...
The worst reason that I can think of for retiring overseas is that you’re unhappy where you are. I have seen very few examples, if any at all, of somebody being fundamentally being unhappy where they are, and coming to a different country, and miraculously becoming happy. It’s very hard to chase happiness from that regard.
If you have a marriage that is failing where you live, it’s unrealistic that you’re going to move to a foreign country and miraculously save your marriage. If you have children who are failing where you are, it’s unrealistic to think that you’re going to come to another country and miraculously turn their life around.
There are things that go on inside your own home that you, and not your government, are responsible for. I’ve seen many people come to Panama hoping that Panama is a paradise for them, that all of the problems going on in their lives will become magically cured, and that’s absolutely the wrong way to look at moving abroad.
(Gilbert family making friends at church, Boquete, Panama, pictured.)
If I buy a house in Portugal, do I need to hire an attorney?
Luis Rodrigues - Gouveia Pereira, Costa Freitas & Associates, Law Firm, RL
It is not mandatory to hire an attorney to buy a house in Portugal. However, and especially if you are a foreigner, it is strongly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you and make sure that you signed the right contract, that you are buying the right property, and that the property does not have any liens, encumbrances or charges registered on it.
The role of the lawyer in the process of acquiring a property is to do a due diligence on the legal documentation of the...
It is not mandatory to hire an attorney to buy a house in Portugal. However, and especially if you are a foreigner, it is strongly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you and make sure that you signed the right contract, that you are buying the right property, and that the property does not have any liens, encumbrances or charges registered on it.
The role of the lawyer in the process of acquiring a property is to do a due diligence on the legal documentation of the property, assist in the negotiation of the promissory contract of purchase and sale (typically in Portugal the buyer and seller sign a promissory agreement first and complete on the acquisition within 30 to 60 days) and at the end organize and represent you in the signature of the public deed of purchase and sale that is usually done before a notary and with the registration of the acquisition at the land registry office.
Please note that all documentation together with the public deed of purchase and sale will have to be done in Portuguese. Therefore, if you do not speak Portuguese it will be complicated to assure that all your rights are being taken care of.
Finally please also note that Portuguese lawyers registered at the bar association in Portugal will have professional liability insurance which assures the payment of compensation to clients that are wrongly advised.
My name is Lissy and I want to share with you my trip to Boquete today. I went to Big Daddy’s Grill and had the best shrimp taco ever, and the day was nice; we have a great coffee!!! Ufff the margarita is the besttttt.
Today was very quiet for a Friday night, a little rain but nothing to worry about; I just remember why people love Boquete so much!!! Peaceful place with the nature...
Panama is a great place to explore with your kids. Especially if they have a “certified” grandpa fan like … me! My grand kid #1, Jaime, just turned 4 years. For the past 2 years I have taken him on Saturday morning trips to explore – and record on Youtube for him – life in Panama. Jaime, his Nanny Delia and me. Just the three of us. He calls me “Allo”, so we call this Saturday outings “Sabados with...
Presented with permission of Bob Adams, of Retirement Wave.
"Strategic planning is worthless - unless there is first a strategic vision."
John Naisbitt (1929 -?) - American author of multiple books on the future and a leading analyst of global trends. Still going strong at 85.
Depending on when you think the “global financial crisis" began, at least five to seven years have passed possibly more. This is an on-going crisis that does not...
There are doctors here in Corozal but they are not American-trained; they are trained in Cuba and Guatemala. I find that their level of expertise, being trained in those countries, is equivalent to an American doctor. Cuba is world-renowned for their medical training so I feel comfortable going to Cuban-trained doctors here in Corozal and I am an American. 
The worst reason that I can think of for retiring overseas is that you’re unhappy where you are. I have seen very few examples, if any at all, of somebody being fundamentally being unhappy where they are, and coming to a different country, and miraculously becoming happy. It’s very hard to chase happiness from that regard. 
It is not mandatory to hire an attorney to buy a house in Portugal. However, and especially if you are a foreigner, it is strongly advisable to hire a lawyer to represent you and make sure that you signed the right contract, that you are buying the right property, and that the property does not have any liens, encumbrances or charges registered on it..jpg)
