How easy would it be for me to find a job in Panama?
Roy Cannon - Gestoria Cocle - main office in Penoneme
In many situtations, it would be very difficult for you to find a job in Panama.
While there are many employers who are searching for good employees, the work permit and immigration requirements makes hiring of foreign nationals difficult.
For every foreigner employed under normal circumstances the law requires that between 3 and 10 Panamanian employees be employed and registered for Social Security by the same business. There are exceptions in certain strategic areas such as...
While there are many employers who are searching for good employees, the work permit and immigration requirements makes hiring of foreign nationals difficult.
For every foreigner employed under normal circumstances the law requires that between 3 and 10 Panamanian employees be employed and registered for Social Security by the same business. There are exceptions in certain strategic areas such as...
In many situtations, it would be very difficult for you to find a job in Panama.
While there are many employers who are searching for good employees, the work permit and immigration requirements makes hiring of foreign nationals difficult.
For every foreigner employed under normal circumstances the law requires that between 3 and 10 Panamanian employees be employed and registered for Social Security by the same business. There are exceptions in certain strategic areas such as the Free Trade Zone, The City of Knowledge and special government projects - do your research BEFORE you come.
While there are many employers who are searching for good employees, the work permit and immigration requirements makes hiring of foreign nationals difficult.
For every foreigner employed under normal circumstances the law requires that between 3 and 10 Panamanian employees be employed and registered for Social Security by the same business. There are exceptions in certain strategic areas such as the Free Trade Zone, The City of Knowledge and special government projects - do your research BEFORE you come.
Posted February 4, 2013
Vannessa Solano
In order to work in Panama, you need to officially be a legal resident.
You would go about finding a job in Panama just like you would in the US. However, you need to keep in mind that the salaries in Panama are much less than in the US.
To give you a feel for how much people get paid in Panama, the minimum hourly wage is around $2.29 and a receptionist would make between $450 - $500 per month. Larger companies may pay a receptionist up to $600 per...
You would go about finding a job in Panama just like you would in the US. However, you need to keep in mind that the salaries in Panama are much less than in the US.
To give you a feel for how much people get paid in Panama, the minimum hourly wage is around $2.29 and a receptionist would make between $450 - $500 per month. Larger companies may pay a receptionist up to $600 per...
In order to work in Panama, you need to officially be a legal resident.
You would go about finding a job in Panama just like you would in the US. However, you need to keep in mind that the salaries in Panama are much less than in the US.
To give you a feel for how much people get paid in Panama, the minimum hourly wage is around $2.29 and a receptionist would make between $450 - $500 per month. Larger companies may pay a receptionist up to $600 per month. Normally, people just graduating college in Panama could work for $700 - $800 / month.
However, you also should please keep in mind that the cost of living is much less in Panama than in the US.
You would go about finding a job in Panama just like you would in the US. However, you need to keep in mind that the salaries in Panama are much less than in the US.
To give you a feel for how much people get paid in Panama, the minimum hourly wage is around $2.29 and a receptionist would make between $450 - $500 per month. Larger companies may pay a receptionist up to $600 per month. Normally, people just graduating college in Panama could work for $700 - $800 / month.
However, you also should please keep in mind that the cost of living is much less in Panama than in the US.
Posted July 12, 2014
Lourdes Townshend
Labor laws, immigration regulations and work permits in Panamá are very sensitive and protective of nationals.
There is a special commercial zone in Panamá with special regulations regarding work permits called Panamá Pacífico. Panamá Pacifico is located in Howard, which is accessed from the city of Panamá by passing over the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the Panamá Canal on the Pacific side.
These are over 130...
There is a special commercial zone in Panamá with special regulations regarding work permits called Panamá Pacífico. Panamá Pacifico is located in Howard, which is accessed from the city of Panamá by passing over the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the Panamá Canal on the Pacific side.
These are over 130...
Labor laws, immigration regulations and work permits in Panamá are very sensitive and protective of nationals.
There is a special commercial zone in Panamá with special regulations regarding work permits called Panamá Pacífico. Panamá Pacifico is located in Howard, which is accessed from the city of Panamá by passing over the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the Panamá Canal on the Pacific side.
These are over 130 corporations, mainly multinationals, that have established their headquarters in Panamá Pacifico. They are always seeking to hire secondary education employees, which sometimes is difficult, due mainly to the need to speak a secondary language.
There is also the educational area in Panamá, in the Clayton area called "Ciudad del Saber" (City of Knowledge), in which mainly educational institutions like universities or international organizations are established.
A third special zone in Panamá could be the Colón Free Zone (in the city of Colón, by the Atlantic Ocean).
In all these areas, executives, administrators or investors may get special, and very specific limited work permits, usually working only because of being transferred, or on limited time contracts, with special visas.
Regarding the law for jobs in the healthcare profession, by law, only locals can get them, unless they get special permits for educational or university teaching purposes on a very specific contract.
The regular daily jobs are not permitted to foreigners. Lately, the Immigration Department has made several open "workshops" , where thousands of foreigners who have been residing in the country for some time apply for work permits, and limited residential permit. They make a special payment but do have to comply with many requirements.
Usually the foreigners receiving these jobs speak Spanish. If you do not speak the official language of Panamá, is very difficult to get a job.
The best way to get to enjoy Panamá is with a limited time tourist visa (if your country is one of those for which you need a visa to enter Panamá) or as an investor, which is a very good opportunity due the enormous growth that Panamá is experiencing at this time, in every area, including ports, maritime, airlines, construction, tourism, logistic, factories, etc.
There is a special commercial zone in Panamá with special regulations regarding work permits called Panamá Pacífico. Panamá Pacifico is located in Howard, which is accessed from the city of Panamá by passing over the Bridge of the Americas, which spans the Panamá Canal on the Pacific side.
These are over 130 corporations, mainly multinationals, that have established their headquarters in Panamá Pacifico. They are always seeking to hire secondary education employees, which sometimes is difficult, due mainly to the need to speak a secondary language.
There is also the educational area in Panamá, in the Clayton area called "Ciudad del Saber" (City of Knowledge), in which mainly educational institutions like universities or international organizations are established.
A third special zone in Panamá could be the Colón Free Zone (in the city of Colón, by the Atlantic Ocean).
In all these areas, executives, administrators or investors may get special, and very specific limited work permits, usually working only because of being transferred, or on limited time contracts, with special visas.
Regarding the law for jobs in the healthcare profession, by law, only locals can get them, unless they get special permits for educational or university teaching purposes on a very specific contract.
The regular daily jobs are not permitted to foreigners. Lately, the Immigration Department has made several open "workshops" , where thousands of foreigners who have been residing in the country for some time apply for work permits, and limited residential permit. They make a special payment but do have to comply with many requirements.
Usually the foreigners receiving these jobs speak Spanish. If you do not speak the official language of Panamá, is very difficult to get a job.
The best way to get to enjoy Panamá is with a limited time tourist visa (if your country is one of those for which you need a visa to enter Panamá) or as an investor, which is a very good opportunity due the enormous growth that Panamá is experiencing at this time, in every area, including ports, maritime, airlines, construction, tourism, logistic, factories, etc.
As always, get your facts and your best options before you make a move. Contact your embassy or an attorney for better information. Do not rely on personal experiences of others or hearsay.
Posted July 14, 2014
David Whittington - Tucan Golf Club and Resort
At the higher end jobs such as engineering, you could probably find employment in Panama. However, for other jobs such as being a waitress, most expats would not want to work for the wages paid in Panama, even though the costs are less here.
At the higher end jobs such as engineering, you could probably find employment in Panama. However, for other jobs such as being a waitress, most expats would not want to work for the wages paid in Panama, even though the costs are less here.
Posted July 17, 2014
RICH Novak - RE/MAX Beaches & City! INC.
Is it not easy to come to Panama and work, because the Panamanian government has laws that protect its citizens, so a citizen from another country cannot just come here and work. Even retirees cannot work in Panama, but they can own businesses and file income taxes to Panama on their business income. People who come to Panama work get a Friendly Nations Visa; some of them come to sell real estate. To work in Panama, you should have at least the Friendly Nations Visa or get a work...
Is it not easy to come to Panama and work, because the Panamanian government has laws that protect its citizens, so a citizen from another country cannot just come here and work. Even retirees cannot work in Panama, but they can own businesses and file income taxes to Panama on their business income. People who come to Panama work get a Friendly Nations Visa; some of them come to sell real estate. To work in Panama, you should have at least the Friendly Nations Visa or get a work permit and you may be able to get a job with a bigger company.
90% of the Panamanian company’s payroll needs to go to Panamanians. Panamanian wages are not as high as US wages. For example, if a company’s payroll is US $100,000 and they have 10 employees, and the company hires one foreigner, he can only make $10,000 per year.
Posted October 30, 2014
Jose Broce - Broce-Pinilla & Asociados
Finding a job in Panama is extremely easy. Here in Panama, we only have a 3% unemployment rate. Even though everybody has a job who wants one, we need more people to work, which is why we are importing people from other countries to work here in Panama.
In Panama, it’s not difficult to find a job because you can work in almost all industries. However, there are some jobs that you cannot take, which include being a doctor, a lawyer and being a public...
Finding a job in Panama is extremely easy. Here in Panama, we only have a 3% unemployment rate. Even though everybody has a job who wants one, we need more people to work, which is why we are importing people from other countries to work here in Panama.
In Panama, it’s not difficult to find a job because you can work in almost all industries. However, there are some jobs that you cannot take, which include being a doctor, a lawyer and being a public transportation driver.
For you to work in Panama, you need to have a work visa and a work permit. If you don’t have a work visa, you can procure a Friendly Nations Visa and a work permit.
If you are invited by an employer to work here in Panama, usually that person will support you to get your work visa and your work permit. That is because the employer has to prove that the company you’re going to be working for exists and that the company can pay you as a foreign employee at least a minimum salary. Also, an employer can only bring a one foreign worker to work in Panama for each existing 10 Panamanian employees.
The cost for the foreign employee to get everything that he needs in order to work in Panama is about US $2,500, which includes the visa and the work permit. It is often done that the employer and the employee can have an arrangement whereby the company can pay for the fees first and then the employee can pay it when he starts working or the employee and employer can divide the cost.
Posted November 3, 2014
Charles Conn - The Visitor
To find a job as a foreigner in Panama, you have to be legally employed. As a foreigner, you have to have a company that has hired you from the outside, so you have to secure your job before moving here. Otherwise, if you are already here, you need to apply for a work permit, which can take time. It depends on which country you are from. You might find a big lag in getting your papers, in order to be employed.If you live in Panama and you want to work, I advise you to...
To find a job as a foreigner in Panama, you have to be legally employed. As a foreigner, you have to have a company that has hired you from the outside, so you have to secure your job before moving here. Otherwise, if you are already here, you need to apply for a work permit, which can take time. It depends on which country you are from. You might find a big lag in getting your papers, in order to be employed.If you live in Panama and you want to work, I advise you to get hooked up to the expat networks. There are different sites on Facebook that can help. You just put out the word that you’re looking for employment there and see what’s available.
There is under-the-table work as well, where you do odd jobs. I think the best thing to do is just to do it properly, because, otherwise, you may find yourself in a shady situation. If you work under-the-table, you really don’t have rights if you don’t get paid.
A lot of foreigners living in Panama are self-employed, so they’ll create their own businesses and then work.
If you’re just down here to make quick money, there are lots of different avenues to explore. For instance, at the marinas, there’s a bulletin board where people post their jobs. They need someone to help as a cook onboard or help crew on a sailboat journey. Little things like that, you can find where you can get around the rules, but again, it’s best to have your paperwork in order before arriving.
You will get paid a lot less in Panama, relative to the United States. It’s really not comparable. I remember making more than twice as much in terms of wages when I lived in the States. But then the cost of living here in Panama is a lot less in that respect. I would say it really depends on who’s hiring you. If it is a multinational, you will have comparable wages to what you would get paid Stateside. But if it’s a Panamanian company, your wages will be well below what you haven come to expect, probably in the range of US $5-10 an hour.
(The marina at the Panama Yacht Club, Panama City, Panama, pictured.)
Posted January 28, 2015
Eddie Montes - Panama Property Rentals
There are restrictions on certain types of professions that you, as a foreigner, can engage in here in Panama. One of them that has restrictions are jobs in the medical profession and there are some others. For the most part, most jobs are available for the foreigners and expats as long as they have their proper documentation.Finding a job in Panama is not difficult because of the booming economy. There is plenty of employment. Wages in Panama are significantly less than...
There are restrictions on certain types of professions that you, as a foreigner, can engage in here in Panama. One of them that has restrictions are jobs in the medical profession and there are some others. For the most part, most jobs are available for the foreigners and expats as long as they have their proper documentation.Finding a job in Panama is not difficult because of the booming economy. There is plenty of employment. Wages in Panama are significantly less than in the US, so be prepared for that if you are coming here to seek employment. But generally, the cost of living here in Panama is also less.
(Eddie Montes was born in the US, went to high school in Panama, finished his schooling in Boston and has returned to become the director property management for Punta Pacifica, Panama City, Panama, pictured.)
Posted October 8, 2015
Neil Flemming - VaultMax Global Inc
Getting a job in Panama would be quite easy. They’ve got almost full employment, they tell me. Spanish is probably key. If you don’t have Spanish, you’re going to be very limited as to what you can do. I know that most of the multinationals are always looking for good people, people with good service, predictably people who’ve worked abroad and have a skill set that isn’t available here in Panama. There’s been a huge...
Getting a job in Panama would be quite easy. They’ve got almost full employment, they tell me. Spanish is probably key. If you don’t have Spanish, you’re going to be very limited as to what you can do. I know that most of the multinationals are always looking for good people, people with good service, predictably people who’ve worked abroad and have a skill set that isn’t available here in Panama. There’s been a huge influx of multinationals and companies in general. A lot of companies are setting up in Panama and use Panama as their base for the Americas because it’s geographically and strategically positioned. The canal is here. Copa has fantastic air connections. I found out HSBC just moved their headquarters here. There’s a lot of banking going on here.
(US Caterpillar at the Panama Canal, Panama, pictured.)
Posted November 10, 2015
Jeff Barton
In a recent study, I read that Panama has an unemployment rate of less than 3%. As a result, there is a high demand for workers because almost all Panamanian workers have jobs. However, Panama does have a lack of middle management expertise, so there is a good amount of opportunities for people with these skills and background. However, the salary expectations for someone moving to Panama would be far less than if they were a North...
In a recent study, I read that Panama has an unemployment rate of less than 3%. As a result, there is a high demand for workers because almost all Panamanian workers have jobs. However, Panama does have a lack of middle management expertise, so there is a good amount of opportunities for people with these skills and background. However, the salary expectations for someone moving to Panama would be far less than if they were a North American doing the same job. So an accountant, nurse or doctor would have to expect to have lower salary than they received in their home countries.
Overlaying this, the cost of living is definitely less in Panama for those who choose to have a low cost of living. However, people who come to Panama who want to live in luxury residence, eat at the finest restaurants, and shop in the high-end stores will see only a slight reduction in living cost, but it’s not as dramatic as others. With that being said, there are many people who come to Panama just for the opposite reason. They don’t want all those things in their lives any more and here in Panama they can choose a place to live and eat wonderful food, be surrounded by great people in a safe environment in many cases for half as much as they would spend in the US.
It is legal to have a job if you’re a foreigner in Panama. For example, I have Panamanian residency. After obtaining my residency I obtained a work permit, so I have legal permission to work in Panama. Once you have your work permit, a Panamanian company can hire you, you can go on their payroll and become part of the operation.
You have to have the proper type of visa to work in Panama. There are many visa options. The one I used is called the friendly-nation visa. The US, Canada, and many other nations are considered friendly nations of Panama. By being a citizen of one of those countries and being able to provide a few other minor requirements such as having a small amount of money in the bank in Panama, having no criminal record, and some basic other items, you will be put you on a fast track for a visa, which can be obtained in as little as 90 days.
(Jeff Barton working for Punta Pacifica, Panama, pictured.)
Posted December 23, 2015