Your move to Panama: the 90-day plan
Reviewed by Hassim Patel Bhana, Managing Partner · Updated
This plan sequences the three months before you move to Panama. One rule drives the order: documents issued abroad are valid for six months from their issue date, so requesting them too early is the most common way a move slips. It works back from that to when you choose a route and gather papers.
Key points
- Documents from abroad are valid for six months from the date they are issued.
- Request them close to your filing date, not too early — this is the rule the whole plan is built around.
- Choose your residency route first: the right visa depends on your profile, not on which one is popular.
- Get the document checklist for your route before you start gathering anything.
- Your foreign driving licence is valid for 90 days after you arrive, then it must be converted.
- The Pensionado visa includes a tax exemption on importing household goods, up to $10,000.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I get my documents early?
Because they expire six months after they are issued, not six months after they are apostilled. Requesting them too early is the most common reason a filing slips.
How long can I drive on my own licence?
Ninety days after you arrive. After that it must be converted.
What should I do first?
Choose the route, then get its checklist. Gathering documents before you know which route you are on is how people pay for papers twice.