PANAMA AMA A R REAL L OPTION ON FOR SOUTH AFRICAN ANS - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PANAMA AMA – A R REAL L OPTION ON FOR SOUTH AFRICAN ANS

PanaGreat info@panagreat.co.za +27 81 305 1515 www.panagreat.co.za

INTRODUCTION

10 Steps

The process of applying for Permanent Residency has 10 main steps. The details of each person or family’s application requirements will vary depending on their own personal circumstances. 1. Determine cost - Get quotes on legal and immigration fees from reputable law firms in Panama 2. Select law firm & register Panamanian Corporation 3. Obtain all documents required & Apostille relevant documents 4. Book flights and accommodation & travel to Panama 5. Visit your law firm to hand over original documents 6. Visit bank & open a Panamanian bank account 7. Deposit $5 000 in new bank account 8. Visit Immigration offices to hand in your application 9. Return to Immigration offices to collect Temporary PR.

• 10. Collect your Permanent Residency and E-cedula in 3 –

4 months time.

This Presentation is aimed at making the process of applying for Permanent Residency in Panama easier to understand and complete. It may seem daunting at first, but the steps to complete your Panama Friendly Nations Visa application is relatively straight-forward.

RELIABLE INFORMATION

CAUTION Be careful of advice on the Internet and on Facebook forums, it is not always correct. At PanaGreat any advice and information we give you have been verified by several law firms, not JUST by our own experience. Just because something was applicable to one person, does not mean it is applicable to you. Law changes can also make some good-intentioned advice dangerous to follow. Free advice often ends up costing you more in the long run. Just because somebody was happy with their law firm does not mean they are affordable or the best. Always get a few quotes on any service to compare. REMEMBER: You are always welcome to ask us for advice and information – we share freely at no cost.

For quick and reliable information about Panama, join our WhatsApp group with hundreds of members – some living in Panama for years,

• thers who moved there recently and fellow

members also planning their relocation. Send “Please add” on WhatsApp to 082 410 0437

FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA Est. 2012

The Friendly Nations Visa offer you Permanent Residency without requiring you to stay in Panama. To keep your Permanent Residency status you will have to visit Panama at least once every 2 years after collecting the resolution. Citizenship in 5 Yrs on request.

Visas available: a) Investment Visa (US$ 300 000 in companies or real estate). b) Reforestation Visa (US$ 80 000, buying 5 hectare Teak plantation). c) Work Visa (Need job offer, Visa tied to your employer). d) Pensionado Visa (Require a lifetime income of US$ 1000 / month / person, or US$ 1 250 / month / couple). e) Friendly Nations Visa through financial ties with Panama.

(Recommended)

IMPORTANT If you visit Panama to complete your Friendly Nations Visa application, and return to South Africa, you will need to collect your Permanent Residency within 6 months in Panama IN PERSON

a) Investment Visa (US$ 300 000 in companies or real estate). This is an expensive option. b) Reforestation Visa – Expensive, risky. c) Work Visa Sponsor required from Panamanian Company. Most likely will need to speak Spanish – Clients, customers, employers, suppliers may be Spanish speaking. Renewal – Must be done every 2 years. Visa tied to sponsor, if you change employer, you must re- apply. May request citizenship after 5 years, on condition of an unbroken employment and living record in Panama. d) Pensionado Visa No Minimum / maximum age to get this Visa. US$ 1 250 / month (combined / couple) required. You need to show an extra US$ 250 / dependent (dependents only allowed if they are under 25 years old and still studying). The visa does not allow for a work permit, however Pensionado Visa holders have the right to invest and manage their own business interests. Pensioners in Panama qualify for several Tax Exemptions. Pensioners also qualify for many other discounts ranging from 5 - 50% on most services and goods in Panama. These discounts apply to all permanent residents and citizens over a certain age (Woman 55 or older, men 60 or older).

FRIENDLY NATIONS VISA – The most popular and effective option

e) Friendly Nations Visa with financial ties to Panama Open & own a Panamanian Corporation.

Company can be established from SA, you do not need to be in

• Panama. Your law firm will mail documents to be completed and

mailed back. All Panamanian companies require 3 Directors. If you do not have a 2nd or 3rd person, your law firm will provide you with a staff member in their firm. You may nominate anybody in SA that is in good standing, they do not have to come to Panama. You may have up to 4 shareholders, so up to 4 people can “share” a corporation. Applicants may bring in dependents. All children under 18 years old will automatically be dependents. If they are between 18 and 25 they can only be added as dependents if they are still studying. Only main applicants can apply for work visas. Parents may be added as dependents. You may apply for both spouses as main applicants. This is recommended.

IMPORTANT: Foreigners in Panama are not allowed to open a retail business. We also strongly advise against businesses that will require you to hire employees. There is a whole host of issues and potential problems that come with hiring Panamanian employees. Perhaps eventually you will feel brave enough to start a business with employees, but we don’t recommend making it your first business. If you do require a local work force, contract workers instead of employees could be a good option. Registration of Corporation Application form requires following information: * Possible corporation’s name. * Name and address of all directors (3 directors minimum). * Name and address of all shareholders. (4 Max) * Amount of authorized capital. * Bookkeeping information, source of funds and purpose of

• rganizing the corporation. (Law Firms will help).

You need to be a shareholder in the corporation to be a Main

• Applicant. Directors can be any adult, living in SA or elsewhere.

They will never be required to go to Panama. They will be required to have a passport and ID.

Profile form of directors to be completed: Complete name Contact information Nationality Occupation Tax residency information Copy of passport and second I.D. Once completed & translated, (your law firm will arrange, check that it is included in price) your lawyer will register the corporation. You may then run or dissolve the corporation. However you have to apply every 3 years for work permit, so it might be in your best interest to keep the corporation active. Annual Corporation Costs: US$ 500. These costs are above any income taxes you may owe, and is for keeping your corporation in business.

In order to apply for permanent residency on your new corporation, you will need to bring the following from SA:

• Police Clearance Certificate for all applicants of legal
• age. At time of application in Panama, the date of

issue on the document must be less than 6 months

• ago. To be Apostilled.
• Marriage certificate if the main applicant will have a

spouse or child as dependent. To be Apostilled, recent unabridged recommended.

• Unabridged Birth certificates if the main applicant will

list parents as dependents. To be Apostilled.

• Passport for each person. (More than 6 months

before expiry date)

• Second form of South African I.D. for all applicants.

(Children’s 2nd form of ID is their Birth Certificate)

• Source of Income documents (SARS ITA34 document,

bank statements, Payslips, etc.) Main applicant must open a bank account with a Panamanian

• bank. 2 Main applicants may open joint account

Preparation of your application is crucial. One document missing halts the entire process. You will be asked a substantial fee for Apostille at Panama Embassy . Apostille of documents are done for free at DIRCO, although you will have to queue.

We offer a service to Apostille all documents, charged per family or per envelope (NOT per document). This is particularly helpful and cost effective if you reside

• utside

Gauteng. A complete breakdown of costs for Apostille can be found near the end of this PowerPoint. (Page 32)

Apostille

An Apostille is simply the name for a specialized certificate, issued by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) . The Apostille is attached to your original document to verify it is legitimate and authentic so it will be accepted in one of the other countries who are members of the Hague Apostille Convention of 1961. Panama and South Africa are both members, thus Apostille is the recognised method of authentication of documents. This is a free service from DIRCO. Office hours are from 08h30 – 12h30 for submission of documents. 1 – 5 Documents will be ready for collection the next working day. 6 – 18 Documents will be ready in 3 working days. 19 Documents or more will be ready in 5 working days.

DIRCO Contact - OR Tambo Building, 460 Soutpansberg Rd, Rietondale, Pretoria. (www.dirco.gov.za)

Police Clearance Educational certificates and degrees Trade certificates (Plumber, Electrician) Unabridged Marriage, Birth and Death Certificates Driver’s license Non- government documents (Permission letters for minors) Copy of school report card Medical and veterinary certificates

DIRCO

Fingerprints at Local Police Station SAQA Confirmation letter QCTO Confirmation letter Letter from

• Dept. of

Basic Education RTMC Confirmation letter only HPCSA / SAVC letter Notarisation at public notary High Court Judge Police Criminal Check Division Pta

PanaGreat www.panagreat.co.za

Police clearance – R114 / person. Police Station send applications to Criminal Record Division Pretoria. Report issued, returned to Police

• Station. Applicants may submit directly to Pretoria office after having fingerprints done. 2 sms’s will be received – 2nd sms is to notify report

has been finalized. No convictions (clear report) required Educational Certificates – Confirmation letter to be obtained from South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). Address - SAQA House, 1067 Arcadia St, Hatfield, Pretoria. www.saqa.org.za. They may charge a fee. Trade Certificates – Confirmation letter to be obtained from Quality Council For Trades & Occupations (QCTO). Address - 256 Glyn Ln, Hatfield, Pretoria. www.qcto.org.za. They may charge a fee. School Report Cards – Copy of last school report card to be submitted to Department of Basic Education. Letter of confirmation will be issued (R45 per letter). Address - Sol Plaatje House, 222 Struben St, Pretoria Central, Pretoria. www.education.gov.za. Driver’s License Confirmation – Confirmation letter requested via email from Road Traffic Management Corporation - ctc@rtmc.co.za. Letter to be collected at their office - Howick Close, Vorna Valley, Midrand www.rtmc.co.za. Health and Veterinarian Certificates – Health and animal certificates requires a confirmation letter to be obtained from the Health Professions Council of South Africa at 553 Madiba St, Arcadia, Pretoria (www.hpcsa.co.za), or the South African Veterinary Council at Corporate Park, 26 Victoria Link, Irene, Centurion. Non-Government documents – To be notarised by an attorney registered as a Public Notary, then submitted to a High Court Judge. Birth, Marriage, and Death certificates – Can be Apostilled directly at DIRCO. Only original, unabridged and non-laminated documents can be Apostilled.

PanaGreat www.panagreat.co.za

The rest of the documents to be presented to the Immigration Service are all obtained in Panama:

• Power of attorney. (Law firm)
• Certified copies of all pages of the passport.
• Health certificates. (Law firm will arrange)
• Sworn declarations. (Law firm)
• Certified checks for Immigration. (Law firm)
• Eight coloured passport size photos. (You)
• Share certificate in the name of the petitioner of a

Panamanian Corporation. (Lawyer will issue you with this after registration of your corporation).

• Bank reference letter from the bank in Panama where

an account has been opened and a deposit of minimum USD5,000.00 has been made. (Bank)

Dealing with a Panamanian Law Firm to handle your application can be a nightmare. However there are 3 trusted and reputable law firms in Panama City that can be used with complete confidence: Expat Immigration Services Panama Kraemer & Kraemer Denfab Law All 3 the above firms will handle your application with professionalism and all 3 speak English. Expat Immigration Services is our recommended law firm, they are the only firm willing to discount South African family applications as they understand that we are doing the emigration process out of need. We negotiated further discount through PanaGreat on the registration of your corporation. USE PANAGREAT20 as your reference when requesting a quote from Expat Immigration Services Panama. If we request the quote on your behalf, the discount will apply automatically.

BANKING

• PLEASE NOTE: The official Panama Immigration Law

establishes textually for The Friendly Nations Visa: “One way of proof of income is a bank letter of a local bank that must show a minimum of US$5,000 or 4 regular figures, and in case there are dependents, a minimum of US$250.00 should be added per each dependent.”

• This law is open to interpretation.
• Most law firms will require only a US$5 000 deposit to

process your application successfully, even if you have

• dependents. Please check with your law firm. We

recommend (if possible) to abide by the letter of the law in order to avoid any chance of your application being refused. Reminder: You will be able to withdraw funds again after your application has been approved.

Email documents to lawyer prior to visit. (In order to be checked and translated) Panamanian Bank requires:

1.

Bank reference letter. (From your current bank)

2.

Source of Income documents. (SARS ITA34 form, payslips, work letter, etc.)

3.

A letter from your lawyer stating that the residency permit is in process.

4.

An interview with the bank officer IN PANAMA.

5.

A deposit of USD5,000.00. (This amount needs to be deposited for immigration reasons only). We recommend leaving a balance of USD5,000.00 until the residency permit is approved.

THE PR PROCESS

All official institutions in Panama have a dress code.

• Men: Long pants, collared shirt, shoes with

socks.

• NO shorts, cut-off shirts, t-shirts, or sandals
• Women: Dress or long pants, collared shirt or

top that covers shoulders, formal shoes.

• NO mini-skirts, shorts, t-shirts, cut-off shirts,

tops showing shoulders, no sandals or footwear that show toes

Estimated time frame of process:

1.

Day 1: Meeting with lawyer & Interview at the bank for opening an account.

2.

Day 2: Transfer: USD5,000.00 to be deposited. Up to 3 days, depending on funds transfer.

3.

Day 3: Immigration office for application for the residency permit.

4.

Day 4: Request for a multiple entries visa (necessary if you might want leave the country).

5.

Day 5: Collect temporary PR card and Multiple Entry Visa. Above is an estimate and average only.

DRESS CODE

CARNET AND E-CÉDULA

Once your application is completed, you will receive a PR permit while waiting for your Permanent Residency to be

• approved. This permit is known as a “Carnet”, and issued by

the National Migration Service (Immigration). Once your Permanent Residency is approved (approximately 3 months), you may then apply for a national identity card. (E- cedula) You have 6 months to collect. The E-cédula is issued by the Electoral Tribunal (US$ 65). Panamanians have cédulas (ID cards). Foreigners have e-cédulas. The “e” stands for “Extranjero”, which means foreigner. The e-cedula allow for same rights as Panamanians, except

• voting. The number on e-cedula is also your TIN number- used

for paying taxes. Foreigners may NOT be in 2 processes at same time, so the process typically runs as follows: Garnet / E-cedula / Drivers License / Work Permit

WORKING IN PANAMA

Work PERMITS are issued if you already have a Permanent Residency as a Main Applicant and want to work in Panama. Work VISAS is a job offer or sponsorship on which you want to base your Permanent Residency application on. Until recently, a Work Permit issued to a Main Applicant did not have to be renewed, it was permanent. On the 24th of April 2019 this was amended to renewal every 3 years. Work VISAS must be renewed every 2 years, or when changing employer. Any company that wants to employ a foreigner who has a Friendly Nations Visa work PERMIT must comply with tax regulations, have an “agent” and employ at least 2 Panamanians. A company may only offer sponsorship of a Work VISA if their work force consist of less than 15% foreigners.

All permanent residents with a Friendly Nation’s PR will need to request a Work Permit to work in Panama for a company established here, even if it is your own company. (By law). However, if you work online, or your income is generated outside Panama you do not require a Work Permit. There are other ways to avoid having to apply for a Work Permit - For instance, a foreigner can open a restaurant in Panama without a Work

• Permit. But if you also want to wait tables at your restaurant, or cook,

work the till, etc - you need a Work Permit. If however you will only own and manage your business interest, you do not need to apply for a Work

• Permit. The test generally is if the business can continue normally

without you being there. So you need employers in all the crucial roles of your business so you can claim ownership only, not employment. For tax purposes your earnings are then also not tax deductible as a business expense.

RESTRICTED PROFESSIONS IN PANAMA

Jobs Forbidden To Foreigners: Estate Agent (5 Years in Panama) Education in: History, Geography and Civil Dentist & Dental assistant Lawyer & Attorney Veterinarian Chiropractors Medical, (including Doctor, Nurse, Medical Assistant, Medical Radiologist, Lab technician, Pharmacist Nutritionist) Therapists, (such as Sociologist, Psychologist Physiotherapist, Speech therapy) Social worker Accounting Hairdressing and Cosmetology Chemist Engineering (Civil, Chemical and Forestry) Architecture Agricultural Sciences Journalism Public Relations Economist

DRIVING IN PANAMA

Mail ctc@rtmc.co.za and request a confirmation letter on your driver’s license. Attach a copy of your ID on the mail, and also type your full names and ID number in the body of the mail. Original letter will be ready for collection at their Midrand office within a week. This letter must be Apostilled at DIRCO.

You may drive for 90 Days as a tourist with your SA License. You need to have your SA Drivers License card AND your Passport with you to drive legally. Once you have received your PR Permit (Carnet), you may no longer drive on your SA License, as your status has changed from “Tourist” to “PR Applicant”. To legally drive you would need a Panamanian Drivers License. As soon as you receive your E-cedula, you need to re-apply for a new Drivers License, as your status has changed again from “PR Applicant” to “Permanent Resident”. Blood tests are required for South Africans, as our blood group is not indicated on our SA Drivers License Cards. Visual and Auditory tests are also done.

PANAMA SCHOOLING

Due to the language barrier at government schools, your child will probably have to go to a private international English school. You may also consider home schooling. There are home schooling centres available in Panama. Panama Schooling:

• Compulsory education in Panama is composed of two

sections - 6 years of primary schooling and 3 years of middle school.

• High school is available for those who wish to continue

their education, as is university or college.

• The school day varies, depending largely on the

school, but usually begin between 7am and 9am and finish any time between 2pm and 3pm.

• Schools operate on 1 of 2 school years / terms – Sept

to June (US), or March to Dec (Panamanian).

• All schools closed during Carnival, Easter & Christmas

periods.

Panama has many international schools and bilingual schools. Panama City, Coronado, Santiago, Pedasi, David, Boquete and Vulcan all have bilingual schools. Spanish classes are compulsory in all schools. Fees range from $1500 to as much as $16,000 per student, per annum. It is common practise for a school to charge a one time enrolment fee and then a smaller monthly fee after that. Enrolment fees can range anywhere from $400 to $2,000 depending on the school & monthly fees Between $100 and $1,500 per month for 10 months.

TRAVEL TO PANAMA

Cheapest flights are available from Turkish Airlines. If booked well in advance, cost of tickets from R8 500 p/p One way, and R12 500 return. (Prices from February 2020) Check with us how to travel on a One Way Ticket New airport completed April 2019 in Istanbul. There are many Layover Hotels available for a shower and a nap. Currently these are still included in the price of your

• ticket. You may also select a tour of Istanbul in place of

the layover hotel.

Most flights have 2 layovers:

• Long layover in Istanbul, Turkey. (Up to 20 + hours). Free visa

available to explore Istanbul, print from internet.

• The 2nd leg is to a short technical stop.
• NB - USA layovers and stops

require a VISA.

PET RELOCATION

Panama City - $16 for airport clearance Vet only available weekdays 9am to 3pm, 7pm to 10pm. 30 Days Quarantine required @ US$10 / day. Option of Home quarantine ($130) – Total $146 (R2 044) Obtain Vet Certificate from SA for:

• Health
• Vaccinations
• Place of Birth

Complete “Pet Import Form” at Panama Airport Obtain quotes from several companies if you want the whole process to be taking care of by professionals:

• www.globalpaws.co.za
• www.petstravel.co.za
• www.petport.co.za
• www.aeropets.co.za
• www.moveapet.co.za
• www.partnerspet.co.za

ABOUT PANAMA

Quick Overview

Population: 4,101,00 Currency: Panamanian Balboa & US Dollar (1:1) 1904 Highest GDP in Central America Government: Republic, Democratic, Constitutional, Presidential system Area: 75 420 km² Language: Spanish / Some English Religion: Roman Catholic Strong Internet coverage (ADSL, Fiber and Wi-fi) 110v Electricity (SA 240v) Strong American Influence (Panama Canal)

PANAMA ECONOMY

“Since 2003, Panama has had one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, expanding an average

• f 8.4% between 2004 and 2013. Despite slowing

down, due in part to a weakening of global growth, it leads the region once again in 2018 with over 5% growth” SA economic growth 2018 – 0.8%

COST OF LIVING

International Living Website Average Cost of Living in Panama for January 2019, based on a couple.

Petrol – $0.80 / L (R12 / L) 2011 Jeep 4 x 4, 80 000km – US$ 6 500 2017 Ford Ranger Double Cab, 65 000km – US$ 17 000 12 Large Eggs – US$ 2 Packet of cigarettes – US$3 to US$5.35 (Please note Panama has very strict smoking laws) 2L Coke – US$ 2.35 Big Mac combo meal – US$ 6.50 Meat (beef) - $7 / kg Public Transport – $1.50 / 50km

ABOUT PANAMA

• Panama is an “Isthmus” (Narrow strip of land with

sea on either side).

• East to West orientation.
• Costa Rica to the West and Colombia to the East.
• Caribbean Sea to North, Pacific Ocean to the South.
• 10 Provinces, broken down in districts, and further

broken down into zones (corrigimientos).

• The capital Panama City is roughly in middle (East

to West) with a population of 1.5 Million.

• Panama have only 2 seasons: Dry season (Jan to

April) and Rainy season (May-December). Temperatures are always summer-like with lots of humidity.

• Rarely gets above 32° C for long.
• Cooler in mountains (25 – 27 ° C).
• Some areas can be windy.

PANAMA PROPERTY

When doing business in Panama, it should also be noted that contracts in English hold no legal weight in

• Panama. A real estate contract written in English

carries no legal weight and is generally not

• recognized. All contracts for property must be in

Spanish on a formal public deed, and signed before a public notary, in order to be legally enforceable and to be filed at the Public Registry. In Panama, there are two very different ways to buy real estate. The first is the straightforward purchase of titled property. The second way is called Rights of Possession (Derecho Posesorio). Rights of possession are like squatters or concession

• rights. Ultimately, there is only one way to acquire

property in Panama to the fullest extent of the law: “Titled Land”. Rights of possession are not titled land.

There are few limitations on what foreigners can buy in terms of real estate in Panama. Property within six miles of international borders is out of bounds. There are restrictions on some island and waterfront property unless it is situated in one of the Tourism Zones. Beachfront properties must provide a right of way. Building over the water also requires a permit with a special concession from the maritime authorities and the Ministry of Finance.

PANAMA TAX

Panama has a territorial tax system. Panama will tax all income generated or produced in the country. The country has signed several treaties to avoid double taxation. Inheritance tax, capital acquisitions, capital duty or net worth taxes do not exist In Panama. If your income is not generated in Panama not and derived from Panama residents, you can be exempt from tax (0% income tax), like tourism and online business. Panama have several laws promoting tax incentives for companies that will be established in Panama. Special tax incentives are given to the following:

• Multinational companies
• International advisors with clients abroad
• Micro, small and medium size companies
• NGOs
• Corporations established in free zones or

special economic activities zones.

8 Recommended places to visit:

• The Panama Canal
• The beaches & islands. You can choose from Caribbean
• r the Pacific side even in one day.
• The Panama highlands in the province of Chiriqui.
• Panama Viejo and the Panama Old Quarter (Casco Viejo).
• Amador Causeway and the Museum of the Biodiversity.
• Dining in the city - There’s a lot of options, from Chinese,

Vietnamese, Fusion, Peruvian, Japanese, Italian and of course local Panamanian food.

• Shopping malls: Multiplaza, Altaplaza, Town Center, Soho

Mall, Albrook Mall and others.

• Museums: Interoceanic Canal Museum, Contemporary Art

Museum and Biodiversity Museum. Transportation: Panama City has a population of more than 1.5 million so there’s a lot of traffic jams, specially during rush hour. (Around 8:00 A.M. and again 5:00 P.M). They actually open a lane on the opposite side of highway during rush hour to accomdate traffic flow. (Mornings into city, afternoon out of city) You can use UBER and CABIFY, they provide a very good service and is not expensive. If you have a meeting in the city, request the transport 30 minutes in advance. NB! Uber does not accept cash in Panama City, please link Uber to a credit card Taxies are most expensive for tourists as they are not metered. Metro (underground) and buses are cheaper. Renting a car is also easy, most major rental car companies have offices in Panama. Waze is most reliable GPS App, although Google Maps also works very well.

PANAMA VS SOUTH AFRICA

MINDSET Panama (or any other country) has it’s own challenges. You WILL struggle with certain issues. No amount of research & information will prepare you 100%. You can only prepare as best you can, but your attitude will determine your success. While you learn to speak Spanish you will unlikely be able to find a job, so you will need to be an entrepeneur. Integrating in society will not only help you learn the language, but also understand the culture and ways to success quicker.

Panama is safe for expats Always use common sense, as theft is a reality anywhere in the world. However, the Contact Crime rate is 11 times lower than SA. Panama has a strong and visible Police Force. Panama has the 3rd lowest murder rate in Central America. Pedestrian safety needs to be taken seriously. Traffic can be chaotic in Panama City. Be aware of some strong currents at certain beaches. The country lies outside the Hurricane Belt. It’s been 65 Years since the last Natural Disaster death, so even from a nature point of view it is much safer than SA.

If it will be a challenge - WHY go?? SAFETY – No Violent crimes, Hate crimes & Descrimination. FUTURE – SA in general decline in living conditions & strenght of currency. Cost of living currently similar, however SA is going backwards, Panama forwards. The Dollar vs Rand is a huge plus for Panama. CHILDREN – World citizens, exposure to other countries, cultures and language. Spanish is 2nd most spoken language in the world, English 3rd most. Your children will speak both. Geological advantage, closer to China, Brazil, USA &

• Canada. Once Panamanians, they will have reserved

professions as oppose to BEE & Quotas. CORRUPTION & INFRASTRUCTURE – South African infrastructure & SOE’s is on the brink of collapsing or bankrupt (ESKOM, SAA, SABC, TRANSNET, RAF) due to

• corruption. Moodys downgraded SA Investment Grade to

“Negative Outlook” in November 2019. Extremely likely to be downgraded in March 2020 to “Junk status”. Important traditional social concepts to understand: Mañana Attitude – relaxed, unrushed. Being happy is seen as more important than getting a lot done. Sobremesa – spend a lot of time with family & friends, particularly over lunches and dinners. Gringo Price – Foreigners are seen as rich retirees that can afford to pay extra, and thus charged extra.

OUR MISSION

PanaGreat Services You are under no obligation to make use of any of these

• services. All our information and advice is free. These

services are offered to individuals and families that can afford them, and want the piece of mind of a smooth transition with complete assistance at every turn. However we often save clients up to R40 000 Individual Services Offered:

• Apostille of documents (See next page)
• Personal Consultations (R1900 for 2 hours)
• Welcome in Panama (Quote on Request)
• Accommodation in Panama (Charged for orientation

fee, accommodation is free as part of orientation consultation) We can tailor-make a package for you with specific services you require.

To help South Africans escape South Africa, establish themselves (and thrive) in Panama. To welcome all South Africans arriving in Panama, and help them integrate. Support each other’s business ventures, and job seekers where we can. Embrace the culture and people of Panama, and help uplift the community. Keep our own roots, traditions, culture and beliefs intact by regular social contact with

• ther Expats.

Most Important: When help is received, pay it forward.

The following is a breakdown of Apostille Services offered: Rates are not per document, but per event, or envelope. If combining documents, you will only be charged a one-time DIRCO fee for ALL documents per event. Apostille only (any document/s or envelope): R50 - Collect at Postnet R250 - Submit and collect at DIRCO R100 – Return to client, Postnet to Postnet R400 - Total Cost to Apostille any Document/s Submission, Collection and Apostille of Police Clearance Certificate: R50 – Collect PCC Application at Postnet R250 – Submit & Collect PCC at SAP in Pta CBD R250 – Submit & Collect at DIRCO R100 – Return to client Postnet to Postnet R650 - Total Cost to submit PCC Application and Apostille PCC Collection and Apostille for Driver’s License confirmation and Education Qualifications: R250 - Collection at SAQA, QCTO or RTMC R250 – Submit & Collect at DIRCO R100 – Return to client, Postnet to Postnet R600 – Total Cost for collection and Apostille on Driver’s License or Education Qualifications.

• Confirmation of last school report Apostilled:

R50 – Collect copy of last report card at Postnet R250 – Submit & Collect copy of report card at Department of Basic Education R50 / report – Feee from Department of Basic Education R250 – Submit & Collect at DIRCO R100 – return to client, Postnet to Postnet. R700 – Total Cost for Confirmation of last report card, Apostilled. (R50 / report card added) The following are examples of combined services (PCC and Driver’s License) Example 1: Driver’s License Confirmation letter + PCC R50 – Collect PCC Application at Postnet R250 - Submit & collect PCC at SAP in Pta CBD R250 – Collect Driver’s License confirmation at RTMC R250 – Submit & Collect both PCC + Driver’s License Confirmation letter at DIRCO R800 – Total Cost for Driver’s License Confirmation letter + PCC

THANK YOU Thank you for your time. Please feel free to address any questions to Will via WhatsApp. Will - 082 410 0437