Learn about Panama Q&A
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Learn About Panama the Best Offshore Tax Haven: Learn about Panama Q&A
We have moved our Q&A from the website to this blog.
Please ask your Panama questions here.
Be sure to Subscribe to the blog - up there in the top left corner - to be notified by e-mail when your answer is posted.
I am Panamanian (dual citizenship) but was raised in the states. I have been given property to build a house in Panama and I will be retiring within the next two years. I wondered if you can tell me a reputable company that will ship my household goods from Southern California to David, Panama cheaply.
Also, I need to go to and from David, Panama often and wondered which is the cheapest way? LAX to PTY or LAX to Costa Rica?
Unfortunately, although my first language was Spanish, I grew up in a household that only used English. So, I am desperately trying to relearn Spanish. They tell me once I'm in Panama my Spanish will improve quickly. I'm a little apprehensive about that. Even though my Panamanian family is bilingual, they usually speak in Spanish and I feel like I'm going to be in the Twilight Zone for awhile until I know what they're saying. I don't know why I writing this to you, but I guess I could use some encouragement.
Thanks for your help,
Dottie
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Hi Dottie! Thanks for your questions. When I moved my family to Panama we basically cleaned house and sold off everything with the exception of some summer clothes, a few toys for the kids and some sentimental key-sakes. We pared everything down and moved with 10 suitcases. I still advise people to do the same. Clothes, cars, furniture, electronics and more are all available in Panama at very reasonable prices. Sell as much as you can and get a fresh start in Panama. It's cheaper. Now, that said in my time in Panama I have met dozens of people who moved there household there. And I don't think any two used the same service. Some had terrible experiences some had great ones. I don't believe there is one company that does a great job from anywhere in the world. I believe it really depends on where you live currently.
I suggest you shop around with international moving companies in your area. Try and find ones who have experience moving people to Latin America and ideally one who has experience moving to Panama. Make certain your quote includes and guarantees 'DOOR TO DOOR' service. I have seen more than one large transport truck arrive in Boquete only to have everyone scratching their heads and trying to figure out how to get everything 5 miles up a narrow mountain road. Also, get a delivery time guarantee with penalties built into the contract if they don't get it there on time. Insure customs clearance and fees are included and again, that they have experience working with the Panama customs bureau.
For travel and the cheapest way again I suggest you shop around. Sometimes you can get a great deal through San Jose, Costa Rica and now that AirPanama and Aeroperlas have flights from San Jose to David you can save time and money.
For Spanish I encourage you to pick up either the Rosetta Stone or Pimsleur program. Even just level one of either of these program will help you get your pronunciation and comprehension of Spanish back quickly. Then you won't be stressed about it when you make the big move plus it will be fun and as your confidence builds so will your excitement about moving!
Hope this helps!
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Thank you very, very much for your quick response and very helpful information!
I think it's wise to start all over, too. Once I pack up all my special things that can't be replaced, I'll let everything else go.
If you're any where near David, I'd like to meet you and your family after I relocate!
Dottie
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I want to have my own cell phone when I am in Panama. Can you advise me as to what I should look for and buy? I do not want something to just use for a week or two. DO I need to buy an unlocked phone and them buy a SIM card when I get to Panama? Pleae give me details on what I need to buy now before I leavein a couple weeks. Thanks you!
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Cell phones in Panama now all work with a SIM card. If you already have a phone then you can just get a card and number once you arrive in Panama. If you don't have your phone yet you may want to wait and check the prices in Panama. Hope that helps!
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You will also need to check with your current cell phone provider,because they might need to give you an "unlock code" for your phone in order for the new sim card to work. This is what I have been told by AT&T. You will also need to make sure your phone is a World Phone, with (I think he called it) Quad Band. I hope this is helpful, Barbara
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Iam 62yrs old and live on fixed income of approx $1,600 monlthly. Could I live on this comfortably in Boquete renting a nice apartment and is possible not to have an aur but to rely on local transportation. Would I have any money left over after all expenses.Mike
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Is it possible for 62yr old man to retire in Boquete on $1,600 monthly, have a nice apartment,get a dog,live without an auto does Boquete have public transport and would I have any money left after all expenses
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Hi Mike,
Yes, I believe you could be very comfortable in Boquete on that kind of income. There are still a number of really good deals in Boquete either purchasing - see my Squidoo Lens on Panama Real Estate. Which would work really well for you. Also, there are reasonable rentals and most places I know of are pet friendly. Without a car you would want to settle close to the center of town which is a problem. Although the buses aren't exactly luxury coaches you can easily and cheaply get down to David whenever you want. Taxis are plentiful and cheap too. Shopping in Boquete is excellent so you can get everything you need withing walking distance.
I hope that helps Mike!
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That is why I love Panama so much. The lifestyle is great and it is so affordable for those coming from the Western world.
Thank you for your effort, you are doing a great job with this blog.
Monika
Panama Ventures
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Hello
I would like to know about health Insurance in Panama. I've seem many sites that say it is reasonable, well to me reasonable is a relative term. What info can you give me on what is available and for how much for persons over 60 and over 80.
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Hi Arthur,
Go to my Q & A Page (just click)
Look for my comments about 'Mario Fonseca' - he is a great attorney and you will find his contact info there. Send him a note and let him know you were communicating wit me. He can provide all the info. you need regarding Visas.
Also on the same page look for the contact info for Kevin Bradley. He is an insurance agent and will be able to get you answers to your questions.
Let me know how you make out!
Mark
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Hi. Considering moving to Panama City or near close-by. My 1st option is based on attaining the same actual success of a SPA or Esthetic Parlor in Venezuela
Would highly appreciate any tip or survey making reference on how to tap or establish the factibility of its success in Panama City.
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When traveling to Panama, if one decides to stay for sometime on a temporary visa and earn an income, is a declaration of earnings to one's home country required?
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Tax laws are different for every country so you would need to consult your 'home country' tax code to get an answer to this question. If you are Canadian by declaring 'non residency' you don't have to declare income or even file a tax return for that matter however, that is not a temporary thing and you would need to have Panamanian residency. In the US you can also declare non-resident status but you are still required to file an income tax return there is an exemption on the first $70,000 (I believe it's that amount) of income you earn. Again, check the tax laws in your home country to be certain.
FYI - I just added a new page on the site. Check it out - Weather in Panama.
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What is going on at Amador? We lived there in the 60's. I am a 66 graduate of Balboa. We were there in Feb. of this year and love it more than ever. Is the old Military housing at Amador being redone for rent, sell, or part of a larger hotel scheme? Thanks so much...this is GREAT! Charlie
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Hi,I have been researching Panama Boquete in particular for early retirement. My husband and I will be relatively young at 55 and 58 at retirement and were wondering what there is to do in Boquete for entertainment. Also since it is a mountain town are there a lot of bugs and do you have to sleep under a mosquito net? We are from the states and are used to living in big cities. We want to tone it down a bit but at the same time do not want to feel like we live in a old folks home either.Can you give some info on the above. By the way I find your blog is very informative. Thank you.
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Hi Sandra,
Thank you for your question and comments. I'm glad you are finding the Blog helpful. You bring up a very important point and question. Going from big city USA to Boquete can be a culture shock to say the least! It will not just feel like a slower pace at first it will feel like a grinding stop! This can be quite traumatic for many people. It is very important to develop hobbies and become active in the community right away. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer and contribute particularly in the ares of helping those less fortunate. Here's a forum where you can get a feel for the Boquete Ex-pat community. Another thing I would really encourage you to do is to get a long term rental in Boquete. Go live there for a year so you can experience all of the season and truly get a sense of the lifestyle. Hope that helps!
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My husband and I are coming to Panama at the end of August to look at purchasing a property in costa Pedasi. We have never been there before and have done a lot of research, but are still leery of buying anything in a foreign country. We have read that it is a safe country, but would like your input as to any 'cons' that we may encounter after making our move. We are excited yet a tad uncomfortable still. I liked y our advice about selling everything before moving. Is it true that furniture, etc is very reasonable there?
Thanking you in advance.
Connie
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Hi, i loved boquete but i want to visit El valle de Anton. Is it affordable there? Or surrounding areas for americans to get used to? Any places outside of panama City that are queiet and affordable? Thanks
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Hello Mark,
My question has to do with real estate rights and practices of the government in Panama.
While reading bogs, I came across a couple of articles mentioning a special assessment that the government was imposing upon property owners. See below (both article are from The Panama News):
Bern upset with newspaper coverage of his hotel and the Cinta Costera
by Eric Jackson, largely from other media “...It seems, however, that the concessions are destined to become a minor footnote in a growing public controversy. Citing a lower-level Ministry of Public Works (MOP) official, Palm reported that more than 70 percent of the cost of the Cinta Costera would be paid by a special assessment charged to people and institutions that own property along Avenida Balboa, Avenida Mexico, Avenida Justo Arosemena and side streets between the latter avenue and the waterfront. According to this initial report, the Club de Yates y Pesca and the Hotel Miramar would not have to pay this special assessment because they are public concessions.
Then came the clarifications. The government said that it wouldn't be only 70 percent, but virtually all of the cost, to be paid by nearby property owners, in an area that includes Punta Paitilla, Punta Pacifica and a stretch parallel to the shoreline that extends to Via España rather than Avenida Justo Arosemena. President Torrijos added that, to the extent that the Hotel Miramar and the Club de Yates y Pesca pay property taxes, they will pay higher taxes due to the Cinta Costera's effect on property values....”
The Cinta Costera's cost: 189.1 Million
My question is as follows:
How prevalent are special assessments in Panama?
Thank you, Barbara
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Hello Mark,
This is another question with regards to real estate investment in Panama. Please see the following article from The Panama News.
Surfing beach land grab
Ricardo "Ponky" Icaza was the pioneer of surfing at Santa Catalina on the Pacific side of Veraguas in the 1970s, and at that time he and other early surf enthusiasts Jimbo H. Espino, Kiki O'Brien (of "Kiki Boards") and Kenny Myers bought a 200-meter deep strip of land between the beach on one side and the president of a cattle ranching cooperative on the other. It worked well --- the surfers built their houses and fenced off the cattle behind them, keeping the cattle away from the beach's hazards. Later Admiralty Services Inc, a company owned by one José Crespo, bought an adjacent parcel of property from the cooperative president's daughter and successor in interest, and began to claim the surfers' cottages and the land upon which they were built, claiming that he had bought them from the daughter. The surfers presented their papers from Catastro, but Crespo prevailed upon the local corregidor and the National Police to oust the Myers, and while the dispute was in court --- a judge having ruled in favor of Myers --- a gang of thugs appeared and demolished Myers's cottage, as shown above. So what's the big picture? Crespo is well connected with the PRD and seeks to oust the surfers in order to sell the land to foreign resort developers. This sort of land grab has been one of the hallmarks of the Torrijos administration's beach and island land tenure policy. This time we see the burden falling upon some surfers who are not poor but much more frequently working to dispossess farmers and fishing villages, some of the latter which have existed since ancient times. In this and many other cases, the occupants of the land who are being ousted own their land by squatters' rights if nothing else, and at the time that the beach and island property law was being debated it was promised (and inserted into the law) that squatters' rights would be respected. But not so in practice.
After reading the above, I was reminded of another case in a beach front community in another country, where home owners were told they did not have legal deeds, and were given 30 days to leave. Some of whom had been retired and in their homes for more than 20 years, they were of course foreigners. When prime land is involved sometimes the law does apply, or in the case above other means of removing people is undertaken.
My questions are as follows:
Have you ever heard of the Panama courts not upholding a legal deed?
Or heard of any cases where those who want to take your land do so by any means possible?
Thank you,
Barbara
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Hello Mark,
I read your letters and info and some more info on the net about moving to Panama. What I observed is that the salaries are very very small in Panama. HOw do people live out of that money? I mean us expats if they have to work there, how will we survive paying health and home insurance, utilities, and other miscellaneous? In our case we are around 50 years of age and even if we would buy our house, because we don't have another income or pension will have to find jobs. We don't have pensions and won't have(we were self employed)and never could save money to put aside. I read that jobs are impossible to find in Panama. What would be our chances to be employed ?
Thank you
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Mark, My wife and i are planning to move to Panama in June. We are going to have most of our household goods shipped to Panama. I would like to know about the taxes on thing shipped to Panama. Thank You
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Hi Mark,
I found your informative website through a review you posted on Travelpost.com on the Country Inn & Suites at the Panama Canal.
I'm afraid I have to agree but there's some good news too: the Balboa Inn, a 9-room-, expat-managed B&B is just a 5 minute ride away from this excellent location, in the center of residential Balboa with clean rooms, great service.
Cheers!
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Thanks for your suggestion. I'll have to check out the Balboa Inn. I'm going to avoid the Country Inn and Suites now. Nasty Place!
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Hi,
We have been looking into Costa Rica and Panama. I have tons of questions but will limit myself this time LOL. What does the average 2 bedroom home or apt. rent for? I may be asking the impossible, but I want to avoid flooding, earthquakes, hurricanes & valcanos. I prefer to live in the coolest part of the country, wherever that may be. Can 2 people live comfortably on $1000. a month, what would be the average unilities bill, which airport would one want to arrive from Houston? We would like to be in a smaller town, but near one with all aminities. Are we asking for the impossible?
Thanks,
Linda & Danny
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Hey Linda & Danny, great questions and no you're not asking for the impossible. A couple of areas of would suggest for you
Boquete - A stunning area (where my place is) but prices went up like crazy. Things seem to have stabilized and are getting back to more realistic levels now. Great expat community.
El Valle de Anton - lovely spot. Not nearly as busy or pricey as Boquete but not as much of a community feel either.
Volcan - similar to El Valle.
Your budget is doable but you're going to have to make sacrifices. You're not going to live in a gated community (not that you need to, may as well stay in the states if you want that) with Golf and all of the Americana to go with. Rent varies all over he country but in the mountain areas, where it sounds like you want to be, is going to be the most reasonable - again stay away from the American style gated communities - they all want big bucks.
Best and cheapest to fly into Panama City although you may get a decent fly via Costa Rica to David. I would suggest PC and rent a car. make your way to El Valle, spend a night or two and explore, then on to Boquete and Volcan.
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Mark,
I'm just beginning my research concerning an inexpensive place to retire and I'm very interested in Panama. My question is this: I wouldn't be interested in buying real estate but is it possible to obtain a long term lease on a small house in the highlands?
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RE: http://topplacestolive.weebly.com/
I have a 19ft bay boat with a 115 motor. what is the policy on bringing it ot Panama? The boat is 7 years old, if that makes a difference.
Thanks for your help.
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Hi Fred!
Importing personal effects to Panama is determined by your status If you are moving to Panama then you probably intend on getting some kind of visa. The Pensionado Visa is best for people planning on retiring to Panama.
Panamanian law grants retirees a very good tax exemption package including:
- Tax exemption to import a car every 2 years
- Import tax exemption for households up to US$10,000
- Multiple tax exemptions and discounts on services in Panama
Regulated by Executive Decree 320, the “pensionado” residence requires that applicant demonstrates an income on pension of only US$1,000.00 per month and $250.00 for each dependent.Once the visa petition is filed before the Immigration and Naturalization Directorate, a permanent residence permit will be granted to the applicant within 4-6 months as of the date of filing of the application.
This type of residence is expedited and the status is granted for life.
Requirements to Obtain a Pensionado Visa:
Note: Except for the retiree certification, the same documents must be supplied by the spouse. All documents must be apostilled or certified before a Panama consulate at the place of issuance.
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I am one of many military brats who carry dual US & Panamian citizenship from the 50's. I make periodic trips to Panama, & with my recent retirement (Jan 2010!!!) I am hoping to finally live in Panama soon. I like your site, however the only dates listed in the blog questions refer to month/day only. Nothing in the Q&A part of the blog indicates relevant year, making some responses appear to be older info. How old is information I read in the blog?
And yes, that is my valid email address - has been for over 15 years.
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