Work Permit Cards for Foreigners Undergo a Modification
The work permit card for foreigners residing in Panama will undergo a modification to incorporate a QR code containing detailed information to verify the identity of the person. This was announced by the Minister of Labor and Labor Development, Jackeline Muñoz, when she explained that they will no longer carry the printed signature of the minister on duty, but rather a QR code that contains the double verification of the permit. “This helps companies, inspectors and citizens who want to verify the validity of that work permit,” she said. The minister also reported that the current list of costs and fees for work permits according to the legislation had been published, due to some reports indicating that some people were paying more than the established amount. “No one has to pay an additional dollar, except what the law says. If someone is charging something extra, please report it to the employment office or to the Mitradel communication lines,” warned the official, noting that the aim is to make the process more transparent and avoid any irregularities.
According to the Labor Migration Department of the Employment Directorate, there are seven types of work permits, the costs of which vary depending on the civil or circumstantial conditions in the country, ranging from $20 for a stateless migrant who is included in the humanitarian protection permit or type 5, to $500 for a migrant with special permanent residence included in type 1, equivalent to local labor. In the case of a migrant with ten or more years of residence in the country, the permit costs $100. And if it is to be duplicated or renewed, $30 must be paid. If the migrant is a person with a spouse of Panamanian nationality in all its forms, the price of the permit is $50 when it is applied for the first time and, if it needs to be duplicated or renewed, its cost is $30. Both cases fall into type 1 of work permits equivalent to local labor. You can see the complete list of permit types and costs at this link below:
https://www.mitradel.gob.pa/empleo/tabla-de-costos-de-permisos-de-trabajo/
She explained that there is a delay of between seven and eight months in the approval of around 1,050 work permit files that were under review and other cases unresolved in that same period. “We are making an effort to comply with the law’s 40-day deadline for issuing work permits,” said Muñoz, noting that they are open all weekend and next week to reduce the backlog of these documents.
