robertbrucegillies
American expat in Panama
Forum posts
25
About me
American
Lives in Volcán, ChiriquÃ
Speaks English & Spanish
Registration: 30 August 2018
Activity
Corporation annual fees by marascot
Hello all, I was wondering if Panamanian Corporation fees can be paid directly to the government or there must be paid through a lawyer. Any information would be appreciated.August
@marascot You can pay them yourself. In David if you live in Chiriqui. I had a Panama corporation for awhile. A lawyer convinced me to form one and put my property in its name. Supposedly to reduce liability in case you are sued. I finally got rid ... Read More
Panamanian citizenship issues by Ksumike76
I am a citizen of the United States but was born in the Panama Canal Zone and eligible for Panamanian citizenship. I am retired and thinking about spending time in Panama. Would love to connect with anyone with similar experiences. What is it like ...
I became naturalized as a Panamanian citizen in 2013. I have lived in Panama for the past 25 years. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I am also an American citizen. I was born in Pennsylvania. I think it is good to have citizenship if you plan ... Read More
How to adapt to the expat challenges of everyday life in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, Adapting to everyday life as an expat in Panama can be both exciting and overwhelming: different habits, systems, and sometimes even unexpected surprises! Simple things like paying bills, using public transport, or even greeting ...
It is important to give yourself time in a new place. The more time that passes the more familiar everything seems to be. After a number of years things that bothered you before now become the normal way of life. You become comfortable with the way ... Read More
Is Panama a safe place for a single 60 yo woman to retire to? by strgzr61
I am a 60 yo American woman. My husband died very unexpectedly 6 months ago. I no longer want to stay in this country and am looking for someplace warm to retire to. Is Panama a safe place for a single 60 yo woman to retire to? If so, any particular ...
@strgzr61 Like any country some places are safe and some are not. However I would recommend Volcan which is located in Chiriqui near the border with Costa Rica. I have lived in Volcan for the past 25 years. No one has ever assaulted me. I am 83 ... Read More
Where should I live? by vegasghostgal
I don't want to live in Panama City. I was looking north near Boquet or David. But I read an article on the southern end of Panama and now I'm thinking about that area. Anyone have any suggestions? I'm going to be 64 and my husband will be 67 this ...
@vegasghostgal I would recommend Volcan. It is at a comfortable elevation (1400 meters) about a one hour drive to David and also a one hour drive to the border with Costa Rica. I have lived in Volcan for the past 25 years. I came here in December ... Read More
Preventive care in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Panama, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights on ...
@robertclark55 Thank you. The other thing with me is that my kids who are 6 and 9 years old still need their father for a few more years so I can't let them down. Not just yet. I need to teach them English. Read More
Preventive care in Panama by Cheryl
Hello everyone, As an expat in Panama, taking care of your health would be one of your main priorities. Preventive healthcare plays a crucial role in keeping fit and healthy. We therefore would like to invite you to share your insights on ...
The best preventive care is to eat a good diet and get enough of exercise. I never go to the doctor and I take no medications. It has worked pretty well for me and I am 83 years old. I don't have any insurance except for Medicare which I have never ... Read More
Immigration and Overstay Issues by planner
We are posting this more prominently so people do not miss it. We can confirm that tourists are being turned away at the entry points who have "overstayed the tourist visa multiple times". Please be aware that this might happen to YOU! At ...
I am wondering why the DR only gives you 30 days. Most countries give you a longer time as a tourist. I guess it is because lots of people overstay and that gives them extra revenue. I have paid it a bunch of times. I could apply for residency since ... Read More
Immigration and Overstay Issues by planner
We are posting this more prominently so people do not miss it. We can confirm that tourists are being turned away at the entry points who have "overstayed the tourist visa multiple times". Please be aware that this might happen to YOU! At ...
@T.DRRR My wife is a Dominican. Does that make any difference? Read More
The importance of local language in Panama by Cheryl
Hey everyone, As an expat, language questions often arise due to the need to communicate effectively in a new country. We’re curious to read your experiences with learning and using the local language in Panama. Here are some questions to get ...
@Cheryl Hello.I have lived in Panama for 23 years. I was married to a Panamanian for 10 years who never spoke one word of English to me. Between her and her family English was never spoken in my home except when once in a while my brother would ... Read More
The driving force of your expatriation in Panama by Diksha
Hello everybody, Moving abroad, to a destination such as Panama, is often the result of careful consideration. It is a major life decision and one that should not be taken lightly as the implications are so diverse. We would like to know what ...
If you want to retire to the tropics the US doesn't have any good options. Maybe Hawaii but it is an island far from the mainland and very expensive. South Florida is in the sub-tropics but it is overcrowded and barely above sea level. Not a ... Read More
Immigration and Overstay Issues by planner
We are posting this more prominently so people do not miss it. We can confirm that tourists are being turned away at the entry points who have "overstayed the tourist visa multiple times". Please be aware that this might happen to YOU! At ...
The USA is in the middle of a housing bubble right now with the prices of houses and rents skyrocketing. So it is very possible that if you are living on a modest social security income you might live a lot better in the DR or somewhere else in ... Read More
Immigration and Overstay Issues by planner
We are posting this more prominently so people do not miss it. We can confirm that tourists are being turned away at the entry points who have "overstayed the tourist visa multiple times". Please be aware that this might happen to YOU! At ...
It is my opinion that the DR only gives you 30 days so they have an opportunity to collect an extra fee when you leave. Since lots of people stay longer than 30 days this translates into quite a bit of extra revenue. I think that they should be more ... Read More
The driving force of your expatriation in Panama by Diksha
Hello everybody, Moving abroad, to a destination such as Panama, is often the result of careful consideration. It is a major life decision and one that should not be taken lightly as the implications are so diverse. We would like to know what ...
Hello. I have been living in Panama now for 22 years which is a good part of my life. I haven't been back to the US for over ten years now. So what happens over time is that life here in Panama has become normal whereas the life I used to have ... Read More
Massive Changes to Panama Friendly Nations Program by joyfulfeet_immigration
Hello everyone, I would like to provide you with a big update to the permanent residency program in Panama (Friendly Nations). As we have been warning many for some time about strict changes coming, the time has come. The Friendly Nations residency ...
It seems like Panama is making it harder and harder to get residency. I got my residency in the year 2000 under the economic solvency program. I had to keep a CD in Banco Nacional of 100K for two years to qualify. They paid me 8% interest monthly. ... Read More