Panama: Online Platforms for Registration and Work Permit Applications Now in Effect

The Ministry of Labor in Panama has launched a new online system through its website, on which foreign nationals seeking to apply for a work permit must register, without a personal appearance at the Ministry. The in-person registration process is no longer available. Foreign nationals registering online must take a photograph with the system’s webcam and designate the work permit category they will be applying for, along with other personal information. Immediately upon submitting the online registration, the Ministry will issue a registration confirmation in PDF form that foreign nationals will need to include with their work permit application. As a reminder, all foreign nationals must register with the Ministry of Labor before they can apply for their initial work permit (in any category). It is also expected that foreign nationals who already registered with the Ministry in person will be required to re-register online upon renewal of their work permits. The Ministry has also launched an electronic platform for work permit applications. Currently, only category 5 work permit applicants (humanitarian/refugee work permits) can use the system, but it is expected that the Ministry will roll out additional application types in phases later this year. Fragomen will report on relevant developments.