Panama: Protests May Cause Immigration Processing Delays

Protests concerning the government's decision to approve a mining contract are causing limited mobility in certain areas of Panama City and service disruptions at government offices. The National Immigration Service, the Multinational Companies (SEM) Office, and the Ministry of Labor continue to accept and process immigration applications. However, they are currently operating with reduced office hours, which may result in processing delays for immigration-related applications and rescheduling of appointments. The ongoing protests have also resulted in road closures throughout Panama City, which may limit the public’s (including Fragomen’s) ability to visit government offices. Fragomen is working with affected clients on a case-by-case basis.