Labor Migration

How to Obtain a Work Permit

In Panama, every foreigner wishing to work legally in the country must have a Work Permit issued by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (MITRADEL). This document authorizes the person to carry out formal labor activities, in compliance with Panamanian law.

Relationship between Immigration and Work Permits

To obtain a work permit, one must first have a valid immigration status granted by the National Immigration Service. This means that the applicant must apply for a visa or residency permit that permits employment (e.g., a Specific Country Visa for work-related reasons, a Visa for Foreign Contracted Personnel, etc.).

Basic Process:

l Define the permit category based on the worker's profile and the activity they will perform.

l Obtain the corresponding visa or residency permit from the National Immigration Service.

l Register the employment contract with MITRADEL.

l Submit a Work Permit application with all the requirements.

l Wait for the resolution; once approved, the worker will be able to work legally.

Benefits of working with a valid permit:

l Full labor and immigration legality.

l Access to social security benefits (CSS).

l Protection of labor rights.

l Ease of opening bank accounts and accessing other services.