Most Americans receiving Social Security need exactly two documents before they even book their flight to Panama — and both can be generated online. Here’s what the full Pensionado visa process actually looks like, including how it works for gay couples, straight couples adding dependents, and applicants from countries outside the U.S.
Panama requires your pension documentation to say “for life” or “permanent.” Your Social Security letter says neither — and Panama accepts it anyway. Here’s why, what the SSA letter actually says, how the income thresholds work for everyone including gay couples, and what to watch out for if your income comes from a private pension.
We sat down with Carolina Tejada Vaprio at Morgan & Morgan in Panama City to talk through the Pensionado visa process — and came away with a longer checklist than we expected. Here’s every cost you need to ask about upfront, every question worth putting to any attorney before you hire them, and why a same-sex couple in Panama needs more than just a visa lawyer.
Panama requires apostilled documents for the Pensionado visa — but most Americans have never heard of an apostille before they start this process. Here’s what it is, where the requirement comes from (a 1961 international treaty with 125 member nations), and the three ways to get your documents authenticated: in person at the Tampa consulate, by mail to Washington D.C., or through a third-party service.