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Panama/Questions Answered by Expert Dimitri Svolos
| Subject | Date Asked |
| One-day moving trucks | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: Good afternoon - we are trying to buy used furniture in and around Panama (we are in Europe at the ... A: After living in Panama for over ten years, I have learned to avoid recommending professional ... | |
| car registration for plates | 5/25/2011 |
| Q: I am currently living in Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica which is about 45 min. from panama. I got a ticket ... A: I am sorry to hear about your predicaments but I am not surprised. I lived in both Costa Rica and ... | |
| Moving to Panama | 4/29/2011 |
| Q: Good Day Sir. My long-time partner and I are planning to move to Panama in 6 months. My partner was ... A: Your partner, having been porn on Panamanian soil, is always going to retain the Panamanian ... | |
| passport | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: Mr Solvos, I have been living in Panama for over five years, first under tourist visas then as an ... A: ...was operating under the assumption that you were naturilized and with "regular" cedula issued to ... | |
| passport | 2/28/2011 |
| Q: Mr Solvos, I have been living in Panama for over five years, first under tourist visas then as an ... A: Charles, As a holder of Panamanian Cedula you are a naturalized citizen and thus entitled to a ... | |
| bamboo in pedasi | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: I tryed to contact Jeff Duda regarding Bamboo in Pedasi but the email address is not valid. Do you ... A: Hans, For your purposes, there is a fellow in Pedasi by the name of Nadine Zambrano that runs a crew ... | |
| driving to panama with dogs | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: We are considering a move to panama in the next 12 months. We have been attempting to find posts ... A: Your quesion is a bit general to answer here. I have doen this trip four times now (from Vancouver) ... | |
| Shipping an American car to Panama | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I own a 2005 Saturn View. It is a small SUV, made by GM. I'm considering shipping it to Panama for ... A: The answers to your questions are too long and complicated (as is often the case in Panama)to list ... | |
| Panamanian Citizenship | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I am a citizen of the United States and was born here. However, my mother was born in Panama and has ... A: Sorry for the late response. The process of getting a Panamanian citizenship for non-Panamanians ... | |
| Building a home in Panama | 11/13/2010 |
| Q: We are purchasing a lot in Altos Del Maria near Sora to build our retirement home. The developers ... A: Panama is full of stories about construction projects going "South" really quickly or contractors ... | |
| Nursing jobs | 11/10/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I are looking at relocating to Panama in the next year. What is the availability of ... A: You need to have a valid work visa in order to work as a professional in Panama, which is a long, ... | |
| Retiring sort of in Panama? | 10/29/2010 |
| Q: My mother, my husband and I live together and equally own our house. My mother is going to be ... A: The Panama Pensionado Visa allows foreigners to obtain legal residency in Panama under the condition ... | |
| selling real estate in Panama | 10/24/2010 |
| Q: I own a lot with construction half way finished in the city of Aguadulce, Coclé, Panamá. I wish to ... A: Sara, If your Spanish is limited then you'll most likely not be able to hire a competent ... | |
| A Panamanian Citizen returning to Panama | 10/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a question. I wanted to know do you have any advice on the process of exporting household ... A: As far as the importation process goes, it is the same regardless of Panamanian Citizens or ... | |
| Temporary car importation | 10/9/2010 |
| Q: Dimitri Firstly, well done for providing this web service! Secondly, I am travelling to Panama ... A: In order to be able to transfer a vehicle title within Panamanian territory the car has to be duly ... | |
| 4x4 truck | 9/21/2010 |
| Q: I'm coming to Panama in one month. I'll be in the "David" area. I need a "beater 4x4" for work. ... A: If I was buying a used truck in Panama it would be either a Toyota Hilux or a Nissan Frontera. They ... | |
| de argentina a Panamá | 9/15/2010 |
| Q: Planeo mudarme con mi pareja a Panamá a principios de 2011 y durante 5 meses. Necesitaría conocer ... A: Hola Natalia, Repuestos por todas tus preguntas se gestionan en la guia que se llama "Panama Cost Of ... | |
| Used car dealers in Panama city | 9/1/2010 |
| Q: I had already sent you a message about selling my car on August 19th, which you kindly answered. I ... A: Heike, Here are my suggestions to your questions (they are just that:suggestions) 1) I always try ... | |
| Selling Canadian car (Aveo 2004) in Panama | 8/18/2010 |
| Q: I have already researched on selling a foreign car, but I still have some open questions. We are ... A: You can find detailed answers as well as tips and tricks on your questions in the online guides ... | |
| driving to Panama with pets and retiring | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I am a single 42 year old woman, and I am planning to relocate to Panama with my children and pets. ... A: A simple Google search on "Panama Visas" will yield a ton of sites that explain the various ... | |
| CAR IN PANAMA | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: Hola, we are 2 Belgians and have been staying in Mexico for a couple of years. We recently bought a ... A: Piet, All foreign plated vehicles are allowed 90 days within Panamanian territory. As long as you ... | |
| Real Estate Prices | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I am thinking of relocating to Panama. Would like to buy a house. All I find are houses that cost ... A: In my experience you'll not find under 50K houses online or through any of the realtor sites or even ... | |
| 20 year real estate tax exemption | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: It's me again. This real estate tax exemption has me wondering that as the 20 year exemption is used ... A: Doug, It is very hard to recommend a certain area since I don't know your lifestyle preferences, ... | |
| 20 year real estate tax exemption | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: It's me again. This real estate tax exemption has me wondering that as the 20 year exemption is used ... A: Doug, The property tax calculation under Panamanian Law is as follows (assuming a $100,000 property) ... | |
| long term parking | 7/29/2010 |
| Q: I've been searching this site, asking friends and looking in the yellow pages with no luck. Is ... A: Steve, To the best of my knowledge long-term parking as a business doesn't exists in Panama City ... | |
| Vehicle card with photo | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: What papers do I need to get the vehicle card? Not the license plates.Can someone else get the card ... A: Clifton, In order to get your vehicle ownership car you'll need to take with you the ORIGINALS and ... | |
| visas | 7/27/2010 |
| Q: I have read about an Economic Solvency Visa and a Retiree Visa and the financial obligations of ... A: I am glad I could help in any way. Also, please feel free to visit my website ... | |
| visas | 7/26/2010 |
| Q: I have read about an Economic Solvency Visa and a Retiree Visa and the financial obligations of ... A: Doug, If you were to have a Panamanian Cedula (identification card) and all the benefits that it ... | |
| general | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: Duties on vehicle 2006 Honda ridgeline 50K mi. cost to ship,cost to insure. will travel into costa ... A: As far as duties and other car importation procedures and costs go, I am going to refer you to a ... | |
| Panamanian citizens returning to panama | 7/11/2010 |
| Q: I am a Panamanian citizen currently residing in the US. I am considering moving back to Panama, and ... A: There is a website that offers online guides to importing in Panama and other Panama procedures. You ... | |
| Moving from Panama. | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: Hola Dimitri. Advice on moving to Panama is widely available but little about moving back out of ... A: I couldn't agree more! That's why I refrain from recommending any kind of professional services in ... | |
| documents necessary to establish bank account | 7/6/2010 |
| Q: I am a Us citizen and will be a tourist in Panama for around 6-9 months. What documents will I need ... A: Account opening process: 1. Personal Interview & delivery of all due diligence documentation ... | |
| pensionado auto import costs | 7/5/2010 |
| Q: A friend informed us that the costs to bring vehicles has changed as of July 1. Would you please ... A: Robyn, The costs and procedures are too long to list or explain here. Please, visit ... | |
| retiring @ living in Panama | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: I am a 69 year old separating from my wife. My social security is 1.650.00 a month + i will only ... A: Your pension (social security) is enough to qualify you for the Pensionado (Retiree) Visa in Panama ... | |
| Importing used cars from USA to Panama | 6/28/2010 |
| Q: I buy and sell cars for profit in USA, I would like to know how complicated it is to send cars from ... A: The used car importation procedure and tax laws has been recently revised by the new tax reform ... | |
| Temp Vehicle Import | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: My husband will be driving with a group of guys in 2 of our vehicles from US. Will he be able to ... A: Angela, As long as one person is the sole owner of the vehicles and has the papers to prove so, it ... | |
| Temp Vehicle Import | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: My husband will be driving with a group of guys in 2 of our vehicles from US. Will he be able to ... A: Angela, All foreign plated vehicles entering Panamanian territory are automatically given a 90-day ... | |
| Up-Dating Pensionado Visa Card | 6/25/2010 |
| Q: Good Day, Our US Passports have just been renewed and we now have new passport identification ... A: Linda, As you know, to try and put a time frame to anything in Panama (especially government office ... | |
| Ford replacement parts | 6/24/2010 |
| Q: Need parts for a 2003 Ford Lobo.Please furnish phone number of dealer. A: Ed, The only company that I am aware of as authorized Ford dealer is Distribuidora Ford David S.A. ... | |
| Up-Dating Pensionado Visa Card | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: Good Day, Our US Passports have just been renewed and we now have new passport identification ... A: Linda, You seem to have all your ducks on a row. The documents you mentioned are the ones needed. ... | |
| tiki hut | 5/15/2010 |
| Q: i am looking for bamboo suppliers in panama to build a hut to live in while on vacation on our ... A: If you are going to build your hut at more than 22 meters from the highest tide in your area you do ... | |
| citizenship | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: Mr Solvos, I was born at Gorgas Hospital in the Canal Zone in 1943. I live in the US and have a US ... A: James, Unless your parents are Panamanians working in the canal at the time and unless you were ... | |
| Moving to Panama | 4/20/2010 |
| Q: me and my buddy currently live in the United states and wanted to move to panama for a couple years ... A: Alan, All permanent residency visas require you to either be a retiree or have a significant amount ... | |
| Sell vehicle in Panama | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I'm moving back to the USA and need to sell my car quickly. Can you help me walk through the steps ... A: The transfer card must be obtained in the town/city hall (Alcaldia) where your car is registered. ... | |
| Buying a car | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: Me and my family are planning to move to Panama shortly (Sept 2010)from Canada. At this point, we ... A: Fabien, regarding car issues and procedures in Panama, I always recommend a website that helped me ... | |
| moving to panama | 3/27/2010 |
| Q: we are moving to Panama next week and are applying for a pensionado visa. Can we ship our car to ... A: You can drive your car in Panama with American plates ONLY FOR 90 DAYS. At that point, you and your ... | |
| nurses | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: i live in Texas and in a couple of years my parents want to move to Panama when they retire, and by ... A: You'll need to obtain a work visa in order to seek employment in Panama, especially as a registered ... | |
| Car dealer issues | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: My father recently moved to Panama from UK and purchased 2 vehicles - one a New $80,000 infiniti and ... A: Mark, You and your dad are finding out (the hard way) that things are not what they appear to be in ... | |
| Panama vs. Costa Rica | 3/26/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I have been planning a move to Costa Rica this summer from the U.S.; however, the ... A: Cynthia, Here are my thoughts on your questions: 1. I have no way of calculating your car taxes due ... | |
| Born in Panama | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: Svolos, I was hoping you tell me if I would be considered a Panamanian citizen. I was born in the ... A: Based on Law 108 of October 1973, if you were born on Panamanian soil (Santo Tomas is in Panama ... | |
| Are dogs allowed in the San Blas Islands | 12/8/2009 |
| Q: I work onboard a motor yacht and the owners are looking to take the boat to the San Blas Islands. ... A: Kate, To the best of my knowledge, the puppies are not allowed off board unless they are properly ... | |
| auto dealerships | 12/3/2009 |
| Q: I JUST BOUGHT A NEW VOLVO AND WONDERED IF THERE ARE ANY VOLVO DEALERSHIPS IN EITHER PANAMA CITY OR ... A: To the best of my knowledge there are not any Volvo dealerships (or parts venues) in David. There is ... | |
| thinking of moving. | 12/1/2009 |
| Q: Are there any apartments that rent by the month in Panama City. this would give me time to look ... A: John, The rental market in Panama City has changed dramatically in the last year. You should be able ... | |
| financing | 10/8/2009 |
| Q: Can one get Real Estate financing from Panamanian banks or must all purchases be in cash? A: J W, most of Panamanian banks do offer real estate financing and their protocols are similar to the ... | |
| Holidays | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: What are some details about Carnaval, such as how long does it usually last, when it usually starts, ... A: Logan, Carnaval is a bog deal in Panama. It is one of the most anticipated events for every ... | |
| job opportunities in Panama | 9/15/2009 |
| Q: Wondering what suggestions you can give for an individual without a Visa wanting to work in Panama. ... A: Christopher, Panamanian law forbids individuals of working within its territory without a work visa ... | |
| importing a car | 8/26/2009 |
| Q: i've driven a chevrolet lumina APV 1993 down from the states. it's got californian registration. ... A: Sabrina, There is no way that one can tell you the time frame needed for the completion of the car ... | |
| Work permit | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I would like to obtain a work permit. I am a United States citizen, but I want to relocate to Panama ... A: You'll need to retain the services of a qualified labor law attorney in Panama. There are a number ... | |
| Bring a car to Panama | 8/17/2009 |
| Q: I am moving to Panamá, I am considering either taking with me my 2004 Land Rover Discovery or ship ... A: Daniel, You are absolutely right! Bringing a used car in Panama is a cumbersome and bureaucratic ... | |
| Transfer ownership of a US registered car in Panama | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: 1. How can i transfer a ownership of a car with California registration plates in Panama without ... A: Your questions must be answered by someone with experience and knowledge on the DMV protocols and ... | |
| Import auto to Panama | 8/11/2009 |
| Q: I bought a home in Cerro Azul earlier this year and will spend 1-2 months/year. I will likely seek ... A: The importation process is somewhat bureaucratic and cumbersome and that's why you'll need a ... | |
| selling a US car in Panama | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: Dimitri, I live in Colorado and plan to drive down to Central America in my car this winter. The car ... A: The process of importing and selling a car in Panama, although straight forward tends to be a bit ... | |
| Bringing car into Panama short-term as a tourist | 8/5/2009 |
| Q: I'm a US citizen currently residing in Costa Rica. I own a used car which is licensed and titled in ... A: Nicole, You have 90 days. After that you need to exit Panama for 72 hours in order to be able to ... | |
| car import tax | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: nice site. From reading here everybody wants to import there car, me too. I am trying to understand ... A: Panamanian Customs have their own vehicle valuation protocol that has nothing to do with "Market ... | |
| Costs of buying a used boat in Panama | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I am planning to buy a used boat in Panama for $100,000 from a Panama Corporation. It is a Panama ... A: There is a Transfer Tax & Capital Gain Tax for such sale and it is the duty and responsibility of ... | |
| Registration of Vehicle | 7/22/2009 |
| Q: What department in Panama City handles auto registration? Thanks, Esther A: All vehicle registrations in Panama fall under the umbrella of Registro Unico Vehicular. There are ... | |
| relocation | 7/3/2009 |
| Q: I am a young professional specialised in the tourism industry and I am thinking about relocating to ... A: The biggest advice I can give you on relocating to Panama and working in it ,is that, when it comes ... | |
| selling a US car in Panama | 5/20/2009 |
| Q: We travelled down from the states in a 1996 Oldsmobile and currently we are trying to sell it in the ... A: Olaf, Take what your broker says with a grain of salt. Under Panamanian law the amount of ... | |
| selling a US car in Panama | 5/14/2009 |
| Q: We travelled down from the states in a 1996 Oldsmobile and currently we are trying to sell it in the ... A: For you to able to sell your car in Panama, the car has to be properly registered in the Vehicle ... | |
| Where to buy cheap flat screen TV | 5/1/2009 |
| Q: we are going to furnish our condo in Playa Blanca. We are going to Panama third week of May. Where ... A: Please, accept my apologies for the late response.It was a frustrating issue of your question ... | |
| send a car to panama from the states | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: Can you recommend a customs broker in panama to handle the importation of a car for me? Thank you, ... A: generally I refrain from recommending professionals in Panama because they are not consistent in the ... | |
| Transportation | 4/13/2009 |
| Q: I will need to arrange for Transportation from Panama City to the Royal Decameron on April 20th. ... A: Mithun, The best and less complicated way to get to Decameron is by taxi. Even though fares differ ... | |
| returning to Panama | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I was born in Panama 48 yrs ago. My father was in the U.S. Army and I have lived in the U.S. since ... A: Laurie, The only Cristobal I know in Panama is the area around the port in the City of Colon (right ... | |
| returning to Panama | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I was born in Panama 48 yrs ago. My father was in the U.S. Army and I have lived in the U.S. since ... A: If you were born in the Canal Zone you are not a Panamanian citizen, as the Canal Zone was an ... | |
| travel in panama | 4/7/2009 |
| Q: I'll be visiting Panama City this July 2009 and I want to catch a flight to Bocas City from Albrook. ... A: Air Panama has daily flights from the Albrook Terminal to Bocas. One is in the morning (8:00 a.m.) ... | |
| Taking a vehicle into Panama | 3/21/2009 |
| Q: My Friend has a house in Panama. She is not sure if she wants to buy my car to take to Panama. I ... A: Gerri, I generally do not advice people to bring their used car into Panama and sell it. The ... | |
| Importing a Car to Panama | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I am planning ship a car to Panama, and what I need to know is how much the taxes will be and the ... A: Jose, Importation taxes in Panama are not based on the market value of the car but on the "customs' ... | |
| colombia to panama | 3/10/2009 |
| Q: My mates and I are going to buy a dirt cheap car in colombia and drive all the way up to mexico. ... A: Charlie, You can not drive a car from Colombia to Panama as there are no roads connecting the two ... | |
| panama relocation | 3/3/2009 |
| Q: I hope you don't mind, but I will be picking your brain for a little while. In my last question, I ... A: Don, If living on the mountains is what you and your wife are looking for, I would suggest the ... | |
| Recommend Mover from US | 2/25/2009 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could recommend a mover that will move our household goods from South ... A: Hola Lynda, I would like to highly recommend the moving company we used for our move from the US to ... | |
| panama retirement | 2/24/2009 |
| Q: My wife and I are Canadian citizens and we have reached the point where we want to move to a place ... A: I generally advice people to purchase a ready home (if they have the means)rather than build their ... | |
| shipping a car | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I currently live in Costa Rica, my belongings are in Montana. I would like to ship a vehicle to ... A: I generally do not advice on importing used vehicles into Panama. If you must bring your car to ... | |
Panama
Answers by Expert:
Dimitri Svolos
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Even though in Panama things are not always what they appear, I'll answer any question and comment on any topic related to relocating or moving to Panama, Panama immigration protocols, dealing with governmental procedures, Panama cultural and social structure, Panama car imports, building in Panama, Panama real estate investing and starting a business in Panama. What I'll not answer is Panama legal issues and dating advice related questions.
Experience
I have over 10 years of experience as a professional engineer and entrepreneur in the Republic of Panama. I've set up three successful businesses and have built three houses both in Panama City and the interior. I am fully tri-lingual in English, French and Spanish. I am originally from Canada but living and working in Panama since the canal changed hands (1999).
Organizations
Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada (ACEC)
Canadian Academy of Engineering (CAE)
Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE)
Canadian Federation of Engineering Students (CFES)
Canadian Society of Professional Engineers (CSPE)
Engineering Institute of Canada (EIC)
Education/Credentials
Bachelors in Civil Engineering (Urban Planning & Development)
Masters In Business Administration, Production & Operations Management
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