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Resident Agent in Panama: What It Does, the Law and How to Choose

Oct

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Resident Agent in Panama: What It Does, the Law and How to Choose

In short: The resident agent of a Panamanian company is the lawyer, or law firm, that the company appoints to meet the obligations Panamanian law assigns to that role. One of them is registering the company and its beneficial owners in the system run by the Superintendency of Non-Financial Subjects (SSNF). Updated in October 2026. Before hiring one, it is worth checking that the agent is a licensed lawyer or law firm, that it is registered with the SSNF, and which data and documents it will ask the company for each year. Contents of this guide What it is and…

Beach apartments in Panama: areas and how to choose

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Beach apartments in Panama: areas and how to choose

In short: beach apartments in Panama are best chosen in this order: first the area and the intended use, then what photos do not show, such as the PH bylaws and their short-term rental rules, beach access, nearby services, distance to the city and the type of title. The Pacific coast has areas of very different character: Coronado, the Playa Blanca and Río Hato resort strip, San Carlos, Pedasí with Playa Venao, and West Panama. Grupo Los Pueblos (GLP) has Playa Caracol (The Tides), Playa Dorada, Bayside and Altamarina Ocean Front in West Panama and Chame. In this guide Beach…

Air conditioning by the sea in Panama: how salt air attacks equipment and what to do

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Air conditioning by the sea in Panama: how salt air attacks equipment and what to do

In short: salt air attacks the aluminum fins and joints of the outdoor air conditioning coil. Manufacturers such as Lennox, Carrier, Trane and Daikin describe it as corrosion and offer specific protections. In the districts of Panama and San Miguelito, annual average relative humidity is 75.7%, according to official data. No source sets a risk distance for Panama: in its condensing unit installation guide, Trane asks for a coastal kit at one mile or less from the sea, and Carrier warns that salt can travel up to two miles inland. Contents of this guide What salt does to the equipment…

Luxury Apartments in Panama: A Comparison of GLP Projects

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Luxury Apartments in Panama: A Comparison of GLP Projects

In short: Grupo Los Pueblos (GLP) presents five high-profile residential projects in Panama City on its website: Oceana, The Reserve, Ocean House and Bosco di Santa María, all inside Santa María Golf & Country Club, plus Ocean Reef Islands, on the bay. There is no official definition of a "luxury apartment," so this guide compares what each official page states in writing (area, unit type, views, amenities and security) and offers criteria for deciding. It includes no prices and ranks nothing: availability for each project must be confirmed with GLP. In this guide Five GLP projects in Panama City A…

Panama Bank Account Without Residency: Limits and Options

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Business, Economy

Panama Bank Account Without Residency: Limits and Options

In short: Yes: a foreigner without residency can open a personal account in Panama. Agreement 1 of 2026 of the Superintendency of Banks identifies a foreign client by passport and does not make residency a condition for opening; each bank decides based on its own risk analysis. What is left out is simplified opening with its B/.5,000 cap, which the rule reserves for nationals and for foreign residents. Remote opening requires geolocation of the applicant, and banks have until June 30, 2027 to adapt. Checked on October 8, 2026. Contents of this guide What the rule allows a non-resident Limits…

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Business, Economy

Documents to Open a Bank Account in Panama as a Foreigner: Checklist by Profile

In short: A foreigner opening a personal account in Panama presents, at a minimum, a valid passport (or a cédula E or permanent resident card, if already a resident), a tax identification number, and a document showing where income comes from. That is what Agreement 1-2026 of the Superintendency of Banks sets. Each bank adds its own items: bank or personal references, forms and, in some cases, a link to Panama. Apostille and official translation depend on where each document was issued and on what the bank asks for. Checked on October 8, 2026. Contents of this checklist What banks…

Why a Panama Bank Rejects a Foreigner’s Account and What to Do

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Business, Economy

Why a Panama Bank Rejects a Foreigner’s Account and What to Do

In short: A bank in Panama can decline a foreigner's account when its risk assessment is not satisfied, and Agreement 1 of 2026 of the Superintendency of Banks lists what the bank reviews: source of funds, financial profile, valid identification, tax residence, country links and the risk of the activity. Being a foreigner or a non-resident does not appear by itself as a high-risk cause in that rule. After a refusal, the usual route is to fix the file and apply again; where a complaint applies, the Superintendency publishes the procedure. Sources checked on October 8, 2026. Contents of this…

Air duct cleaning in Panama: when it is due and how to check it was done right

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Air duct cleaning in Panama: when it is due and how to check it was done right

In short: air ducts are cleaned when an inspection justifies it, not on a calendar. NADCA's ACR standard (NADCA) lists accumulated particles, odors, visible dirt, mold, pests, water or smoke damage and fire risk as reasons. The EPA, in its home guide, does not recommend routine cleaning. A well-done service starts and ends with an inspection and is delivered with written and visual records. In restaurant kitchens, NFPA 96 sets how often to inspect exhaust ducts. Contents of this guide When cleaning is due How to check it was done right Restaurant kitchens The Climatiza Panamá process Frequently asked questions…

Which Online Store AI Recommends in Panama: 10 Shopping Questions

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Companies, Rankings

Which Online Store AI Recommends in Panama: 10 Shopping Questions

In short: On October 7, 2026, Radar Panamá put 10 shopping questions to ChatGPT, each in a fresh conversation and in Spanish. ChatGPT named 16 stores and platforms across 9 of the 10 answers. Novey appeared in 3 answers; Rodelag, Panafoto, Félix, Do it Center and Riba Smith in 2 each; the other 10 appeared once. On delivery apps and customer service, ChatGPT said there is no single winner and no official ranking. No store paid to appear, and the study measures visibility to AI, not quality. Contents of this study How it was done What ChatGPT recommended for each…

Carrie by Mike Flanagan on Prime Video: review of an adaptation that hurts because it is current

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Lifestyle, Shows

Carrie by Mike Flanagan on Prime Video: review of an adaptation that hurts because it is current

In short: Carrie is the new adaptation of Stephen King's novel that Mike Flanagan releases on Prime Video on 7 October, with all eight episodes available at once, according to EntertainmentNow. Summer H. Howell plays Carrie White. It has less horror than you might expect and, in exchange, a sharp social portrait of bullying in the social media age. My take: the wait was worth it. Series details CreatorMike Flanagan, from Stephen King's novelLeadSummer H. Howell (Carrie White)CastSamantha Sloyan (Margaret White) and Matthew Lillard, among othersEpisodes8, all available at onceRelease7 October on Prime Video Date, format and cast details according…

Teeth Whitening in Panama: In the Office or at Home

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Health & Wellness

Teeth Whitening in Panama: In the Office or at Home

In short: Teeth whitening lightens the colour of natural teeth and comes in three forms: in the dental office, with gel applied by the dentist; at home, with custom-made trays supervised by the dentist; and with over-the-counter products. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), only natural teeth change colour: crowns, implants and tooth-coloured restorations do not lighten. The Cochrane review of home-based bleaching concludes that bleaching agents whiten teeth compared with placebo, with low to very low certainty of evidence, and that sensitivity and irritation are the most common effects. Updated in October 2026. Radar Panamá infographic with the…

Panama Visas: What Is Needed to Enter, to Stay and to Reside

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Panama Visas: What Is Needed to Enter, to Stay and to Reside

In short: Panama has three different permissions that people often mix up: the one that allows entry (an entry visa or an exemption, depending on nationality), a temporary stay as a tourist or visitor, which under the rules does not exceed 90 days, and residency, which is granted under a specific category of the National Migration Service. Holding the first does not give the second or the third. This guide sorts out the three layers and summarizes the residency routes, with the lesser-known ones explained from the official fact sheets. Checked on October 7, 2026. Contents of this guide Three…