Guides

In short: a BTU per square meter figure gives a first idea, but it cannot decide the equipment for a commercial space. According to the Climatiza website, correct sizing is calculated on the real conditions of the site and not on square meters, and an oversized unit starts and stops constantly. Guidance from the US Department of Energy and ENERGY STAR agrees: excess capacity leaves the space cold and damp. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide The short answer What drives the cooling load besides floor area A worked example and why it does not carry over to…

In short: the size of a mini storage unit in Panama is chosen by what is being stored, not by the number of boxes. According to the Supreme Storage website, categories run from the 2 m² Locker to Special spaces of more than 100 m², and an advisor calculates the exact space. Boxes and beds fit the smallest sizes, appliances and furniture the Small, a full house the Medium, and a container's worth of inventory the Medium or Large. Contents of this guide The short answer The six size categories How to calculate square meters Common mistakes when choosing How…

In short: Panama's free zone regime is organized around three licenses: promoter, operator and established company. Law 32 of 2011 creates them and the National Free Zones Commission, attached to the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI), approves them. Their requirements are detailed in Executive Decree 62 of 2017. Whoever promotes a zone needs at least two hectares and an investment of no less than 250,000 balboas, and a company that wants to set up inside needs a certification from the promoter of that zone. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide The three licenses and who grants each…

In short: an online degree in Panama is checked by reading the resolution that approves it and the university's status with the National Council for University Evaluation and Accreditation (CONEAUPA). According to its website, Universidad Latina de Panamá lists six online bachelor's degrees and two online master's programs, each with a resolution from the Technical Commission for Academic Development (CTDA). Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide Which online degrees are listed How to check that a degree is approved CTDA and CONEAUPA: what each one does What to review before enrolling Common mistakes Frequently asked questions Sources Which…

In short: Panamanians do not need a visa for stays of under 90 days in the Schengen area, and according to the European Union Delegation to Panama medical insurance of 30,000 euros or more is a recommendation, not an entry requirement. The figure becomes mandatory for anyone applying for a short-stay visa, under article 15 of the Visa Code. The ETIAS authorization is not yet running and, as of this writing, no start date is confirmed. Updated October 2026. Contents of this guide When it is required and when it is recommended Visa, ETIAS and insurance: what applies to each…

In short: buying a used car from a private seller in Panama falls into four phases: choose and make contact, check the vehicle, pay with proof, and complete the transfer. The documents required by the Panama City Mayor's Office and the ATTT mark what to ask the seller before paying. According to the website of ASSA Market, the marketplace for used cars between private parties, inspection at an authorized workshop is optional and the sales contract is a template for voluntary use. Updated October 2026. In this guide The four phases of the purchase Phase 1: choose and make contact…

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…

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…

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…

In short: Family reunification is the demographic-grounds residence category of Panama's National Immigration Service (SNM) for people with a family tie to a Panamanian or to a resident. It has three main routes: married to a Panamanian, a foreigner with a Panamanian child aged five or older, and a dependent of a provisional, permanent or national sponsor. In all three, the first permit is provisional for two years and permanent residence is requested afterward. Data checked on October 7, 2026 in the SNM's official requirement sheets and in Executive Decree 320 of 2008. Contents of this guide What it is…

In short: Both the United States and Canada appear in the official Friendly Nations list, so citizens of either country can apply for Panamanian residency under that route, which starts with a two-year provisional permit and requires a job offer, a property of at least B/.200,000.00 or a fixed-term deposit of the same amount. Retirees with a lifetime pension of at least B/.1,000.00 a month, larger investors, spouses and parents of Panamanians, and remote workers on a short stay each follow a different track. The main practical difference between the two nationalities is the paperwork: both need an apostilled criminal…

In short: In Panama, residency through family reunification and the work permit are two separate procedures: the first is granted by the National Migration Service and the second by the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development. Under Executive Decree 4 of 2023, any employment relationship of a foreigner requires a valid work permit, except self-employment without subordination. The spouse of a Panamanian and the parent of a Panamanian child have their own categories, treated as equivalent to local labor. Checked on October 7, 2026. Contents of this guide Residing and working are separate permits Which permit fits each route Married…