'Working in Panama' Panama City

Tonita from Australia (Contact Member) -

I know Panama is a good place to retire but what is it like to work in Panama...can expats get a job or is it really difficult. My son is a personal trainer and life coach could he work there?

Comment #1 Edward from Miami (Contact Member) -

You have several issues to confront. First, can you legally work. Although this may be difficult for the result of my commnets, let's assume the answer is yes (though I think it will more likely be no).

Are you looking for a wage that would be comparable to wages in the USA or Australia? I would say forget it. Can you find a job for a buck an hour? Sure.

Can you do something independently? language teacher, start a business, maybe even a personal trainer (for gringos or rich Panamains). Sure, but you have to develope the market and though your options for money will be greater it will still be limited by the local economy.

You would best invesigate the issues with working legally and the search on the internet for possible clients so you could build a customer base ahead of your arrival.

Comment #2 Tonita from Australia (Contact Member) -

To Edward from Miami...thank you for that information it is what I thought but needed to check out. So it seems Panama is a good place to retire but not to work unless you have a good business. I was hoping my son could come and live there if I moved over but it seems that would be a tall order.

I know the advantages for retiree's is that it is economically better....but what are the other advantages in your opinion. Is it safe there or is there a lot of petty crime if the wages are so low? How do the Panamanians feel about the foreigners in their country with a lot more money than them...and even as people in general...do they accept the expats or is their hostility towards them? Is the government stable or likely to change its mind in a few years about foreigners? I know you can't know all the answers but when you live somewhere you have more of a finger on the pulse so to speak.

I know the best thing is to come and check it all out but as it is so far from Australia I need to do more research first.

Comment #3 Stacey from Out West (Contact Member) -

Here is a link to how to obtain a work permit for Panama ... Looks like quiet a process. My ex husband moved to Canada from England, and didn't have this kind of process to fufil before being able to work over here. He did however own his own company, so the "letter from employer" wasn't necessary ... Best of luck! I hope this link helps!

Comment #4 Lee from Montevideo, Uruguay (Contact Member) -

Quite a process so you can make a buck or so an hour!

Comment #5 PokerPrincess from Canada, Earth (Contact Member) -

Working in a foreign country is always difficult because you are taking wages from the citizens of that country.

One of the best ways to go to a new country is to open up a new business. However, this does cost and unless you have enough money to keep you until your business starts to grow you could run into a lot of problems.

Almost any country will welcome new enterprise but very few, especially the poorer countries, welcome new workers because they don't have enough jobs for the citizens already living there.

Comment #6 Karen from Texas (Contact Member) -

Looks like you're better off to move there and retire so you don't have to look for a job!

Comment #7 Jessica from Panama Rep of Panama (Contact Member) -

The cost of life for us the panamenian people is dificult but no bad ok, when you coming here and see the diference in money you want to make a bussines becuase is not a big problem for you, the cost of life is ship, for example here in panamá you can put a gym very easy!!! my country is not big but everybody go to a gym panamenian and the others country people. we are a very oportunity for the others person but for the panamenian people is not the same. you have a lot of descount in all and the ministerio de economia in the others help, the problem is when the people coming to find a job and dont want to make a paper work in emigration for example is like the mexican in usa the goberment send this people out of Panamá.

if you need help email me: jesk1170@yahoo.com

Comment #8 lola ferer (63.176.159.54) -

Of course it is always hard to work in a foreign country. Just imagine you are all alone in a foreign land, missing your families and loved one back in your country, but you have to stay, for their future. It is a sacrifice took by some while others it is an opportunity.

Comment #9 imposto (63.176.159.119) -

Why work abroad when you can just work at home. well, that's easy for me to say for I've been working at home. I can suggest you try other foreign countries which offer a better working environment. How about Asia or Australia? Have you considered those countries?

Comment #10 Kira (63.176.159.70) -

It is good for you imposto, to have a work in the comfort of your home. What kind of work is that? Are you a freelance Writer or are you paid to join in a forum like this.. Nahh, just kidding. :) To Tonita from Australia, it is always difficult to start a new life as well as career in other country, you have to cope up with their cultures and traditions. But here is the catch, if your son have the guts and the perseverance, he can grab a job not just in Panama but in other countries as well.

Comment #11 Joel (63.176.159.163) -

It´s a worldwide illness. The grass on the other side of the fence is always greener, they say, and it is true. I think the comment that start looking in your own country is good. Everybody is thinking of going "out west", "west" is wherever you want. Folks have gone to Alaska to find work. Well, good luck!

Comment #12 Zeta (63.176.159.181) -

The big question is how can you work online if you are not that big of a net junkie? Guess, that is the big challenge in that venture, the hunt and the information to where one can be employed to have an online work.

Comment #13 chinche (86.177.216.141) -

Unlike in developed countries, most foreigners that come to Panama do set up their own business. People in Panama are friendly towards foreigners, particularly in the countryside. If you want to live in a small city and own your own business, Panama will be ideal for you. Your son could then help you to run it and earn a salary. Many Panamanians speak English as a second language and you could take on Spanish lesson. Panama City has all the attractions that you could find in any other city but you will no find well looked after museums or galleries.Panama will be good for you if you are prepare to live in country with one mayor city and sleepy provincial towns covering the rest of the country. If you are looking tropical beauty without too many people, Panama is the place!

Comment #14 henrylow (122.167.103.229) - 01/04/10 04:08

"small business"

Often we forget the little guy, the SMB, in our discussions of the comings and goings of the Internet marketing industry. Sure there are times like this when a report surfaces talking about their issues and concerns but, for the most part, we like to talk about big brands and how they do the Internet marketing thing well or not so well.

small business

Comment #15 Cynthia (63.176.159.23) - 01/09/10 21:50

Hi to all forum goers, I would like to know about the requirements needed for me to be able to work in Panama. Please kindly post here some good answers regarding this matter. Thanks a lot guys.

Comment #16 Fred Williams from Las Vegas, Nevada (Contact Member) - 01/30/10 13:32

"Selling Timeshares in Panama"

My wife and I are seriously considering retiring in Panama when we are eligible for our social security benefits in three years. I have worked in the timeshare industry here in Las Vegas and thought about the prospect of selling timeshare in Panama until we can draw our retirement benefits. I have been unable to find information of timeshare companies in Panama and what would be required to secure a work permit for such a position.

I would think that an experienced engish speaking American would be successful in selling timeshares to visiting vacationeers from the US or other english speaking countries.

Any information on this subject would be appreciated. We would prefer information on coastal resorts as it is our plan to retire near the coast.

Comment #17 Heherson (63.176.159.217) - 02/05/10 21:17

I know that my question is a little silly but I have to still ask this question to all of you guys, would I be able to still search a job and get hired in Panama even if I do not have a work permit? I just want to know more on this matter guys so kindly post here some good information. Thanks a lot and have a good day guys.

Comment #18 daniel (71.180.96.13) - 02/06/10 00:02

"retired"

As I said in my other posts, I lived in Panama for over one year with a business.

No, you probably will not get a work permit.......and for what, a $1.00/hr????

Unless you know somebody, you will make about $40.00/wk, that's it!

I closed my business and returned to the States because it's very hard to make any "real" money there.

Panamanians are the "tightest" people when it comes to money, of course, when they make very little money it's understandable.

And if you were able to land a job, are you going to ride one of those old US school buses?..because that's their transportation system....(NO schedule OR route or sign to where it goes) either that or a dilapidated tiny taxi in which case the driver may "mace" you and force you to get him money out of an ATM like what happened to my friend.

You people need to go to Panama before you start making these grandiose plans.....

otherwise you're setting yourself up for a catastrophic mistake!

Comment #19 Marlene (194.176.149.230) - 02/21/10 11:47

"to Tonita"

Hi,

First, about your question, no, it's not that hard for an expat to land a job, even if you don't speak the language. Why? Plenty of reasons:

- Most call centre jobs require a good level of english, and if there is something that is booming in Panama, are call centres. Depending on what call centre is, your son could earn from $450 up to $1000 dollars a month.

- Ussually ex pats don't need to even mix with the locals to land better paid jobs, just because they are expats, if your son is extrovert he'll do fine. No resentment on that from the panamanians, believe me (I'm panamanian myself).

There was a girl up there who gave you a great idea for your son, open his own gym. He could go with you, and in the meantime that his paperwork and permits are being sorted, get to know people, addapt to the weather, the corruption and all that. After that, he could get a job in a call centre (no ideal, I know, but it's an income) and while meeting people, save money and for as little as an investment of $3000, buy some gym equipment, give flyers around, tell the people from his now past job and start like that. There are people who charge by day in Gym use while making memberships etc.You CAN make money in Panama, but it won't come as easy as some people make it sound and you do have to work and be very creative. And most importantly, be down to earth and nice, don't critize customs you don't understand or try to impose YOURS on them. You cannot expect to go to Panama and land a job right away in what you used to do. But that's very much everywhere tbh...

Your son will have a huge advantage and that's you. He will have his family, and panamanians are very friendly towards expats, so he'll make friends in no time.

Any help you might need, just drop me a line: yagel_c@hotmail.com

Comment #20 Sammy (109.111.97.160) - 03/02/10 22:26

That is a good news to hear Marlene. I knew it that there are good opportunities for expats in Panama that is why lots of people are interested in living and retiring in the said country. So call centers are also a boom job in the country, then as long as you are good in English then you will surely land a job. Thanks for all of those information :)

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