Author: michaelm

Residents holding a Panama Pensionado Visa can claim a 25 percent discount on airline tickets, a major but often misunderstood benefit. The discount applies to flights originating in Panama, though its calculation and enforcement have seen significant updates this year. Understanding the specific rules is now more critical than ever for retirees living in the country.The benefit stems from Law 6 of 1987, which grants a suite of discounts to qualified retirees. While the airfare discount is substantial, it does not apply to the total ticket price a consumer sees on most travel websites. Instead, it is calculated only on…

Panama welcomed over three million international visitors in 2025, setting a new record for tourist arrivals. This growth has not translated into a proportional increase in high-quality formal employment, according to a new analysis of official labor data. The sector’s job creation and average wages continue to lag significantly behind the national economy.Official figures show Panama received 3,004,266 visitors last year, an 8.2 percent increase from 2024. Despite this influx, the tourism sector, officially categorized under Hotels and Restaurants, created only 3,849 new formal jobs between October 2024 and September 2025. Those jobs paid an average monthly salary of $663.80,…

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has formally requested Panama to reassess the scope of the proposed Puerto Baru port project. The international body cited potential risks to the Coiba National Park World Heritage site. This directive, issued by the World Heritage Committee, requires Panama to submit a detailed conservation report by December 1, 2026.UNESCO’s intervention adds significant international pressure to a growing national debate. The project, planned for David in Chiriqui Province, is promoted as a strategic economic driver for western Panama. Environmental groups and scientists have labeled it a severe threat to sensitive coastal and…

United States Ambassador to Panama Kevin Cabrera married Andrea Altamirano Duque in a private ceremony at his official residence in La Cresta, Panama City on Saturday, March 21. The wedding blended diplomatic and local culture, featuring a surprise musical performance by iconic Panamanian artists.The event was attended by a mix of local authorities, business leaders, and close friends and family. Ambassador Cabrera, who arrived in Panama less than a year ago, has quickly integrated into the country’s social fabric, with his marriage to a Panameñan national highlighting a personal connection to his diplomatic post.A Celebration with Panamanian FlairThe wedding reception…

Individuals seeking residency in Panama for 2026 must begin a meticulous document preparation process months in advance, according to immigration attorneys. The country’s legal framework mandates that all applications be filed by a licensed Panamanian attorney, making early legal engagement the critical first step for prospective residents.This attorney-centric system differs from processes in neighboring countries and requires precise timing due to strict document expiration rules. A successful application depends on obtaining internationally certified documents from an applicant’s home country well before their planned submission date in Panama City.Legal Guidance Forms Foundation of ApplicationPanamanian law does not permit individuals to submit…

The championship trophy from the World Baseball Classic made an unexpected appearance at Panama’s main airport on Tuesday. Venezuela’s historic win captivated travelers and fans at Tocumen International Airport as the prized hardware passed through on its journey home.Aracelis León, president of the Venezuelan Baseball Federation, personally carried the trophy during a layover. León was returning to Caracas following Venezuela’s dramatic 3-2 victory over the United States in the tournament final. The stop created an impromptu celebration far from the championship site.An Impromptu Fan CelebrationPassengers and airport staff quickly gathered for a chance to see and photograph the iconic trophy.…

Panama’s Ministry of Public Works has suspended a planned eviction of hundreds of businesses in a historic Afro-Antillean food district. The decision, announced on March 18, 2026, halts an order that would have cleared the “Vereda Afroantillana” in Rio Abajo to make way for a major bus lane expansion on Via España. Officials now promise to work with merchants on a collaborative relocation plan.The suspension came directly from the director of Special Projects at the Ministry of Public Works (Panama), Edgar Peregrina. He informed business owners that the eviction scheduled for March 30 is officially on hold. This shift follows…

The Albrook station on Panama Metro’s Line 1 will suspend operations for five hours this Sunday, March 22. The closure from 7:00 a.m. until noon is necessary for critical construction work on the new Line 3 station, which will eventually connect to Panama Oeste.This marks the second temporary closure of the busy transit hub. During the shutdown, service on Line 1 will begin at 7:00 a.m. but will run only between the Villa Zaíta and 5 de Mayo stations. Commuters must end their journeys at the 5 de Mayo station, as the Albrook terminal will be completely inaccessible to the…

The new school year has started across Panama, but the national School Complementary Feeding Program has not. Critical supplies of milk, nutritional cookies, and fortified cream are absent from classrooms because three major public tenders remain unadjudicated. The Ministry of Education (Panama) confirmed the delays this week, attributing them to mandatory legal procedures under Panama’s public procurement law.These contracts, valued at over 29.6 million dollars, cover the supply, transport, and delivery of breakfast items for hundreds of thousands of students. Officials state the bidding processes, which began in December, are following their normal course. The situation leaves schools without a…

Students across Panama’s indigenous regions are starting the 2026 school year in crumbling, makeshift classrooms. Parents and teachers in the Guna Yala Comarca and Ngäbe-Buglé Comarca are demanding urgent infrastructure repairs from the Ministry of Education (Panama). Their calls come just two weeks into the new academic calendar, highlighting a persistent crisis in remote areas.Reports from multiple schools describe a dire situation. Classrooms lack walls, roofs, and basic furniture, forcing children to learn in open-air shelters known locally as “ranchos.” The ministry acknowledges hundreds of these temporary structures remain in use, though it claims progress on a replacement program.”The community…