Panama: Whether Panama recently passed any laws restricting entry to Chinese nationals as visitors or immigrants
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 5 June 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PAN40069.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Panama: Whether Panama recently passed any laws restricting entry to Chinese nationals as visitors or immigrants, 5 June 2003, PAN40069.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4df31f.html [accessed 1 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Staff at the embassy of Panama in Ottawa stated during a 30 May 2003 telephone interview that Chinese nationals are required, and have been required for many years, to have a visa in order to visit or reside in Panama. However, the official was unaware of any recent Panamanian legislation referring to travel conditions or restrictions specific to Chinese nationals (Panama 30 May 2003).
A Panamanian law firm providing services in immigration law provided information on legal provisions governing tourist visas and immigration (Shirley & Associates 26 Mar. 2003a; ibid. 26 Mar. 2003b). In reference to tourist visas, the firm states that "The Panamanian government may restrict the entry of certain nationalities Panama," adding that "those should request an Authorised Tourist Visa" (ibid. 26 Mar. 2003b). According to the source, the People's Republic of China is one of several countries whose citizens need an Authorised Tourist Visa to visit Panama (ibid.). In reference to immigration, the firm states that
Immigrant Visas grant to their holders Provisional Residency for one year, and upon the expiry of this term, Permanent Residency with a right to a Cédula (identity card). Furthermore, it opens the way for a foreigner to apply for nationalisation should they later wish to do so (ibid. 26 Mar. 2003a).
Although the source explains the various categories and circumstances for which Immigrant Visas can be issued, references to a specific immigrant visa regime for Chinese nationals could not be found in the published documents.
In February 2001 the press reported on the denial of a United States entry visa for former Panamanian President Ernesto Perez Balladares, based on his alleged connection to a human trafficking operation involving the issuing of visas to Chinese nationals (El Panamá-América 2002; La Prensa 7 Mar. 2001). The former President protested the U.S. visa denial, stating that the 137 Chinese nationals allegedly involved in the case and who were issued visas by his administration in 1999, were all immigrants who continued to reside in Panama in early 2001 (ibid.; El Panamá-América 2002).
A 6 November 2001 article from the daily El Panamá-AméricaEl Panamá-América 6 Nov. 2001). The report adds that the outgoing director avoided answering questions about alleged payments made by Chinese foreigners for the issuing of their documents, while a department spokesperson suggested it was "natural" to stop approval of visas and other immigration documents during a change of leadership (ibid.).
A report published the following day quotes the new director of migration, Ilka de Barés, as stating that all pending visas, provisional residence permits and other immigration documents processed under the previous management would not be signed until it was ensured that they were properly processed (ibid. 7 Nov. 2001). No references to specific outcomes of such reviews could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
More recently, the Panamanian non-governmental organization Caritas reported in its monthly bulletin that the United States ambassador to Panama visited the new Director of Migration, previously an employee of the U.S. embassy in Panama, allegedly "to give her orders" (para impartir sus órdenes) (Incidencia y Compromiso 11 Apr. 2003). The report adds that "poor Chinese are in trouble" (se fregaron los chinos pobres), while stating that wealthy ones will have money for bribes (ibid.).
Additional references to Chinese immigrants in Panama can be found in Country Reports 2002, Section 5, and in PAN39443.E of 15 August 2002.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
Incidencia y Compromiso [Panama City]. 11 April 2003. Pastoral Social-Cáritas Panamá. "La Coyuntura." Panama. 30 May 2003. Embassy of Panama, Ottawa. Telephone interview with staff.
El Panamá-América [Panama City]. 2002. "Resumen de Noticias 2001: Febrero." _____. 7 November 2001. Jean Marcel Chéry. "Nueva directora de Migraci'no pide audito en la institución." _____. 6 November 2001. Jean Mercel Chéry. "Grupo de asiáticos protesta por visas." La Prensa [Panama City]. 7 March 2001. Rafael Perez G. "Pérez Balladares se siente 'humillado' por EU." Shirley & Associates, Panama City. 26 March 2003a. "Immigrants." _____. 26 March 2003b. "Panama - Tourists."
