madscotsman

Hello to all.
l am new to this type of communication so please bare with me. I am interested in immigrating to Panama. I am working in Iraq/Afghanistan at the mo in an attempt to earn some serious cash which I hope will pay for a new life out in Panama. My wife is Russian and I am a scot with a 16 year old son and I believe that a new passport can be obtained for immigrants who invest money into the country (that would be great for the wife and step son). I would like to start a Oil Palm plantation as near to the coast as possible but I am open to any advise you guys may have. Sorry for the long post. Rab where in Scotland are you from? Hope to hear from any of you guys! Cheers

Dagda

Madman, good to hear from you; you take care out there in the M.E. eh? Born in Edinburgh but we did a "runner" and ended up in Lanarkshire but I've been gone a long time.
Let's start with your Passport for Immigrants issue; That's partially true but it takes time. To the best of my knowledge - and please take into account that ALL requirements here have changed dramatically because of the re-organization of the immigration department - I started off with an investment visa, this required an investment in Panama and an ongoing need for me to actually have 3 employees full time and submit my accounts each year for "qualification" It sounds worse than it was and is in fact fairly easy to do. Initially this meant that after doing this for 5 years I would be eligible for full residency (and I believe a passport had I wanted one) Since that time I became eligible for Pensionado status here (means I have a pension income above the basic requirements and I've opted for that because of other perks that come along with that status. I still have my business but I took the Pensionado. We can chat more and I'll ask a few questions to find out what you'll need exactly. I know nothing about Palm oil so I can't help you there but again I can find out. I'll finish with this; I wish I'd moved here even before I did 6 years ago. It's possible to live very well and the health issues of fresh food (fruits etc) and lifestyle are very beneficial. The Government is stable, the banks are "discreet" and the overall experience is great. The problem some people will face is that land (desirable land) is no longer cheap but it doesn't mean it can't be done. Most folks who are willing to adapt and change to a different culture with different expectations love it. Those who don't/can't usually ship out. I think it's best put like this; welcome to Panama, set your watch back 20 years. I'm sure you know what I mean.
Let me know what your thinking and what your time frames are. Also let me know what skills you might be able to bring to the table and I'll see f I know of a fit for you to get you started.
Don't forget to duck & weave.
Rab.

madscotsman

Hi Rab thanks for the quick reply mate. It is a bit quite here at the moment no bangs, touch wood. Where in Lanarkshire did you live? I live in East Kilbride, I say live but I am hardly ever there. The time scale is hard to stipulate as I will do this until I have enough earned to do what I hope to do and that is have a business to support us instead of working for someone else. The Palm Oil looked a good bet as you can send it away to be distilled and it can be made in to Bio Diesel, it can make $400 per ton and you obtain 6 to 8 ton per hectare, I thought of trying to buy 240 acres(100Hect), problem being it takes 4 years till the first crop. But I am flexible as to what I actually do get into. I am a Power Generation Tech sounds grand, not, really I am an Electrician by trade and I help supply electricity via diesel driven generators. The wife teaches English in Russia and has just finnished Uni in Rostov on Don having qualifed as a Psychologist my step son Nick is 16. Another long post I am afraid it would be great to meet up thats if the wife agrees to having our next holiday in Panama, that would be in March. She wants to go to Egypt but I have had enough of sand for the time being ha ha. Cheers the noo!

Dagda

Madman, better quiet than the other, right?
I'll look into the alm oil for you but it seems you have a pretty good handle on what's involved. A bloke asked me the other day if I would be interested in dedicating my land ( I have a 32 acre parcel) to the production of castor oil for bio fuel as well. didn't know anything about it and after I did a wee bit of research I decided it wasn't for me.
My property is in the area most popular with "Gringos" for retirement but the last thing I want to do is "develop" it, it's way to beautiful for that abd there's more than enough gringo building going on. I'm in the planning stages of creating a "green" ranch with fruit trees, organic veggies and ground fruits and the odd beasty. I'm going to sell off 3 lots (1 hectare +) to raise some capital and then I'm pretty well set. Local labour not only knows what it's doing when it comes to growing and rearing and I'm going to build with natural stone as well and other than getting doors and windows to fit right they can pretty much handle that. Anyone here (ex pat) who has a trade can get plenty of work but you have to be sure you don't contravene your visa status - we can get into more detail on that nearer the time - but quality work is always popular.
You'll be more than welcome when you decide to visit, I'll be happy to help; you'll probably want to tour the country a wee bit - it's only postage stamp size anyway so that's not difficult.
I grew up in Airdrie but spent my formative years in Glasgow as an apprentice with Rangers before i started my travels (obviously didn't make the team eh?)
Keep in touch Mate and just make a list of any uestions and I'll do my best to help out.
Keep yer heid doon.

Jules Europe

I see that you live in Boquete out of interest what are the temperatures like there as I found Panama City to be extremely hot?

Dagda

Aye Jules, if you'd asked that question 4 days ago the answer would have been so different. For the past four days we have been pounded by straight line winds that must be in excess of 70 or 80 mph. Normally at this time of the year we (everyone in Panama) see an increase in the winds because it heralds the arrival of our Summer but this year is different. For the past four days the winds have been very strong and temps much colder, now I'm not talking Highlands of Scotland cold but colder. We usually drift between about 60f+ on the cold side to 80+f on the warm side year around. Even in the rainy season it's wet but not cold.
To qualify; within a 15 kilometre radius of Boquete there are as many as 8 different micro-climes, some are wetter than others and some - like where my property is - located 12 minutes from Boquete - it's much dryer - but rarely is it cold. Chilly maybe in Boquet itself - sitting at 3400 ft above sea level but never cold. Unlike Panama City, David or Santiago where it is down right hot we enjoy a very temperate climate and in fact no one bothers to put in air conditioning or heating systems in the houses.
So, there you have it, now where did I out those sweaters?

ctsbillc

Rab,
Not gonna make it to Boquete this trip, got side-tracked to El Valle, which is great but very windy.

We will be back though, and soon.

Bill

Dagda

Hi Bill,
Well I hope you enjoyed your visit. The winds were something eh? Usually here they herald the change to Summer and can be quite strong for a few weeks but what we got up here in the mountains was something else entirely. Most of the area was without power for two or three days and it was colder than I've ever experienced here but all in all it was, shall we say, interesting.
I hope to meet you on your next trip.
Bien viajes.
Cheers.
Rab.

chocabloc

Hi all

We are from the midlands in England.

We have visited Panama 3 times in the last 12months 9most recently returning on 11 April 2009). We are kicking ourselves that we didn't take the plunge and buy a property the 1st or 2nd time we visited. We have noticed that prices have risen alot and we are now in danger of being priced out of the market for the type of property we would like. We are now looking at renting in Clayton.

We will be starting a business in Panama. We already have a business in England which has been established for 8 years. Our business in England carries out drain unblocking/repairs and pest control. We were considering this as a business option in Panama. However, since travelling back and forth over the past year it struck us that there are lots and lots of windows and the only windows we ever see getting washed are the ones on my rental car. (whenever I stop in traffic someone is gladly wanting to wash my windscreen) We have never seen them being cleaned at hotels and the skyscrapper banks etc. Are we not looking hard enough or do they just not clean the windows on the buildings in the city?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated because at the minute we are setting ourselves up to come to Panama to clean windows the european way (abseiling, but would prefer to keep my feet on the ground).

We want to rent in Clayton whilst we see how things develop......window cleaning, pest control and drain unblocking, does anyone on here think we have a viablebusiness model, offering these services sucsesfully.

We have everything is in place in Panama, bank accounts, company formation etc. The next step will be to go to freezone and purchase equipment.

We are also eager to meet other expats that are willing to meet with us.

We will be back over to Panama in May for around 3 weeks.

Thank you

ctsbillc

Hi Chocabloc.

I'm from Northampton originally.

These are just thoughts, and your knowledge on Panama may be better than mine.

There are a couple of things to consider here, one is that Panama does not like foreigners taking jobs from locals, so employment in these areas may not be possible. The second is that window cleaning and unskilled work in areas like this will not make a whole lot of money. You are into average wage, i.e., $150/month, type revenue streams.

I would be inclined to land myself first, and do a proper market evaluation once established.

Best Regards,
Bill

chocabloc

Hi Bill

Thanks for your reply.

Who long have you been in Panama and where abouts are you located there?

The type of service we would be offering would be to international chains ie casinos, hotel chains and apartment complex management companies, not domestic or resident. Our window cleaning would be rope access work up to heights of 350 - 400m like what is carried out in Dubai/New York on their skyscrappers. We would also offer exterior cleaning and exterior maintenance of skyscrappers/high rises, using the rope access.

We just can't seem to find any information on who if anyone carries this out in Panama. We have spoke to peolple in Panama who live in skyscrappers/high rises and they are not aware of anyone coming to wash their windows, they all stated they would like them washing due to the build up of dirt and grime that gets stuck to their windows (obvious even if they have self cleaing glass due to the traffic and construction work going on around them).

One stumbling block I have encountered is the people we have spoken to, pay service charges for their apartments, but currently have no management company servicing the buildings as some of the building remains unsold and I believe the developers do not hand over the servicing of the building until all properties have been sold.

All our residency and visa requirements are sorted and we could work and trade legally in Panama already. We have Panamanian workers already who will work for us and we will train them in rope access work if we decide to go down this route.

Cheers

ctsbillc

I currently live in Canada, my knowledge is through Panamanian friends, a single visit, and internet. As I say, your knowledge may be better.

You may have a market niche there. Your full description sounds a lot more lucrative than your initial post :-)

Never the less, I would still caution that you determine the lay of the land after you arrive. It may be good to hit the ground running, but only if you are running in the right direction. In North America, 80% of new business ventures fail in the first year, I'm not sure if there are statistics for Panama.

I wish you well, and hope to have as a neighbour in the not too distant future.

Best Regards,
Bill

bexter

Hi

Can anyone help? I am thinking of selling my UK house and moving to Panama with my two children - aged 8. The reason for this is that their father lives out there, ad I am a single parent who has had enough of doing it on my own for so long. I would be moving us all to be nearer to him so that I could have a bit of a life and help with the boys.

But what is the deal on me getting in? Do I need a job first, or could I turn up and find one when I get there? I get the impression from this thread that property is expensive in Panama City. What's the deal there?

Woudl I be able to get a job as a non-Spanish speaker (at present)?

Help!!!

Bexter

ctsbillc

The father of your children is probably the best person to help.

Best Regards,

Bill

bexter

In theory, although we do not speak very much. I have not seen him for three years, and he wasn't ever much help to me anyway - henace him being an ex!