Immigrants heading to Panama

Hundreds of immigrants have been queueing at Panama’s Migration Registry office, hoping to be granted permits to stay in the Central American country.

The ministry deported 752 unsuccessful applicants last year, but that has failed to deter those desperate to be granted residency. The petitioners who filled the building in the west of Panama City have a number of reasons why they want to emigrate their country of origin, including conflict, rising crime rates and government instability.

Although in the past 12 months the number of people looking to move to Panama declined considerably, there was a rise in the figure that was granted residency, with the National Service of Migration of Panama revealing that the number accepted last year was around 20 per cent of the number granted residency between 2009 and 2013.

Colombia, to the south of Panama, is where the highest number of immigrants originate from, followed by Venezuela, the US and Spain respectively. The four countries account for just under half the number of foreigners staying either permanently or temporarily in Panama.