I went to eat at a place in Boca Chica and was told that my Cedula was not proof for a discount because I could be a resident using a Friendly Nation residency status.
My question is: Are those here by virtue of having Friendly Nation residency not eligible for the discount?
Thanx.
Replies
It has been discussed before, it has to do with the age, that is how ACODECO establishes it. The Cedula is proof of permanent residency, but MUST be given if you meet the age requirement
Here's the text of Lay 6 (Law 6) in its original Spanish and the translation into English.
Pay attention to item # 4 under Benefits, which explains in detail who is supposed to provide the jubilado discount at restaurants.
So called "Specials" are also subject to the 25% jubilado discount, unless the "special" refers to a special discount for that particular menu item. In that case, the person can decide either accepting that discounted price or take the jubilado discount on the regular price of that meal.
The other item of contention was who was entitled to the discount, other than Panamanians. Any legal foreigner who resides permanently within Panama is also entitled to the discount. Tourists don't need to apply, as they are not permanent residents.
I hope this settles most of the questions brought up in these discussions. And please read the actual law so you'll know what you are entitled to as a foreigner and legal permanent resident.
The attached law 6 document is very explicit and self-explanatory. Read it and have fun. I bet you didn't know that you could get a 50% discount on airport taxes.
What restaurant?
I live near Boca Chica and I'm curious...thanks.
No...Have you been reading this. If you are ob=ver 55, you automatically get the discount
Marie, how many different ways do you need this told to you?
You are not a resident.
You are not eligible to receive the same benefits legal residents receive.
You do not get a 50% discount on hotel rooms. No discount on medicines. No discount at the movie theatre. Not the jubilado discount on bus and plane tickets or restaurants. etc etc
Perhaps because so many foreigners legally reside in the Boquete area, some servers may not demand to see everyone's carnet or cedula. But, that doesn't mean YOU are "entitled" to receive legal resident benefits.
OK Snarky, I have a ten year tourist visa. I am not a resident. I have been here for 13 years and I get my dis count 95% of the time. Explain that one ....The only exception has been occasionally with airlines. So...my advice is if you are of age..ask for your discount.
Maybe the fact that Alan speaks excellent Spanish has made the difference for him. The fact remains the same - once you establish residency, you won't have this problem.
Walter:
Again. It is spanish semantics. A jubilado is a person that reach certain age for being an active worker and will enjoy a monthly payment from social security entitities as a result of a fee paid when he was working and was retained in the institution as a saving. Some jubilados are able to keep working and receiving their money from their retirement.
A pensionado/a is a person that is unable to work regarding his/her age by any kind of disability like an injury, an illness, a medical condition, etc. In the construction industry that I am still working we have people Pensionadas at different ages: 30, 40, 50 years, etc.
Those are the differences of the terms in spanish languages.
Walter
As I usually tell people. It is not a matter of the law. The law is clear. It is a matter of the enforcement. Some business will offer and grant the discount to jubilados or retired people without any discrimination of residents or not residents. They do because they dont follow the law exactly or they interpret the law in other way.
Remember that some business fear of jubilado discounts probably because they dont understand that they can deduct those discounts given from their tax return.
Walter
It is a matter of semantic.
As a tourist in the USA I will never be considered by the US Government a resident. So it is the same in Panama.
Doing a Google search to find a definition of the term Resident we will find that it is almost the same: a person who lives somewhere permanently or on a long-term basis. A tourist is a tourist.