Processing time for residency reduced to 6 months

[olga suarez]

As of Tuesday January 10, those foreigners who are in processing of their temporary or permanent residency status will have an immigration id (carnet) issued for six months, time in which they must complete their paperwork and process.

Previously, these temporary immigration id's were good for 1 year.

This law was change through Executive Decree 590 of December 28, 2016 which was published on Jan 10, 2017

http://www.prensa.com/sociedad/Reducen-migratorios-extranjeros-aplicar-residentes_0_4664533520.html

[Dave and Leiann Scee]

No mention as to repeated 90 day tourist visa's. Appears that Panama like Costa Rica is trying to do away with virtual tourism. It's gonna cost them a lot of money. Like shooting yourself in the foot. 

[Linda Miller]

They can barely get them done in 6 months. We were 9 days away when notified that the permanent visas were ready!