Ever since the Spaniards first came to colonize the Isthmus of Panama centuries ago this land has been used as a transit route between the hemispheres. And of course with the building of the Panama Canal the importance of Panama as a way of global transit has increased in leaps and bounds. Thusly, those with citizenship in Panama have been able to take full advantage of Panamas key logistical placement in the world and other benefits this country has to offer.

As a result of this important exchange, the people with citizenship in Panama, have appreciated a mixture of cultures with our citizenship in Panama, and in this way changing the citizenship in Panama into a kaleidoscope of races, with the effort of transiting through our nation, be it for tourism, business, shopping, retirement or to establish a new home in Panama and/or looking for new citizenship in Panama.

Currently for many of the foreigners of different origins, citizenship in Panama means work or economic stability, due to the fact that in the past years our country has presented an impressive financial growth, and therefore becoming the nation with the highest economic development in Latin America in 2007.

With regards to citizenship in Panama, the Directorate of Immigration and Naturalization of Panama has increased their work in the issuance of visas and extensions of such for the hundreds of foreigners that enter the country each day, and most of them looking for citizenship in Panama.  According to the  Constitution of Panama immigrants in search of citizenship in Panama will be regulated with emphasis on social, economic and demographic interests.

Citizenship in Panama is acquired by birth, naturalization or by constitutional disposition according to Article No. 8 of Title II of Citizenship and Foreigners of the Panamanian Political Constitution.  In Article No. 9, citizenship in Panama by birth is acquired by:

·       Those born on national territory have citizenship in Panama.

·        The children of a Panamanian mother or father by birth, if these establish their residency in the country and desire citizenship in Panama.

·        The children of Panamanian mother or father through naturalization born outside of the national territory, if these establish their residency in the country and manifest, of their own free will, the desire to have citizenship in Panama.

Panamanian law will rule naturalization and citizenship in Panama, because the State can deny a request for the letter of naturalization or citizenship in Panama for reasons of morality, security, healthiness, physical or mental disability.  Citizenship in Panama by origin or citizenship in Panama acquired by birth will not be lost, but the deliberate or tactful resignation of such will suspend citizenship.