Expatriate, or not?

Questions!

• Why move to Panama?

• Cost of Living, cost of retiring?

• Desire to try a new lifestyle?

• Tax savings?

• Politics?

• Only one of the above is good reason!

More of the Same

• Have you ever lived outside of the US or

Canada before? (Military does not count)

• Are you ready to make MAJOR changes

in your life?

• Do you speak Spanish, are you willing to

learn?

• Are you willing to stretch your brain?

• Are you economically self sufficient?

ExpatsWhat you can expect, surprise!

The only constant is change

Come without

Preconceptions

• Come without an attitude that you know

anything about this culture, you don’t.

• Come without a feeling your culture is

superior, it is not.

• Come without thinking Panama will

change to suit your needs, it won’t.

Come with Dreams

• Come with an open, receptive mind

• Come with a willingness learn

• Come with an income

• Come with a desire to change and grow

Be ready to do it differently

Many people leave

• Panama is not for everyone

• Panama is not for Type “A” people

• Panama is not static, nor is it efficient

• Panama is not the USA or Canada

Many People Stay

• This is a land of great opportunity

• Financial

• Personal

• Spiritual

• Emotional

• Cultural

A chance for a new life

It is different here

But it is not Kansas

It’s better than Kansas if...

Your eyes and ears are

open

• Be aware the laws are different, do it

right the first time.

• Be aware that you are a target.

• Be aware everyone is a target, you are

not special. ----Juega Vivo

• Be aware other expats often are doing

the shooting. “Trust but Verify” R.R.

The Culture is Rich

The Culture is Fun

Panamanians are open to

new immigrants

• Panama is a country of immigrants

• There has been a US influence here for

100 years

• There are many well educated

Panamanians

• There are many dual citizens here

• The country is in flux with great changes

The Canal and the City

The Interior

There is Chamber Music

and rolling concerts

Cowboy Culture and

elegance too

Canadians in El Valle

Virginian’s in Santa Marta

Spay and Neuter Clinic

North Americans & Panamanians

You can sing

Community Theater

Learn Folklorica

Run a Bookstore

Study the Culture

Practice Dancing

Display your art

Open a Bakery

Buy fresh foods

Discover new Foods

Eat great food

Grow your own coffee

Live on the Sea

Become a Beachcomber

Live in the mountains

Explore what man made

Explore Nature

Rerun your childhood

Hang out with new friends

just relax

or touch a life

What is the expat

experience

• It is exactly what you make it.

• If you choose to live the same life you

had, you can have it.

• If you choose to create a new life you

can create it.

Think before you leap

• Healthcare

• Cost of Living

• Taxes and Services

• The Law

• Your reasons for making a change

• Are you ready to change or should you

stay in your own environment

Consider Health Care

• Health Care in Panama is good, but your

Medicare or Canadian coverage does

not work here

• There is local private insurance but if you

have pre-existing conditions ..

• Public Health care is not always great,

but at times it is good

Cost of Living

• Cost of living here is not low

• You can live in Mississippi for less

• Imports cost more here

• If you live like a local it is cheaper but

you might not like the lifestyle

Taxes and Services

• Taxes vary. Do not believe there are

none.

• Services from the government are less

than you might desire

• This is the wild west of Panama

• US Citizens still pay US taxes, with

some exemptions

The Law

• Panama is a Civil Law Jurisdiction

• Steal a Chicken go to jail, steal a million,

take the judge to lunch

• Even if you win you may lose

• Lawyers here cannot commit

malpractice; the concept requires

enforcement

• Stay out of the legal system in Panama

Decide on your future

• If you are unhappy where you are you

will not be happy here

• Your personal problems come with you

• Do not come to escape the law or taxes

• Do not come for political reasons

• Come to learn, grow and experience a

new life