When you move to Panama with IntlMOVE, you will likely move to Panama City.

The large metropolitan area is where most of the county’s business ventures take place.

There are many benefits to moving to Panama, which you will soon discover.

In the meantime, IntlMOVE has put together some tips for expats who are moving to Panama.

Medical Insurance

Before you move to Panama, you will want to make sure you have medical insurance.

You can contact human resources at your new job to find out what your company will offer you.

If your new company will not be providing you with medical benefits, you will want to look into many of the international plans that are available.

You can find insurance that is good for emergencies, or insurance that covers prescriptions and regular check-ups.

You need to determine what is right for you and research a plan that fits your needs.

Learning Spanish

If you are fully committed to learning a language, many expats have said they learned to speak Spanish in a matter of months.

You need to be determined to learn to read, write and speak Spanish in order to fully acclimate yourself to Panama.

In Panama, there are many people who speak English.

However, there are many people who only speak Spanish.

If you want to earn the respect of the locals and the people you work with – learn Spanish.

Cost of Living and Budgets

When you move to Panama, you may think that you will pay significantly less for daily living.

Although it is cheaper to live in Panama than in many large cities in the United States, it is not as inexpensive as you might think.

You will still need to make a budget as everything is not dirt cheap.

That being said, things do cost less.

Many expats are able to afford hired help.

The cost of food, housing and entertainment is also a lot less than living in large cities in the United States.

When you purchase items, you will be purchasing them with US Dollars.

The US Dollar is used throughout Panama and is the national currency.

This helps expats because they do not constantly have to convert foreign currency in their heads to understand how much things cost.

Securing Work Visas

If you have not already been offered a job, you may want to consider securing a position before you move to Panama.

Obtaining the right visas and work permits can take a very long time if you do not have an employer helping you.

In fact, you may not be able to secure a visa at all.

Panama has a great climate and a host of fun activities.

Once you are offered the job in Panama, take advantage of it right away.

The majority of people who are living as expats in Panama love the country and the people of Panama.

Before you move to Panama, there will be many things to do to prepare for your move.

IntlMOVE can take care of shipping your household goods to Panama, so you can cross that off of your list.