And the easiest and fastest way to make money online is by teaching English. Well, at least it is for native English speakers.
You may also want to read a previous post I did. How to make money in Panama
For native speakers, teaching English is a fast easy option to:
You aren't going to get rich teaching English, but you can get a comfortable income. Obviously, online offers the most flexibility and portability. Of course, you can teach in person or online. Also, if you want to teach in person you either need to get a work permit or fly under the radar.
Pay
In reviewing the options, the pay scale is anywhere from $8 to $45/hour.
The pay largely depends on the company and the markets they serve. Well-developed Asian countries like Japan and South Korea are the best paying markets. Companies in China and South America pay significantly less.
How to Make More
Mike Wilbur from Toshuo.com states there are other teachers such as Gabby Wallace who have built huge personal brands and teach large numbers of students directly. Next in line are people with niche brands who teach groups on their own sites. Even tutoring one on one on a large company platform can turn out well. Chad Hansen has earned over $100k tutoring individual students on Verbling. But remember, if you can’t differentiate yourself, the wage floor is very low in an online market.
According to RealWaysToEarnMoneyOnline.com, the only way to make more than $20 an hour is to give group lessons. But there are caveats. 1) Finding and managing a large group of students is challenging 2) Requires web conferencing software 3) Need great marketing and time management skills. I have a friend who makes $100 per hour in a weekly class he runs on the WizIQ Platform, and he’s not the only one. If you have an infectious personality and good marketing skills, this may be the best (and by far the most lucrative) option for you.
If you establish your own website, the suggested rate for an hourly one-on-one lesson is $20. You will find that some teachers charge less than that, but it easy to find students at this price. This is also the price that many of the established companies charge the students. If you have your own site, you keep all of that $20. If you work for a company, they take a cut of it.
You don't necessarily need a degree or certificate. However, you will have more and better paid opportunities if you do.
Little Age Discrimination
For older people, one of the great benefits is there is very little age discrimination when hiring people to teach English online. This is a welcome change. In fact, if you've been a teacher, being older and more experienced is an advantage.
Requirements
It varies, but generally you can find a job teaching English online if you fit the following criteria.
You can get better teaching gigs if you meet any of the criteria below:
Most people who are reading this article can teach online.
Obviously, the first bullet above is the easiest and fastest to use when you are first starting out. But as you gain experience, and perhaps even a following, you may decide to graduate to the other teaching options.
There is an enormous number of companies you can work for teaching English. I have a link to a large list of them toward the end of this page. Before you apply to work for a company, make sure you do some research. While many companies are legit, there are some scams and some just plain bad places to work.
Mike Wilbur from Toshuo.com gives this advice to job seekers when considering the 4 largest online teaching companies.
Advice
He says start with:
Timezones
Keep in mind in which the country most of your students will reside. Most companies have a particular country or region they cater their lessons to. Timezones matter. For instance, China is 13 hours ahead of Panama. As you'd imagine the peak teaching times will be evenings and weekends, China time. 6 pm in China is 5am in Panama. It is hard to get students, if you are in bed when they want to learn.
Online Companies
Keep in mind, the information on their sites are not always up-to-date. If you feel a company is perfect for you, but it looks like you don't qualify, don't hesitate to email them and ask. Sometimes things are more flexible than it appears when reading the website.
Watch this video of an expat's experience getting a job with Open English.
English Teaching Apps
Newest to the game are app based online teaching. Here are 3 of them.
Read about Beverly's experience teaching English online with Boxfish
The above is only a handful of your options of where to teach English online. Mike Veenstra of GoodAirLanguage.com keeps an updated list most of the vast array of companies you can work for.
It includes short descriptions, including pay range, of the companies. He also categories the list by which country the company is based in, as well as the companies for which you create your own teacher profile and market to students.
The Big List Of Companies
Find out more about our charming beach town of Puerto Armuelles
Already in love with Puerto Armuelles? Check out our properties for sale.
On February 15, 2017, the Ministry of Labor issued a new work permit requirement for foreigners with either a Friendly Nations or Professional Foreigner visa.
To apply for a work permit, those visa holders must now have an approved and stamped employment contract with a Panamanian company and be enrolled in the local payroll system.
This is a big change. Before you did not have to have a job in order to get a work permit, at least not for holders of a Friendly Nation visa.
This is a big set back for people who simply wanted to work in their own business. For instance, a foreigner can open a restaurant in Panama. But if you also want to wait tables at your restaurant, you need a work permit. (Please consult a good lawyer to get a full picture on how this new regulation may impact you.)
Of course, there are other ways to get a work permit.
The Friendly Nations visa was originally created in 2012 to attract more skilled workers to Panama. There simply were not enough skilled Panamanian workers to meet the need of local companies. To remedy this, government created the Friendly Nations visa and explicitly linked it to an expedited work permit process.
But the recent uproar over rising number of illegal workers in Panama has put a halt to that. Recent and significant changes to Panama Tourist visas have also been made to help stop the influx of foreigners working here illegally.
The Friendly Nations Visa itself doesn't give you the right to work, so it may not get caught up in this drive to curtail foreign workers. However, given the public sentiment, it may go away. If you were thinking of applying for one, it is better to apply sooner rather than later - or too late.
The official government site explains what you need for a work permit with the Friendly Nations Visa. However, what that site says or the exact wording of the law may not determine how your work permit application is treated. There is an interpretation that the law, and that interpretation is still in flux. But for now it seems that unless you had your work permit application in before March, you won't be getting one. That is, unless you have a job offer from a qualifying Panamanian company.
Find out more about the Friendly Nations Visa here
The good news is that Friendly Nations and Professional Foreigner visa holders will still not be considered in calculating a company’s foreign-to-local worker ratio. This is still true even though these visa holders must now have a local employment contract and be paid through a local payroll.
This means that those visa holders will still have an edge on getting a job with a local company since they won't impact the company's ratio numbers.
(FYI, Panamanian laws establish that only 10% of a company’s work force can be foreign (non-Panamanian); exceptions include if a worker is married to a Panamanian, or if the worker has lived in Panama for 10 or more years).
This easy link between the Friendly Nations visa and a work permit is an innocent victim of public outrage.
Panama has experienced an alarming rise in foreigners, on a tourist visa, who are working in Panama. It is illegal to work in Panama if you are on a tourist visa. Until very recently, these foreigners, mostly from other Latin American countries, only needed to hop over the border to renew their tourist visa. And then go back to their jobs.
Panama has now made changes to tourist visa regulations to eliminate this easy visa renewal border hop. It was a good move.
However, this work permit change seems like a knee jerk reaction to the public outrage over the illegal workers. Making it harder for holders of these 2 residency visas to get a work permit does not help eliminate illegal workers. Foreigners who apply for a work permit, obviously want to work legally. By further restricting the ability of foreigners to get a work permit, they only make it more tempting for them to work illegally in Panama.
The easiest way to make money while living in Panama is to earn it outside-of-Panama. You can work online in various capacities, work your job remotely from Panama, and other ways.
In a previous post, I wrote up some ideas on how to make money in Panama .
Check out these beautiful & affordable properties
These properties have some of the lowest per meter prices you will find in Puerto Armuelles – or in Panama.
But don't move down here with no plan.
An "It will all work out" attitude is not enough. To be successful, you need to plan ahead.
What lifestyle do you want in Panama? You must think about this.
Often when people set up their life initially, they don't consciously think about the lifestyle they want. Typically, when starting out, people find the best paying job they can and buckle down to pay the bills.
Then life just happens, around your job.
Now you have a chance to start again.
Decide on your ideal lifestyle. Then find, or create, a job or business that fits that lifestyle.
Before you decide to pursue a job or business, evaluate how it will help you achieve your lifestyle goals.
At the very least, make sure it won't be a major obstacle to enjoying your ideal tropical lifestyle.
Job vs. Business
A job will give you a steady paycheck that you can rely on. That is, unless the job disappears for whatever reason. Of course, it is harder to get a good paying job in Panama.
I talk about ways to create your own job in Panama later on in this post.
Starting your own business can be much riskier. You may not make any money at first, or ever. But it is potentially more profitable.
A business will also take a lot more of your time, especially initially.
It will also mean you have to go out and hustle up business whether you have a
I talk more about starting your own business in Panama later on in this post.
Are you a job-type person or a business person?
Walking into a real, existing, job will get you that steady paycheck. Not a bad idea when you have those extra moving expenses to cover. It is also a great way to meet people in your new home.
There are a number of things to keep in mind when getting a job in Panama. I wrote a post that talks about those things in some detail.
Click here for 5 ways to find a real job in Panama.
Panama offers amazing opportunities to create an ideal job.
A job that allows you the freedom to enjoy your new tropical lifestyle.
The skill set of locals tends to be different from people from the West.
The answers to these 2 question will you figure out a good job to create for yourself.
One way to figure out what type of service is needed is to ask on local forums.
Ask what service they think their community is lacking. Float ideas yourself. Ask, do you think there is a need for _____.
Of course, you should visit for awhile before you decide to move.
While you are visiting is a prime time to do some research on local unmet needs.
Think about all the things you have done in your various jobs and hobbies over time. Things like office management, writing, photography, cooking, editing, fishing, design, plumbing, etc...
Based on the the answers to those two job creation questions above, you should have good idea of what you should be planning to do.
For example, offering services to expats is often successful.
If find a need for which you have the skill set, you have struck gold (or at least silver).
You can also create your own job inside of someone else's business. For instance, you could ask a hotel to hire you to give tours to tourists, or to be their in-house IT person.
There are many kinds of businesses you can create.
In this post, I am focusing on businesses you can create in Panama.
Of course there are many portable jobs and business you can start as well.
I will be talking about portable income options in a future posts. I am a big fan of making money from anywhere there is an internet connection.
In Panama, you cannot do any manual labor, unless you have a work permit, even in your own business.
So if you open a restaurant, you cannot be your own cook or waiter. Again, unless you have a work permit.
For 15 ways to get a work permit in Panama click here
Also, foreigners in Panama are not allowed to open a retail business.
We strongly advise against businesses that requires you to hire employees.
There is a whole host of issues and potential problems that come with hiring Panamanian employees. Maybe eventually you will feel brave enough to start a business with employees, but don't make it your first business.
Of course, using contract workers instead of employees could be a good option
Click here to read about hiring employees in Panama.
One of the easiest and fastest ways to make money quickly, is to teach English online. So if you need to keep the income coming in while you set up your business or other way to make money, it is a good option to explore. You can read about the ins and outs of teaching English online.
Have your work life figured out now?
Okay, now it is time to find some place to live.
You may want to check out our properties in Puerto Armuelles Panama.
Puerto Armuelles is a unique and charming beach town in the popular Chiriqui province. You can find out more about Puerto Armuelles.
You Can Find A Job In Panama, But It WIll Take Effort
Keep it in mind though, in case your job search does not result in your dream job.
If you want a real job, one that you don’t create for yourself, your best bet is to:
Don't forget to tell everyone about your search for a job in Panama.
Especially if you get a just-for-now job, keep networking after you move to Panama. You will probably hear about many open positions through word-of-mouth.
This is the easiest way. Just do the job your doing, but on the beach.
If you are willing to shell out the cost of semi-regular plane trips to be in the office in person, it makes it much more likely.
Given the lower cost of living in Panama, you may end up making more money even with the plane tickets.
Why not ask?
I know people who do this. I even know people who do this for a business they own "back home".
Just ask, the worst that can happen is they say, no.
If you really want it, then address all the reasons for their no. Keep showing them their reasons are wrong (if you can) and they just might say yes.
Does your company have an office in Panama?
They may finally send you just to shut you up.
Yes, you can work in Panama for an international company at a western salary.
There are more than 100 multinational companies with offices in Panama. Panama is a business hub for the region. Marriott, Dell, Coco-Cola, Hewlett Packard, Kimberly-Clark, Caterpillar, Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, General Electric, Citibank and many more have branches in Panama City.
It must be a valuable and somewhat unique skill. If someone in Panama is available with somewhat the same skill, they will use that person.
You can also work for NGO’s originating in your home country or international organizations.
There are a number of NGO is Panama City's City of Knowledge neighborhood. (The City of Knowledge is located inside the former U.S. Army Base of Fort Clayton in Panama City.)
In fact, the NGOs there have their own website, which includes job opportunities.
For Current Job Opportunities at NGOs in Panama City, go here.
If you decide to look for a employment with a big company, you are also deciding to live in Panama City. Almost all the large companies offering western salaries are located in Panama City.
Go back to your lifestyle goals, does living in Panama City fit in with those goals?
Expats work in a wide range of Panama companies: banking, journalism, education, construction management, sales, web design, marketing, and more.
Obviously, you will need to know Spanish somewhat well to pursue this option.
Look for a company with hardly any foreign employes.
Panama restricts its companies from hiring "too many" foreigners. What they mean by too many is more than 10% (sometimes 15%) foreign employees.
If you can find an company with less than 10% foreign staff, they could legally hire you.
Of course, you still need to convince them of that and get a work permit. You can also get “specialty” work permits that last 3-9 months through certain organizations.
Go here to read about work permit options in Panama.
Make sure you are okay with the salary before you try to get the job. Most Panama companies pay well under what the same work would pay in the western world.
One way to make sure you can live where you want, is to get an online job.
There are more and more of those these days.
Go to this post for more information on looking for a job online.
Language schools sometimes offer work opportunities to foreigners. However, they don't pay that well and it is hard to find a full-time job. But it could be a great temporary job.
Then you can look for more lucrative job once you are in Panama.
Like language schools, both tourist hotels and tour companies need to hire English speakers.
You are more likely to be hire if you can other, especially unique, skills they need.
There are some private recruitment agencies. But they don't usually pay well and they tend to offer short-term work. Two agencies to try are Adecco or Manpower .
It is important to think about your ideal lifestyle, before you start working.
Otherwise, you could find yourself in another job you hate. One that keeps you from enjoying the lifestyle you can down to Panama to enjoy.
Medicine, Law, Accounting & 22 other professions that cannot be practiced by Expats in Panama
Panama prohibits foreigners from holding 25 specific professional and quasi professional jobs.
No matter which type of work permit you get, it is rare that it would allow you to work one of those jobs
The only exception is if you are married to a Panamanian.
Of course, some expats do practice at least some of these jobs under-the-table. But they are taking a risk doing that.
- Dentist
- Dental assistant
- Lawyer
- Veterinarian
- Chiropractors
- Medical, including
- Therapists, such as
- Social worker
- Accounting
- Hairdressing and Cosmetology
- Chemist
- Engineering and Architecture
- Agricultural Sciences
- Journalism
- Public Relations
- Economist
Find out the truth about life in Panama. Sign up for our monthly newsletter.
Updated March 2017
Getting A Friendly Nation Visa Makes Getting A Work Permit Much Easier
Keep in mind you can legally work in Panama, and not get a work permit, if your income comes from outside Panama.
For more info, go to how to make money in Panama.
You should consult an attorney to ensure you know about any new or modified work permit options.
I used a number of sources for this information. The 2 main sources are listed at the bottom of this page.
If that is the case, you (the foreigner) can be hired, since the company is under the maximum threshold (10%) for foreign employees. But they must pay you at least $850 per month. You can work for them for a maximum of 6 years. However, you still have to apply for a work permit. Your permit cannot be used at a different company.
The City of Knowledge is located inside the former U.S. Army Base of Fort Clayton in Panama City. Foreign investors owning a company located within Panama’s City of Knowledge can have 5 special work permits for their foreign employees. This work permit is for up to 6 years for foreign businessmen, researchers, professors, students, and technicians. For the City of Knowledge website & its list of job opportunities, go here.
After you marry a Panamanian you can apply for a work permit.
This visa was created to help ease the lack of skilled workers in Panama, and therefore, friendly nations visa holders had a fast track to a work permit. However, that all changed in early 2017. Now Friendly Nations visa holders can only get a work permit if they are hired by a qualified Panamanian employer.
Read more about updated information on work permits for Friendly Nations Visa holders.
Under this new work permit category, which is exempt from quotas and local sponsorship requirements, there is no minimum level of professional experience that the applicant must possess. Applicants must hold a bachelor's or post-graduate degree. The Highly-Skilled Worker Permit can be renewed annually. After two years, the work permit holder can apply for permanent residence.
Based on a treaty between Panama and Italy, work permits are now available to Italian nationals. The Italian National Work Permit is exempt from quota and local sponsorship requirements and will be issued with indefinite validity.
Parents of children, who were born in Panama and are at least five years old, are eligible to apply under this new work permit category. The work permit can be renewed annually, and after two years, the permit holder may apply for permanent residence. This work permit is also exempt from quotas and local sponsorship requirements.
A company must apply for special treatment/exemption above the 10% maximum quota. Again, they must pay you at least $850 a month with a maximum stay of 6 years.
This is a relatively new visa that comes with a work permit for a maximum of 9 months. The National Service of Immigration will create a registration of businesses dedicated to activities of specialists inside the Republic of Panama. No one knows what a “Specialist” is until the immigration department issues rules and regulations defining what type of job titles or functions qualify as being “special”. Due to the 9 month maximum stay; this is intended as a temporary specialist position.
Immigration law allows companies to hire a foreigner to work for a single occasion carrying out cultural, technical, musical or artistic, sports, educational field, professional, or scientific work. This visa is for a maximum of 3 months.
This is a new immigration law allowing a Panamanian citizen, or a permanent or temporary resident, to hire a foreigner to work as a domestic worker. This includes maids, cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners, nannies and butlers. The employee can then apply for this Panama Foreign Domestic Workers Visa. It is good for one year and can be renewable four times.
These visas are also new and allow for up to a 9 month stay. This visa/work permit applies to foreigners who want to establish business subsidiaries; investigators and scientists conducting research for embassies or governments or foreign businesses; investors or businessmen entering Panama to analyze investment possibilities or to perform transactions in the Food Processors Zone for Export, Call Center, or special areas appointed for the development of the Audiovisual and Film Industry.
treaty is for temporary workers intending to live in Panama for a maximum of 5 years. This visa is only available to companies employing between 3 to 10 employees earning at least the minimum wage. Only one foreigner is allowed to be employed and they must be paid at least a $1,000 a month.
This permit is another new immigration law allowing a foreigner to live and work here for 6 years. It applies to an employee of the government, semi-autonomous companies, small business contracting with the government, executives or management for a Colon Free Zone company, non-diplomats working for a foreign government or international agency or news media correspondents.
This is a new immigration visa providing temporary residency for 6 years for all employees in the film or audiovisual industry, including producers, directors, actors, and technical support; Panama Canal workers; Panama-Pacifico Special Economic Area workers (like the former Howard U.S. air force base); Foreigners hired by businesses inside the Food Processors for Export Zone; Foreigners employed by Call Centers for commercial purposes; Foreigners hired as executives for an international business with a subsidiary in Panama.
Click here for how to find a job in Panama.
If you get a Pensionado visa, you are not permitted to work. By getting that visa, you are declaring to Panama that you are retired. For more information on the Pensionado visa, go here.
If you want to legally work, you should not a get a pensionado visa. I have written about the 4 most common types of Panama visas.
Don't worry, once you are 60, if you are a man, or 55 and a woman, you will get all the benefits of a pensionado visa, regardless of what type of visa you have.
Sources:
11 of these ways are listed on Panama-Off shore Services website.
3 more ways were list on faegrbd.com.
