Panama is open to having foreigners move there, as long as they’re willing to work. Panama City has become more and more cosmopolitan, with numerous nationalities living side by side.
Why should they be required to work? It is not that way in America. Open the doors to refugees and illegals. Apparently Mexico has not gotten the word things are great down south.
Only if they fill out miles of paper work and pay tens of thousands in lawyers fees. Retirees who promise not to work or investors who agree to have everything done by locals can get in a lot easier. The way they make it stick is they constantly check papers (usually by stopping traffic on the highways) and demand papers. Not to worry about deportation though, anyone without all necessary docs just gets arrested and imprisoned 'til the fines are paid.
imho this isn't out of line at all, in fact it's how it is in most countries w/ a rule of law.