PANAMA PRESIDENT, Juan Carlos Varela, said Saturday, March 18, that there will be no more using of tourism permits  to establish  residency in the country.

Varela pointed out that whoever arrives in Panama as tourist can do so  but if he or she wants to remain with relatives already in the country or has other plans they can do so  as long as they follow the parameters established by Panamanian law.

The president explained that "we cannot afford for the six-month tourist permit to be used to cross the border and then return, and stay here as if you  were a permanent resident".

On Friday, Javier Carrillo the director of the National  Migration Service said  that foreigners living in Panama as tourists must, at the end of five months  leave the country for at least  a month if they want to re-enter Panamanian territory.

Carrillo said that the new measure "is for those who have more than five months in the country  as tourists and leave for  nothing more than to re-enter. Now they have to be out of the country for  at lest 30 days.