Hi all, I`ve used the search function to find my answer but I wasn`t successful so I hope someone would be kind enough to offer some advice.

I was wondering if anyone has some real up to date information or even better, personal experience regarding my questions. I`ve tried to research Panama through google and other teacher forums but the information I receive is often contradictory.

Briefly, I`m currently living and working as an English teacher in Brazil and I`m thinking of moving on at the end of the year. Work visas for teachers are virtually impossible to get so I`ve always worked under the table which has been fine so far. In fact, I`ve never heard one istance of Policia Federal causing problems for anyone.

So, I`ve heard that immigration officials and penalties are much tougher in Panama. Is this true? If so, what kind of penalties are we talking about? Also, in Brazil, employers often hire you without a second thought if you don`t have a work visa. Can the same be said about Panama?

Can I rent an apartment, get an internet package and buy electrical things without any kind of social security number? In Brazil you can a temporary one (CPF) which means you can do all of these things on a tourist visa.

Many thanks