Panama
Investment Visa
$300,000
Real Estate Investment
2-3 months
Time to ResidencyPanama Qualified Investor Visa: permanent residence from the outset
Panama sits at the meeting point of North and South America. It is a dollarised economy, a regional banking and logistics centre, and one of the most established destinations for internationally mobile families in the Americas.
The Qualified Investor Visa is distinctive in one respect above all others. Most residency by investment programmes begin with a temporary permit that must be renewed before permanent status is granted. Panama does not work that way. A successful applicant receives permanent residence directly, without a provisional stage.
You will need to travel to Panama to register your biometric data and collect your residence card. Most of the preparatory work can be completed remotely through a power of attorney.
A route to permanent residence under Panamanian law
Permanent residence for qualified investors is granted under Executive Decree No. 722 of October 2020, as amended by Executive Decree No. 193.
The decree allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence by making and maintaining a qualifying investment in Panama. Three routes are recognised: the purchase of real estate, an investment in securities through a licensed Panamanian brokerage, or a fixed-term deposit with a Panamanian bank. Each investment must be made with funds transferred from abroad and held for a minimum of five years.
Panama sits at the meeting point of North and South America. It is a dollarised economy, a regional banking and logistics centre, and one of the most established destinations for internationally mobile families in the Americas.
The Qualified Investor Visa is distinctive in one respect above all others. Most residency by investment programmes begin with a temporary permit that must be renewed before permanent status is granted. Panama does not work that way. A successful applicant receives permanent residence directly, without a provisional stage.
You will need to travel to Panama to register your biometric data and collect your residence card. Most of the preparatory work can be completed remotely through a power of attorney.
Permanent residence for qualified investors is granted under Executive Decree No. 722 of October 2020, as amended by Executive Decree No. 193.
The decree allows foreign nationals to obtain permanent residence by making and maintaining a qualifying investment in Panama. Three routes are recognised: the purchase of real estate, an investment in securities through a licensed Panamanian brokerage, or a fixed-term deposit with a Panamanian bank. Each investment must be made with funds transferred from abroad and held for a minimum of five years.
Quick Facts
Population
>4,500,000
Capital
Panama City
Currency
Balboa, US Dollar
Total Area
75,417km2
Visa Free Countries
140+
Language
Spanish
Panama Residency Benefits
Permanent residence in Panama gives a family a settled legal base in the Americas without requiring them to relocate.
Permanent status from the start
There is no temporary or provisional phase. Once the application is approved, you and your family hold permanent residence. There is no renewal cycle to manage while the investment is held.
A base that does not require relocation
Permanent residence is maintained by visiting Panama at least once every two years. Families who wish to relocate can do so. Families who want a secure legal base while living elsewhere can hold the status without moving.
A dollarised economy
Panama uses the United States dollar as legal tender. For families whose assets and income are already dollar-denominated, this removes a layer of currency risk from both the investment and the cost of living.
A territorial tax system
Panama taxes income sourced within Panama. Foreign-sourced income falls outside the Panamanian tax net. What this means for you depends entirely on your own circumstances and the rules of your home jurisdiction.
A regional business platform
The Panama Canal, Tocumen International Airport, and the country’s banking sector make Panama a practical operating base for business across the Americas. Residents hold the same property and banking rights as citizens in most respects.
A pathway to naturalisation over time
After five years of permanent residence, a holder may become eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship. This is a genuine pathway, not an automatic one.
Why Panama
Panama offers something that is increasingly rare. It is a stable, dollarised jurisdiction in the Americas that grants permanent status directly, asks very little of residents who do not wish to relocate, and does so through a legal framework that has been in place since 2020.
For families in the United States and Latin America, Panama is close, well connected, and familiar. For families further afield, it provides a settled foothold in the Western Hemisphere without the residence obligations that most comparable jurisdictions impose.
Investment & Other Fees*
Panama offers three qualifying investment routes under the Qualified Investor Visa. The details and indicative costs are set out below.
*Please note that the below prices are not inclusive of miscellaneous government fees and a legal management fee calculated on a case-by-case basis. Prices are subject to change based on government regulations. Please contact one of our advisors for a personalized quote.
Purchase Real Estate
€300,000+
Purchase property in Panama with a registered value from US$300,000. The property must be held in the applicant’s name, free of any mortgage or encumbrance, and funded with capital transferred from outside Panama.
The current minimum of US$300,000 was set by Executive Decree No. 193 and applies until 15 October 2026. From that date the minimum returns to US$500,000, unless the decree is extended.
The property must be held for five years. After that period you are free to sell.
Real Estate Purchase Cost
€300,000
Invest in Panamanian securities
€500,000+
Invest a minimum of US$500,000 in securities through a brokerage licensed by the Superintendency of the Securities Market. Eligible instruments include shares in Panamanian companies and approved investment funds.
This route suits investors who prefer liquidity and portfolio flexibility to property ownership. The position must be held for five years and is subject to market movement over that period.
Minimum Investment
€500,000
Fixed-term bank deposit
€750,000+
Place a minimum of US$750,000 in a fixed-term deposit with a bank authorised by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama. The deposit must be held for five years and cannot be withdrawn before maturity.
This is the most conservative of the three routes and the least demanding to administer once established. It also carries the highest capital requirement.
Minimum Deposit
€750,000
Eligibility Criteria
In order to qualify to apply for a Panama Investment Visa, applicants must have:
- A clean criminal record, evidenced by a police certificate that is apostilled or legalised
- A valid passport with a minimum validity of six months
- Documented proof of the lawful source of the invested funds
- Evidence that the investment capital was transferred to Panama from abroad
- A medical certificate issued in Panama
- Certified Spanish translations of all foreign-language documents
Panama allows applicants to include close family members as dependants on the same application. All family members receive permanent residence together.
Eligible Dependents that you can include in an application are:
- Spouse
- Biological or adopted children up to 18 years old
- Adult children (18–25 years old, inclusive) must be unmarried and fully supported by the main applicant.
- Required documents include proof of kinship, notarized letters, and certificates of singleness and student status, with government fees of $2,000 per dependent ($1,000 to the Immigration Service and $1,000 to the Treasury).
Restrictions: All Nationalities are eligible to apply for an Investment Visa in Panama
The Process
Free Consultation
(30-60 minutes)
Book a free consultation with one of our client advisors to discuss your fit to invest in a Panama residency.
Vancis Capital’s Due
Diligence (1 day)
Prior to signing any paperwork, our due diligence team will evaluate your ability to qualify for the program. All we require is your passport and one working day. If there are no issues, we will send you a client engagement letter.
Choose your Investment Route
(1-4 weeks)
Our team presents viable options within your chosen route. For real estate, this means compliant properties with clean title. For securities and deposits, it means introductions to licensed and regulated institutions.
Preparing your Documents (2-4 weeks)
Our experienced processing team works with you to collect, apostille, and translate every document the application requires. We complete and proof all forms before your signature. This stage runs in parallel with the investment.
Completing the investment
(together with document preparation)
Working with our partners in Panama, we prepare a power of attorney that allows them to open a bank account and complete registration on your behalf. Funds are transferred from your foreign account and the investment is certified by the relevant Panamanian authority.
Submitting your Documents
Your Panamanian attorney files the application with the National Migration Service, together with the certified proof of investment, your personal documentation, and the government fees. Authorities verify the investment, the source of funds, and your background.
Biometrics and collection of your residence card
You and your dependants must travel to Panama to register biometric data and collect your permanent residence cards. Your original passport is required for collection.
Holding period and ongoing compliance (five years)
The qualifying investment must be maintained for five years and you must visit Panama at least once every two years. Our team tracks both obligations with you and supports the release of the investment at the end of the holding period.
Ready to take charge
of your future?
Get in touch to discuss how we can help you with your citizenship or residency by investment goals. One of our private client advisors will contact you to discuss your case. Our team has helped over a thousand families and individuals achieve their freedom.