USD 300,000

Minimum requirement

30+

Estimated approval time

Panama’s Qualified Investor Visa offers direct permanent residence to applicants who make a qualifying investment and meet the additional program requirements. 

The process can be highly efficient, with approval possible in approximately 30 days once a complete application has been submitted. Applicants must later visit Panama for their biometric appointment and to obtain their residence permit. 

The program may appeal to investors, entrepreneurs, retirees, and families seeking a stable base in the Americas, access to a U.S.-dollar-based economy, and long-term residence planning flexibility.

Panama Qualified Visa Benefits

Panama offers a strong combination of business, investment, and lifestyle advantages. Located between North and South America, Panama is a major trade and logistics hub. The Panama Canal, modern infrastructure, strong banking sector, and well-developed services economy contribute to its appeal for international investors and entrepreneurs. Panama City offers modern amenities, international connectivity, business opportunities, and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Beyond the capital, Panama also offers beaches, mountains, rainforests, and a tropical climate, making it attractive for families, retirees, and globally mobile individuals seeking quality of life as well as residence planning.

Panama operates a territorial tax system. This generally means that income generated within Panama is subject to income tax in Panama, while foreign-sourced income may remain outside the scope of Panamanian income tax. This can be attractive for international investors and business owners with cross-border interests. However, tax residence and tax liability always depend on individual circumstances. Applicants should obtain professional tax advice before making relocation, investment, or structuring decisions.

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa allows eligible family members to be included in the application. This may include the main applicant’s spouse, children under 25, dependent parents, and grandparents, subject to meeting the applicable requirements and providing the required documentation. This makes the Panama residence by investment route relevant for families seeking long-term residence flexibility in the Americas.

Applicants may be eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship through naturalization after five years of legal residence, subject to meeting the relevant requirements in force at the time of application. Citizenship is not automatic and is never guaranteed. Applicants should expect to meet additional requirements and should seek legal advice before relying on any future citizenship pathway.

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa has a low physical presence requirement. To maintain permanent residence status, applicants must visit Panama once every two years. This allows investors and families to maintain a primary base elsewhere while preserving their Panama residency.

One of the key benefits of the Panama Qualified Investor Visa is that it offers direct permanent residence. Successful applicants receive the right to live and settle in Panama, while maintaining flexibility around whether or not they relocate immediately.

Who Can Get Panama Residence

The main applicant must generally: 

  • Be over 18 years old 
  • Make a qualifying investment 
  • Hold a clean criminal record 
  • Provide the required documentation 
  • Meet the program’s due diligence requirements 
  • Visit Panama for biometric submission and residence permit issuance 
  • Maintain the qualifying investment for the required period 

Adult applicants are generally required to provide an apostilled or authenticated federal background check from their home country confirming that they are free of serious criminal offenses. 

A spouse may be included in the Panama Qualified Investor Visa application, subject to meeting the relevant documentation and eligibility requirements. 

Children under 25 may be included as dependents. 

Children over 18 and under 25 may need to demonstrate that they are single, financially dependent on the main applicant, and enrolled in full-time studies at an officially recognized educational institution. 

Children with disabilities may also be included as dependents without an age limit, subject to meeting the applicable requirements. 

Dependent parents and grandparents of the main applicant or spouse may be included in the application. 

Applicants must provide the relevant documents to demonstrate family relationship and dependency, where required. 

Program Requirements

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa offers direct permanent residence to applicants who make a qualifying investment from one of the options below and meet the additional program requirements.

Option 1: Real Estate Purchase 

Applicants may qualify through an equity investment of at least USD 300,000 in a real estate property in Panama.

The property must generally be held for at least five years in the applicant’s name or through a corporation, subject to the applicable requirements.

A real estate investment may be partially financed by a lender, provided the required equity investment threshold is met. The applicant may be able to apply once the title deed is transferred, or on the basis of a promissory purchase agreement, provided that the required equity is held in a trust by a licensed Panama banking institution.

Option 2: Stock Exchange Investment 

Applicants may qualify through an investment of USD 500,000 or more in the Panama Stock Exchange.

The investment must meet the applicable program requirements and be maintained for the required period.

Option 3: Bank Deposit 

Applicants may qualify through a USD 750,000 fixed-term deposit in a local bank.

The deposit must generally be held for a five-year term, subject to the applicable requirements.

Other Requirements and Benefits 

Adult applicants must generally submit an apostilled or authenticated federal background check from their home country confirming that they are free of serious criminal offenses. 

Applicants must visit Panama once every two years to maintain residence status. 

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa provides immediate permanent residence and the right to live and settle in Panama. It may also support long-term citizenship planning, subject to future eligibility and government approval. 

Speak To An Expert

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Panama Qualified Investor Visa compares with other residence by investment options, including programs in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether Panama residence by investment aligns with your investment preferences, family profile, tax considerations, timeline, and long-term objectives.

Latitude is a global leader in Residence and Citizenship by Investment. Our IMC-certified professionals are specialists in cross-jurisdictional residence and citizenship planning. We help clients understand how the Panama Qualified Investor Visa compares with other residence by investment options, including programs in Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, and Oceania. Every applicant’s circumstances are different. A private consultation can help determine whether Panama residence by investment aligns with your investment preferences, family profile, tax considerations, timeline, and long-term objectives.

Speak To An Expert

Application Process

  • Step 1

    Client Onboarding & Pre-Clearance

    The process begins with Latitude onboarding and pre-clearance checks.

    At this stage, we assess the client’s objectives, family profile, investment preferences, source of funds position, and eligibility for the Panama Qualified Investor Visa.

  • Step 2

    Client Agreement

    Following successful initial screening, the client signs the Client Agreement and pays the retainer fee.

    Latitude then begins coordinating the next steps, including documentation, investment route review, and legal preparation.

  • Step 3

    Application

    The required documents are gathered and the Panama Qualified Investor Visa application is prepared.

    The application may be arranged remotely, depending on the client’s circumstances and selected investment route.

    Latitude assists with the full legal process in Panama, including preparation and submission of the application package and obtaining residence cards. Where relevant, we can also guide and represent applicants in their real estate investment transactions.

  • Step 4

    Application Approval

    The application may be approved in approximately 30 days once submitted, subject to government processing and the application having no areas of concern.

    Following approval, the applicant must visit Panama to provide biometric data and complete the residence permit process.

  • Step 5

    Biometric Appointment

    The applicant visits Panama for the biometric appointment.

    This is required before the residence permit can be issued.

  • Step 6

    Residence Permit Issued

    Once the process is complete, the applicant receives the Panama residence permit.

    The Panama Qualified Investor Visa provides permanent residence, subject to maintaining the applicable requirements, including the qualifying investment and the requirement to visit Panama once every two years.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa is a residence by investment route that allows eligible foreign investors to obtain permanent residence in Panama through a qualifying investment. 

It was established under Executive Decree No. 722 of 15 October 2020 and is often referred to as the Panama Golden Visa. 

Yes. The Panama Qualified Investor Visa is often informally referred to as the Panama Golden Visa because it allows qualifying investors to obtain residence through investment. 

The official name is the Panama Qualified Investor Visa. 

Panama residency by investment allows eligible foreign investors to obtain residence in Panama by making an approved investment, such as a qualifying real estate investment, stock exchange investment, or fixed-term bank deposit. 

The Qualified Investor Visa is one of Panama’s main residence by investment routes. 

The main benefits include immediate permanent residence, the right to live and settle in Panama, minimal physical presence requirements, family inclusion, a potential route to citizenship after five years of legal residence, and access to Panama’s business and lifestyle environment. 

The minimum investment starts from USD 300,000 through a qualifying real estate equity investment in Panama.

Other routes include a USD 500,000+ investment in the Panama Stock Exchange or a USD 750,000 fixed-term deposit in a local bank.

The main qualifying options are: 

  • Real estate equity investment of at least USD 300,000 
  • Stock Exchange investment of USD 500,000 or more 
  • Fixed-term bank deposit of USD 750,000 in a local bank 

Each route has its own requirements and holding period considerations. 

A real estate investment may be partially financed by a lender, provided the required equity investment threshold is met. 

The applicant may be able to apply once the title deed is transferred, or on the basis of a promissory purchase agreement, provided that the required equity is held in a trust by a licensed Panama banking institution. 

The real estate investment must generally be held for at least five years. 

Other investment routes may also have specific holding period requirements. Applicants should obtain advice before making any investment decision. 

The application may be approved in approximately 30 days once submitted, subject to government processing, document readiness, due diligence, and the application having no areas of concern. 

Applicants must also visit Panama for biometric submission and residence permit issuance. 

Much of the preparation and application process may be arranged remotely. 

However, applicants must visit Panama for the biometric appointment and to complete the residence permit process. 

No. Panama has a low physical presence requirement for this route. 

Applicants must visit Panama once every two years to maintain permanent residence status. 

 Yes. The Panama Qualified Investor Visa offers direct permanent residence to qualifying applicants who make an approved investment and meet the additional requirements. 

Yes. The application may include the main applicant’s spouse, children under 25, dependent parents, and grandparents, subject to meeting the applicable requirements. 

Yes, children over 18 and under 25 may be included if they are single, financially dependent on the main applicant, and enrolled in full-time studies at an officially recognized educational institution. 

Children with disabilities may be included without an age limit, subject to meeting the relevant requirements. 

Yes. Dependent parents and grandparents may be included in the application, subject to providing the required documentation and meeting the relevant dependency and family relationship requirements. 

Yes. Adult applicants generally need to provide an apostilled or authenticated federal background check from their home country showing that they are free of serious criminal offenses. 

Panama operates a territorial tax system. This generally means that income generated within Panama is subject to income tax in Panama, while foreign-sourced income may remain untaxed in Panama. 

Applicants should obtain professional tax advice before making any relocation, investment, or tax planning decision. 

Applicants may be eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship through naturalization after five years of legal residence. 

Citizenship is not automatic or guaranteed. Applicants must meet the relevant requirements in force at the time of application and receive government approval. 

Dual citizenship rules can depend on both Panama’s laws and the laws of the applicant’s current country or countries of citizenship. 

Applicants interested in naturalization should obtain legal advice before relying on any future citizenship pathway. 

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa gives the right to live and settle in Panama. 

Applicants who intend to work as employees, operate a business, or take up active employment in Panama should seek legal advice on any work permit, corporate, or licensing requirements that may apply. 

Panama may be attractive for business owners because of its strategic location, U.S.-dollar-based economy, Panama Canal, strong banking sector, logistics infrastructure, and territorial tax system. 

The suitability of Panama depends on the applicant’s business interests, tax position, lifestyle goals, and long-term residence planning needs. 

Panama may appeal to families seeking permanent residence, lifestyle flexibility, access to the Americas, a low physical presence requirement, and the ability to include eligible family members in one application. 

Families should consider schooling, healthcare, lifestyle, tax, and long-term citizenship planning before choosing Panama residency. 

No. Panama is not part of the Schengen Area. 

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa provides residence in Panama, not Schengen Area residence. Applicants seeking Schengen Area access may wish to compare Panama with European residence options. 

The Panama Qualified Investor Visa may be suitable if you are seeking immediate permanent residence, a strategic base in the Americas, a low physical presence requirement, business and lifestyle opportunities, and a residence by investment route starting from USD 300,000. 

The right choice depends on your nationality, family profile, investment preferences, tax position, timeline, and long-term objectives. A private consultation can help determine whether Panama, or another residence route, may be the best fit. 

Speak to one of our global experts and begin your journey today

Our team operates across major global markets, helping clients secure residence or citizenship solutions in carefully selected jurisdictions. The Panama Qualified Investor Visa may offer a streamlined route to permanent residence for investors and families seeking a strategic base in the Americas. Speak with a member of our team to explore whether Panama residency is right for you and your family.

  • Path to citizenship after five years of legal residence
  • USD 300,000 minimum requirement
  • 30+ day processing time
  • Business, tax, and lifestyle opportunities

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