Panama Qualified Investor visa: published requirements
Panama's Qualified Investor program grants permanent residence through specified investments. Government-published routes set amounts, family coverage and residence conditions.
Legal basis and authority
Panama's Ministry of Commerce and Industries presents the Qualified Investor program as a route to permanent residence for foreign investors. Executive Decree 722 was the program's original legal basis, and the National Directorate of Investments handles the program's applications.[1]
Executive Decree 17 replaced Decree 722 and its amendments.
Executive Decree 17 sets economic, migration, and investment measures for the permanent resident subcategory of Qualified Investor.
Investment routes and amounts
The program has three investment routes, with additional distinctions for real estate and state bank deposits. Investment minimums appear in balboas, shown as B/., or in U.S. dollars.[1][3]
| Route | Government-published minimum and conditions |
|---|---|
| Real estate, resale property | B/.500,000.[3] |
| Real estate, new property at first sale | B/.300,000. |
| Securities market | USD 500,000 in registered securities held in custody by authorized entities. Executive Decree 17 expanded the securities investment alternatives.[1][3] |
| Fixed-term deposit | USD 750,000 at a bank licensed in Panama. B/.500,000 for deposits at Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros.[1][3] |
Application materials and family members
All applicants submit general materials, regardless of investment route. These include an application and power of attorney, complete passport copies for the applicant and dependents, and family certificates that apply to the case.[1]
The Ministry says the investment may extend the program's coverage to qualifying spouses, children, and parents.
Residence conditions
The investor maintains the investment for five years and submits documents annually showing that it remains in force. The investor must visit Panama at least once every two years to maintain permanent residence.[1]
Permanent residence is granted directly, without a prior temporary residence stage.[1]
Questions and answers
What amount applies to resale property?
The investment amount for second-sale property remains B/.500,000.[3]
Which family members are included?
Qualifying spouses, children, and parents may be included.[1]
What residence conditions apply?
The investment is kept for five years, with annual documents showing it remains in force. The investor must also visit Panama at least once every two years to keep permanent residence.[1]
Does the permit itself establish tax residence?
No. The permit establishes immigration residence, not tax residence.[1]
Related resources
Related glossary terms
- Residence by investment: Residence by investment links an investment to residence status or a permit. Each country sets its own investment rules, as well as income and family rules.
- Golden visa: Golden visa is a common label for residence permits connected to investment, though official programs use different names and conditions for each route.
Related articles and guides
- Hungary Guest Investor Program: published requirements: Hungary's guest investor residence permit: its investment routes and application process, permit conditions, and the published requirements for each route.
- Latvia investor residence permit: published requirements: Latvia grants temporary residence to foreigners investing in company equity. It covers fees, required documents, family eligibility and residence conditions.
- Dominica Citizenship by Investment: published requirements: Dominica's citizenship by investment programme: its legal authority, investment routes and published amounts, family categories and application process.
Related pages
- Residency by investment: All program pages.
Sources and data notes
- Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias (MICI), Programa de Inversionista Calificado. https://mici.gob.pa/inversionista-calificado/. Retrieved .
- Gaceta Oficial Digital, Ministerio de la Presidencia, Decreto Ejecutivo N° 17 martes 08 de septiembre 2026. https://www.gacetaoficial.gob.pa/documento/105241. Retrieved .
- Ministerio de Comercio e Industrias (MICI), Atracción de inversión e impulso al empleo: Panamá amplía el alcance del programa Inversionista Calificado. https://mici.gob.pa/2026/09/21/atraccion-de-inversion-e-impulso-al-empleo-panama-amplia-el-alcance-del-programa-inversionista-calificado/. Retrieved .
Dates in this block record when each source was read for this page.