Panama Qualified Investor Visa

Main requirements

• •Option A — Real estate: minimum $300,000 USD investment in titled real estate registered in the Public Registry of Panama. Multiple properties may be combined to reach the threshold; investment can be held personally or through a corporate structure where you are the ultimate beneficial owner
• •Option B — Stock market: minimum $500,000 USD in securities authorized for purchase through a licensed broker-dealer (Casa de Valores) regulated in Panama
• •Option C — Fixed-term bank deposit: minimum $750,000 USD in a fixed-term deposit at any bank holding a General License regulated by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama
• •Investment must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years from the date of residency approval
• •Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity remaining, plus complete authenticated copies
• •Apostilled criminal background check from country of origin — maximum 6 months old
• •Declaration of lawful origin of funds (source of funds documentation)
• •Apostilled civil documents: birth certificate; marriage certificate if applicable
• •Medical exam in Panama (can be deferred to first physical visit)
• •Power of attorney (apostilled) to your Panamanian attorney for remote filing — the entire process up to the moment of arrival can be done without entering Panama
• •All foreign documents must be apostilled and translated by an Authorized Public Translator in Panama

What it includes

• ✓Permanent residency approved in 30 to 45 days via priority processing window — the fastest permanent residency in Panama
• ✓Entire pre-approval process can be handled remotely via power of attorney — no need to travel to Panama during the application phase
• ✓Permanent residency from the first application — no renewals, no expiration
• ✓No restrictions on working in Panama — full labor rights with no employment quota limitations
• ✓Freedom to open companies, bank accounts, and operate commercially in Panama without restrictions
• ✓Spouse and children automatically qualify as dependents
• ✓Panama taxes only Panama-source income — foreign-source income from your investment or business activities outside Panama is not taxed in Panama
• ✓Option to apply for the Special Panamanian Passport (Documento Especial de Viaje) — travel to 140+ countries without a visa, including the entire Schengen Area and the United Kingdom
• ✓Compatible with the naturalization process: Panamanian citizenship may be applied for after 5 years of permanent residency

How to apply — step by step

1. 1

   Confirm you meet the requirements

   Review the requirements above against your current documents. If you are unsure about your eligibility, consult a licensed immigration attorney before proceeding.

2. 2

   Gather your documents

   You will need: valid passport with apostilled copies, apostilled criminal background check, apostilled birth certificate, proof of income or investment depending on the visa, and passport photos. Apostilles issued outside Panama must be authenticated.

3. 3

   Engage a licensed immigration attorney

   Panama law requires the formal petition to be filed by a licensed attorney. Your attorney prepares the file, verifies it is complete, and submits the petition to the Servicio Nacional de Migración.

4. 4

   File with Immigration (Migración)

   Your attorney submits the file. Depending on the visa, you may need to appear in person to sign declarations. Immigration issues a receipt of filing.

5. 5

   Receive your provisional ID (carnet)

   While your file is reviewed — typically 3 to 9 months — you receive a provisional ID card that confirms your immigration status and allows you to live in and travel through Panama normally.

6. 6

   Receive your permanent resident card

   Once approved, you receive your permanent resident ID. Depending on the visa type, you may also be eligible to apply for a Panama resident identity card (cédula de identidad).

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the three investment options for Panama's Qualified Investor Visa?

There are three qualifying routes: (1) Real estate — a minimum $300,000 USD investment in titled real estate in Panama's Public Registry. Multiple properties can be combined, and the investment can be held personally or through a corporate structure. (2) Stock market — a minimum $500,000 USD in securities purchased through a licensed Panama broker-dealer. (3) Fixed-term bank deposit — a minimum $750,000 USD in a term deposit at any bank with a General License regulated by the Superintendency of Banks of Panama. The investment must be maintained for a minimum of 5 years.

How fast is the Panama Qualified Investor Visa processed?

The Qualified Investor Visa is processed through a priority investment window at the Servicio Nacional de Migración, with residency typically approved in 30 to 45 days. This makes it by far the fastest permanent residency pathway available in Panama. The process is also unique in that the entire application — from opening the investment to submitting the file — can be completed remotely via an apostilled power of attorney granted to a Panamanian attorney, with no need to be physically present in Panama until you are ready to collect your permanent resident card.

Can I process the Panama Golden Visa application without traveling to Panama?

Yes — this is one of the most distinctive features of the Qualified Investor Visa. The entire application process, from setting up the investment to filing the residency petition, can be handled remotely through an apostilled power of attorney granted to your Panamanian immigration attorney. You only need to travel to Panama once: to have your photograph taken for the permanent resident card and to pick up your cédula (Panama national identity card for residents). The process has no requirement for a prior visit to Panama.

What is the Special Panamanian Passport and am I eligible?

The Special Panamanian Passport (Documento Especial de Viaje) is a travel document issued by the Panamanian government to qualifying residents. It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to more than 140 countries, including all 27 Schengen Area countries and the United Kingdom. It does not confer Panamanian nationality or political rights — your original citizenship remains unchanged. Holders of the Qualified Investor Visa are among those eligible to apply for this passport, along with their dependents. It is an optional benefit, not automatic.

Can family members be included in a Qualified Investor Visa application?

Yes. A spouse and minor children can be included as dependents in the same application. Dependents do not need to make a separate investment — they benefit from the qualifying investment of the main applicant. Parents of the main applicant and children up to age 25 (if single, full-time students, and economically dependent) may also qualify as dependents. Each dependent incurs an additional professional fee.