ACTIVE INVESTOR VISA
Residency Through Business. Built for Entrepreneurs.
For clients who want to establish a real business presence in Panama, the Active Investor Visa, also known as the Micro-Business Investor Visa, provides a residency pathway tied directly to business activity and local job creation.
What It Is
The Active Investor Visa, formally known as the Micro-Business Investor Visa, is designed for foreign nationals who wish to establish and actively operate a business in Panama. Rather than a passive financial investment, this pathway requires building a company that creates real employment for Panamanian citizens. It is the right pathway for entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals who intend to establish genuine commercial operations in Panama rather than simply placing capital on deposit or purchasing a property.
Who It Is For?
The Active Investor Visa is best suited for clients who are relocating to Panama with the intention of building or operating a business locally. It is also well suited for clients who want to combine their residency with an active Panamanian corporate presence, using Panama as an operational base for regional or international business activity.
The Active Investor Visa requires genuine business activity and actual employment creation. It is not a vehicle for shell companies or nominal operations. Advisory No.9 works with corporate attorneys who specialize in structuring compliant, operationally sound Panama companies that meet every requirement.
Key Requirements
To qualify, the applicant must be a shareholder or officer of a Panamanian company that holds a valid Commercial Operating Permit, creates a minimum of five full-time jobs for Panamanian citizens, and demonstrates genuine ongoing commercial activity. The company must be registered and in good standing with Panamanian authorities. Dependents may be included in the application with an additional investment of USD 2,000 per dependent.
What You Receive:
-
Begins as provisional status and converts to permanent residency, with all standard benefits included: cedula, banking access, work authorization, family inclusion, and a path to citizenship after five years.
-
Once genuine tax residency is established, Panama's territorial tax system means income earned outside the country is not subject to Panamanian taxation.
-
Beyond the residency itself, you gain meaningful access to one of Central America's most dynamic markets, including Panama's strategic geographic position, its port infrastructure, its established financial sector, and an expanding domestic consumer base.
Why Advisory No.9?
Corporate setup, banking, legal structuring, and residency are all managed through one network. Your company is incorporated, your bank account is opened, your work permits are coordinated, and your residency application moves simultaneously. Nothing stalls because one piece is waiting on another.
Advisory No.9 acts as a coordination service and is not authorised to practise law or provide legal, tax, or financial advice. The contents of this website are for informational purposes only and do not constitute advice of any kind.