QUALIFIED INVESTOR VISA
The Qualified Investor Visa. Immediate Permanent Residency.
Panama's most prestigious residency pathway delivers permanent residency from day one, open to citizens of any country in the world. And the current USD 300,000 threshold closes permanently on October 15, 2026.
What It Is
The Panama Qualified Investor Visa, established under Executive Decree 722 of October 2020 and amended by Decree 193, grants foreigners immediate permanent residency by making a qualifying investment in Panama. There is no provisional period. No two-year waiting stage. From the moment your application is approved, you are a permanent resident.
With a processing period of approximately 30 days, it is one of the fastest ways to gain permanent residency in Latin America, and applicants are not required to be physically present in Panama to initiate the process.
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The current USD 300,000 minimum real estate investment threshold for the Qualified Investor Visa expires permanently on October 15, 2026. After this deadline, the minimum increases to USD 500,000.
For clients considering the real estate route and working with a budget in the USD 300,000 range, this deadline is not advisory. It is a hard close. Applications must be filed and investments completed before that date.
Who Qualifies?
The Qualified Investor Visa has no nationality restriction. Citizens of any country in the world are eligible, provided they can meet one of the three investment routes and demonstrate a clean source of funds. This is the primary pathway for clients whose passport is not on the Friendly Nations Visa list.
Investment Routes
1. Real Estate
USD 300,000 until October 15, 2026. USD 500,000 after. Purchase Panamanian real estate, free of liens, in your name. The most popular route by a significant margin. Can include pre-construction purchases from approved developers.
2. Panamanian Stock Market
USD 500,000 Purchase securities through a licensed and qualified Panamanian brokerage firm. Investment must be held for a minimum of five years.
3. Fixed-Term Bank Deposit
USD 750,000 Place a time deposit in a qualified Panamanian bank for a minimum of five years. The highest-liquidity option for clients who prefer not to commit capital to real estate or securities.
What You Receive
Once approved, the Friendly Nations Visa gives you the following.
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No provisional period, no conversion required. Your status is confirmed from the moment of approval.
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Most approvals come within 30 to 90 days from a complete application filing, with select cases processed in as little as 30 days.
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Permanent residents need only visit Panama once every two years to maintain their residency status.
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Spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents are all covered under a single application.
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Receive your Panama cedula along with the right to open personal and corporate bank accounts, own property, and conduct business in Panama.
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Under Law 493 of 2025, qualified investors may apply for a special travel document that expands international mobility. Dependents are eligible as well.
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After five years of permanent residency, you become eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship.
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Once genuine tax residency is established, Panama imposes no tax on income earned outside the country.
The Panamanian government currently processes roughly 25 investor visas monthly and aims to reach 150 per month by 2026, capitalizing on growing North American demand, with Americans and Canadians now overtaking Colombians as the program's primary applicants.
Demand is rising. The threshold is rising. And the window at the current price closes on a fixed date. Advisory No.9° recommends beginning the process immediately for any client considering this pathway.
Why Advisory No.9?
The Qualified Investor Visa requires demonstrating a clean source of funds to a banking system that conducts its own AML compliance before any application is filed. Our banking partners know our clients. Our attorneys know the process. Our real estate advisors know which properties qualify and which do not. Everything moves faster when the network is already in place.
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.