Panama Qualified Investor Visa: Requirements & Costs

By Legal Solutions • 2 minute read

The Panama Qualified Investor visa offers a route to permanent residence through an eligible investment. Under the rules published in September 2026, the minimum starts at US$300,000 for qualifying first-sale real estate; other routes require more capital. Government application fees and professional costs are additional.

This guide reflects Executive Decree 17 of September 8, 2026, published on September 16. If you invested or signed a purchase agreement under earlier rules, have the transaction dates reviewed before relying on the thresholds below.

How much must you invest?

The qualifying amount depends on the investment, not simply on how much money you spend in Panama.

Investment route	Minimum qualifying amount	What to verify
First-sale real estate	US$300,000	Eligibility as a first sale and the transaction documents
Resale real estate	US$500,000	Registered ownership, qualifying value and title
Eligible securities	US$500,000	Eligible investment and regulated intermediary
Fixed-term deposit: Banco Nacional de Panamá or Caja de Ahorros	US$500,000	Direct eligible deposit and required maintenance term
Fixed-term deposit: eligible private bank	US$750,000	General banking licence and compliant deposit

MICI’s September 2026 announcement explains the new property and state-bank options. The governing decree sets the eligibility, documentation and maintenance conditions. Confirm that the specific property, security or deposit qualifies before transferring funds.

The investment must be supported by evidence of foreign-source funds, maintained for at least five years and documented through the required annual reporting. Buying an asset does not, by itself, grant residence.

What does the application cost?

The decree sets two government payments for the principal applicant: US$5,000 to the National Treasury and US$5,000 to the National Immigration Service, totaling US$10,000. Each dependent incurs US$1,000 payable to each institution, or US$2,000 in total.

Budget separately for legal fees, translations, document authentication, travel and the costs of the investment itself. A property transaction may also involve registration, due diligence and other closing expenses. Request an itemized quote that identifies government payments, professional fees and third-party costs; there is no reliable single all-inclusive price without knowing the transaction and family composition.

Documents and application steps

Start with a case-specific checklist from your Panamanian immigration lawyer. It should cover identity and immigration documents, criminal-record evidence, the required medical certificate, power of attorney, proof of investment and the banking trail supporting the funds. Dependents need the applicable relationship and eligibility documents. Foreign documents may require apostille or legalization and Spanish translation.

First, verify the investment and assemble the evidence for MICI certification. The immigration application then follows the prescribed procedure with the National Immigration Service. The decree provides administrative processing periods for complete files, but missing documents, certification and compliance checks affect the overall schedule. A processing target is not a guaranteed approval or move-in date.

An authorized lawyer can carry out permitted initial steps, but the process is not entirely remote: the applicant must attend the required registration and biometric steps in Panama before the corresponding cards are issued.

Who is this route suitable for?

It may suit applicants who already intend to make an eligible investment and can keep that capital committed for five years. Consider liquidity, investment risk and the full application cost alongside the residency benefit. A residence permit does not eliminate property, market or banking risk.

Compare other Panama residence permits before choosing. LSP’s investment-based residency services cover several pathways; confirm which category applies to your case. A qualifying retiree may have a pension-based option, while eligible Friendly Nations applicants may use a different investment or employment pathway. These programs have separate rules; a Friendly Nations deposit is not a Qualified Investor deposit.

Ask Legal Solutions Panamá to review your proposed investment, family documents and residency alternatives before you commit to a purchase or fixed-term deposit.

Preguntas Frecuentes

Is real estate the only qualifying investment?

No. Eligible securities and specified fixed-term bank deposits are also available. Their thresholds and evidence requirements differ from the property route, so confirm the exact product and institution.

Does any US$300,000 property qualify?

No. Under the September 2026 rules, US$300,000 applies to qualifying first-sale real estate; resale property requires US$500,000. A listing price or developer’s promise is not proof of immigration eligibility. Existing transactions may require a transitional-rules assessment.

Can I withdraw or sell the investment immediately after approval?

No. The program requires the qualifying investment to be maintained for at least five years. Obtain legal advice before any disposal or replacement so that you meet the applicable notice, reinvestment and reporting conditions.

Does the visa give me a Panamanian passport?

No. It grants residence, subject to approval and compliance. Citizenship is a separate naturalization process with its own eligibility requirements and assessment.