Investment — Latin America

🇵🇦Panama

Qualified Investor Visa

Last verified · 20 September 2026

Fast-track Panamanian PR (~30 days) with no requirement to visit before approval.

Duration

Permanent on grant

Threshold

$300k property, $500k securities, or $750k bank deposit

Application fee

$5,000 + government fees

Path to PR

Permanent residency on issue; citizenship at 5 years.

Tax treatment

Territorial — foreign income exempt.

Family

Spouse, children and dependants included for $2k each.

Required documents

·Executive Decree 193 of 15 October 2024 set the $300,000 property threshold as the permanent standard, with no expiry date. A widely-marketed "15 October 2026 deadline" after which the threshold supposedly rises does not appear in any decree.
·The securities and bank deposit routes both carry five-year holding periods.
·Friendly Nations Visa remains for 50+ qualifying nationalities.
·Permanent ID card (cédula) available after 5 years.

Apostille route

Apostille only — both United States and Panama are parties to the 1961 Hague Apostille Convention.

Documents that must be apostilled

Bank statements, employment contracts, photos, passport copies and the application form itself do not need an apostille.

Obtain originals or certified copies of each civil/criminal record (birth certificate, marriage certificate, police clearance, diploma, etc.).
Have each document apostilled by the competent authority in United States (U.S. Department of State — Office of Authentications).
Translate the apostilled document into the official language of Panama — the apostille itself is also translated.
Submit the apostilled + translated bundle directly to the Panama immigration authority or consulate; no further consular stamp is required.

Translation: Most documents must be translated into the local language by a certified translator. Agency translations are usually accepted.

Documents older than 3–6 months are often rejected. Plan to obtain fresh originals shortly before your visa application.

Last verified 20 September 2026 — reconfirm on the official portal before applying.