The Panama Qualifed investor visa (aka Golden visa ) was stablished by Executive Decree 722 on October 15, 2020, and modified by Law 493 in October 2025. It offers one of the fastest paths to permanent residency in the world. Panama is a Central American country known for the Panama Canal, with a population of about 4.4 million, a high urbanization rate, and a service-driven economy centered around global trade and banking.
Key Benefits
The Qualified Investor Program offers a streamlined path to residency and citizenship:
- Permanent Residency: Granted through a fast-track process with a minimum investment of USD 300,000.
- Real Estate: High demand real estate with excellent rental income.
- Flexible Residency: Only one visit to Panama every two years is required to maintain status.
- Family Reunification: Inclusion of spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents.
- Citizenship & Passport: Eligible for citizenship after 5 years. The Panamanian passport offers visa-free access to over 140 countries and a pathway to the U.S. E-2 Visa.
Why Panama
The Strategic and Economic Advantages Panama is a premier global business hub, offering several key benefits for golden visa investors:
- Strategic Location: Home to the Panama Canal, handling 5–6% of global trade, and serving as a regional headquarters for major multinationals.
- Economic Stability: A fully dollarized economy with 4% GDP growth and a high-income status.
- Panama Canal: A non-substitutable global chokepoint, carrying nearly 5% of the world’s trade and anchoring the backbone of global maritime traffic.
- Global Financial Hub: A regional gateway for international banking, trade finance, and cross-border capital flows across the Americas.
- Dollarized Economy: A fully dollarized monetary framework ensuring long-term stability, investor confidence, and seamless alignment with U.S. financial markets.
- Tax Neutral Jurisdiction: No tax on offshore income, dividends, or capital gains generated abroad.
Investment Options
The following four established investment routes eligible for PR in Panama.
1. Real Estate Investment
- Minimum: USD 300,000
- Must be free of encumbrances
- Holding period: 5 years
2. Pre-Construction Real Estate
- Minimum: USD 300,000
- Trust deposit via licensed bank
- Direct payment to developer
3. Securities Investment
- Minimum: USD 500,000
- Managed by licensed brokerage firm
- Regulated by Panama Securities Authority
- Holding period: 5 years
4. Fixed-Term Bank Deposit
- Minimum: USD 750,000
- Term: 5 years
- Must be with a licensed Panamanian bank
Investment must be maintained for 5 years. Early withdrawal without reinvestment results in automatic cancellation of residency
Panama Passport
The Panamanian passport ranks in the top 30 globally, offering visa-free access to over 140 countries (including the Schengen Area, Latin America and others). A pathway to business development in the United States through the E-2 Visa treaty.
The Panama passport is also considered relatively powerful in terms of global mobility. It provides visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 140 countries, including popular destinations such as the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. This level of access enhances travel convenience for Panamanian passport holders, making it an attractive option for those seeking international mobility.
Eligibility Requirements
- Minimum age: 18
- Clean criminal record
- Funds must originate from outside Panama
- No physical presence required during application
Application Process
- Choose investment option (minimum USD 300,000)
- Prepare documentation (passport, KYC)
- Complete investment (purchase agreement)
- Submit application and obtain temporary ID
- Background checks and verification
- Travel to Panama for biometrics
- Receive permanent residency approval
- Execute property deed (if applicable)
Investment Opportunity
An Exclusive five star hotel investment opportunity in Panama.
Panama City Central
- Co-Ownership in Branded Hotel & Casino (Pullman)
- Investment: $300,000 USD.
- Details: Co-ownership of a 5-star Pullman (Accor) branded hotel in downtown Panama City, featuring a casino, rooftop pool, and 180 rooms.
- Investor Capacity: 280 investors
- Guaranteed buyback after 5 years with no operational returns during the holding period.
- One week of free stay per year.
Branded Hotel
- Individual Ownership Branded Suites (Pullman)
- Investment: Starting at $652,500 USD.
- Details: Individual title deed for executive suites (50–85 sqm) in the same Pullman development.
- Investor Capacity: 126 investors
- Estimated ROI of 5–6% annually through a 60/40 rental split (Owner/Operator); No buyback
- One month of free stay per year.
Luxury Apartments
- Luxury Apartments Condominium (Santa Maria)
- Investment: Between $300,000 and $450,000 USD.
- 2 and 3-bedroom luxury apartments (80–170 sqm) located in the upscale Santa Maria community, featuring a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course.
- Individual title deed with an estimated ROI of 3–5% annually and flexible rental management options through Mercan.
Taxation
- Individuals – Foreign-source income — such as dividends, interest, or foreign business income — is generally not taxed in Panama. Income from property located in Panama (e.g., rental income) is taxed locally at a flat rate.
- Companies – International holding and structuring vehicles can operate with 0% corporate income tax on foreign-source income.
- Real Estate – Panama applies a 10% capital gains tax on net gains from real estate sales, with a 3% withholding at the time of transfer. Depending on the transaction outcome, investors may treat the withholding as the final tax or request a refund of any excess, providing flexibility and predictability at exit.
