Summary: The Panama Qualified Investor Visa grants immediate permanent residency to foreigners who invest at least $300,000 in real estate, securities, or a fixed-term bank deposit. Approval typically follows within about 30 business days.
If you wish to establish permanent residency in Panama, the experienced lawyers at Kraemer & Kraemer offer comprehensive legal guidance, walking foreign investors through every step of the Qualified Investor Visa application.
What is the Qualified Investor Visa or Golden Visa?
The Panama Qualified Investor Visa, sometimes searched as a Panama Golden Visa, is a permanent residence visa for economic reasons currently governed by Executive Decree No. 17 of 2026, which supersedes Decree 722 of 2020. Through this program, the applicant can become a permanent resident by making a qualified investment in Panama.
What are the Investment Options?
Applicants for the Qualified Investor Visa may qualify for permanent residence through one of the following investment options currently available, provided that the funds come from abroad and the investment is maintained for at least 5 years:
| Investment Route | Minimum Amount |
|---|---|
| First-sale real estate (new property) | $300,000 |
| Secondary-market real estate (previously owned property) | $500,000 |
| Pre-sale projects (backed by a bank guarantee) | $300,000 |
| Panamanian securities (authorized brokerage) | $500,000 |
| Fixed-term deposit (private banking) | $750,000 |
| Fixed-term deposit (specified national banks) | $500,000 |
Note:
If you made your investment or started your filing before Decree No. 17 of September 16, 2026 took effect, you can qualify under the prior regime as long as you submit your application within the following 6 months. At Kraemer & Kraemer, we assess your case and let you know which route and which regime applies to your situation. Contact us today.
What are the Panama Qualified Investor Visa Requirements?
To qualify under the Panama Qualified Investor Visa, applicants must be 18 or older and able to certify the legal origin of their investment funds, in addition to meeting the general requirements below.
- Apostilled or authenticated complete passport copy.
- Apostilled or authenticated National Criminal Background Check – valid for 6 months.
- Five (5) passport-size photos.
- Payment of USD $5,000 to the National Immigration Service.
- Payment of USD $5,000 to the National Treasury.
- For each dependent included in the application, US $1,000 must go to the National Treasury and US $1,000 to the National Immigration Service.
- Certificate of good health.
- Declaration of personal backgrounds.
- Foreign or Local Bank Certification certifying the funds received or sent, respectively. If the letter is coming from abroad, it has to be authenticated or apostilled.
- Bank statements from the foreign bank, duly legalized, or a local bank, with authentication stamps from the issuing bank, to certify the transaction with the funds sent.
- Notarized letter, issued by the recipient of the funds, or bank certification (original) that confirms the deposit or reception of the transfer, in accordance with any of the investment options described in the law.
If the application includes dependents:
- Letter of accountability for these dependents.
- Proof of ties between the applicant and each dependent.
- Proof of address – applicant and dependent must live in the same address.
- If the dependent is 18 years old or more, single status and student status certificate.
How is the Golden Visa Application Process?
Kraemer & Kraemer manages the Panama Qualified Investor Visa application from the first document to the final residency card.
- Step 1: We review your documents and confirm which investment route fits your situation before you commit any funds.
- Step 2: You transfer the qualifying investment and obtain the corresponding certification (property deed, brokerage statement, or deposit certificate).
- Step 3: We file your application through Panama’s single-window immigration system.
- Step 4: The National Immigration Service issues an Investment Certification within 15 business days.
- Step 5: Once approved, you receive permanent residency immediately, after which you can apply for your E Cédula (foreigner ID card).
Process Timeframe
The process runs through the National Immigration Service via a single window, with set deadlines: up to 15 business days for the Investment Certification and up to 30 business days for the immigration decision. This application can be submitted by a Panama Immigration lawyer using an authenticated or apostilled special power of attorney to represent the investor. Once the application is reviewed, the applicant will be considered a permanent resident, but it must be proven annually (in the same period every year) that the investment is still valid.
What are the Panama Qualified Investor Visa Benefits?
- Immediate permanent residency upon initial approval, with no temporary residency stage first.
- An E Cédula, Panama’s foreigner identification card, issued once you’re approved.
- Dependents included in the same application, at an additional fee per dependent.
- Eligibility for citizenship by naturalization after five years of permanent residency.
- Access to Panama’s territorial tax system, so income earned outside the country is generally not taxed locally.
- A special travel document under Law 493 of 2025, which also extends to dependents and can matter for holders whose home passport limits international travel.
- A minimal physical residence requirement, so holders can keep their life and business elsewhere while maintaining status in Panama.
What are the Associated Costs and Fees?
In addition to the minimum investment amount, government fees must be paid; these are calculated independently and are completely separate from Kraemer & Kraemer’s legal fees. These are the main government fees. Other fees not listed here, such as the Carné de Trámite, notarizations in Panama and registration fees, among others, may apply.
Main Applicant
$10,000
Each Dependent
$2,000
Add to Order and Start your Process Now
At Kraemer & Kraemer, we offer an online platform to start your Panama Qualified Investor Visa process in a few simple steps. Select the number of dependents, and pay securely via credit card, bank transfer, or Bitcoin. Just review the fee breakdown and click “Add to Order” to get started. Our team of experts will contact you as soon as possible.
Main Applicant Included.
Select Dependents:
To Pay Now:$3000
Total:$16000
