Panama residence permit by investment

Legal grounds for the residence permit

To get a Panama residence permit, the investor picks one of the following options:

• Investment in real estate - from $300,000.
• Investment in the stock market - from $500,000.
• Bank deposit - from $750,000.
• Investment in forestry: teak reforestation from $100,000 gives a residence permit for 2 years, and from $350,000 permanent residence straight away; real estate from $100,000 entered in the forestry register of Panama's Ministry of the Environment also qualifies.

The qualified investor programme

Panama's main investment route is permanent residence as a qualified investor under Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026, which replaced Decree 722 of 2020. It is permanent status straight away, with no temporary stage. The National Migration Service reviews it through a special channel within 30 business days by the rules. You do not have to live in Panama: visiting once every 2 years keeps the status.

The national currency is the balboa, pegged one to the US dollar; the US dollar is legal tender in Panama, so all amounts are in dollars.

What it costs in 2026

• Investment - from $300,000 in a new home.
• Purchase costs - 2% transfer tax on the higher of the price or the cadastral value plus 5% per year of the seller's ownership; Public Registry registration and notary.
• Annual property tax - none on a primary home worth up to $120,000, progressive above; new builds sometimes get temporary exemptions.
• Certificates and translations - apostilled police clearance, Spanish translation, medical certificate.
• Our support - quoted after a consultation; in Panama only a local lawyer can file.

Steps and timeline

1. Check - source of funds, choice of investment, family documents.
2. Investment - purchase registered in the Public Registry, a brokerage account or a fixed deposit; funds wired from abroad.
3. Documents - 2-4 weeks: police clearances, certificates, translations.
4. Filing through a Panamanian lawyer with the National Migration Service, biometrics in Panama.
5. Decision - within 30 business days via the special channel.
6. Permanent resident card and foreigner ID.

Documents

• Passport - certified copy of all pages.
• Police clearance from the country of residence for the last 5 years, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
• Medical certificate from Panama.
• Proof of investment - Public Registry title, brokerage agreement or deposit certificate.
• Proof of funds' origin - the wire from abroad and income documents.
• For the family - marriage and birth certificates, apostilled and translated.

Requirements and how to get approved

• Investment below the threshold or encumbered within the 5 years.
• Resale home at the new-home price - resale requires $500,000.
• Unclear source of funds - the wire must come from abroad with documents.
• Clearance without an apostille or not covering 5 years.
• No visit to Panama for over 2 years - risk of losing status.

Taxes

• Territorial system - Panama taxes only Panamanian-source income; a resident's foreign income is not taxed.
• Income tax - up to 25% on Panamanian income.
• Corporate tax - 25%.
• Tax on transfer of goods and services, the VAT equivalent - 7%.

More: Panama taxes.

Path to citizenship

You can apply for naturalisation after 5 years of permanent residence, or 3 years if married to a Panamanian. An exam on Spanish, Panamanian history and geography is required. Panama does not formally recognise dual citizenship: on naturalisation you declare that you renounce your previous citizenship.

Nationality and bank checks

Russia is not on Panama's friendly nations list, so the simplified route for those countries is not available. The qualified investor programme is open to all nationalities, including Russians; Russian citizens enter Panama visa-free for up to 90 days. Panamanian banks scrutinise Russian clients closely, so we prepare the source of funds in advance.

Life in Panama: what to know

• US dollar - used alongside the balboa, so there is no currency risk in dollar terms.
• Panama City - a business and financial centre with a hub airport: direct flights to the United States, Europe and almost every Latin American capital.
• Climate - tropical, with a rainy season roughly May to November; the highlands, such as Boquete, are cooler.
• Language - Spanish; English is widely spoken in the capital's business districts.
• Healthcare - high-standard private clinics in the capital; foreigners usually take private insurance.
• Bank - a local account is needed for the purchase and daily life: personal account in Panama; banks check the source of funds strictly.

Alternatives to compare

• Costa Rica residence - from $150,000, but temporary status first and permanent after 3 years.
• Paraguay residence - much cheaper, permanent residence without large investment.
• Panama nomad visa - if you do not want to invest.
• Property in Panama - purchase rules in detail.

How we work

1. We choose the investment for your goal and work out costs.
2. We check the property and developer or open the investment account.
3. We prepare certificates, apostille and translations.
4. We file through a Panamanian lawyer and support biometrics.
5. We remind you about the biennial visit and prepare the path to citizenship.

We fix our fee in writing after a consultation.

Advantages of a Panama residence permit

How to get a Panama residence permit: step by step

FAQ