Panama
Program and Benefits of Panama Residency By Investment
The Panama Residency by Investment Program, also known as the Qualified Investor Program, allows foreign investors and their eligible family members to obtain direct permanent residency through qualifying investments.
Introduced in 2020, the program aims to attract foreign capital and support Panama’s economic development. It offers an expedited residency process, making Panama an attractive destination for international investors.
The program provides several investment options, including real estate starting from USD 300,000, securities investments from USD 500,000, and fixed-term bank deposits from USD 750,000. Applicants can obtain permanent residency directly, with a potential pathway to citizenship after five years of qualifying residence, subject to naturalization requirements.
Panama Program Requirements
To obtain permanent residency in Panama, applicants must complete a qualifying investment, maintain it for at least five years, pay the applicable government fees, and successfully pass background and due diligence checks.
Benefits of Panama Passport by Investment
Direct permanent residency
Citizenship after five years
Minimal stay requirements
No requirement to relocate permanently
Includes spouse, eligible children, and parents
Fast-track approval targeting 30 days
Steps & Schedule
Step 1: Prequalification of the primary applicant
Step 2: Citizenship Bay and the client enter into a service agreement
Step 3: Citizenship Bay will offer the best real estate options in Panama, carefully selected and eligible for the Golden Visa program
Step 4: Sign the sales and purchase agreement for the selected property and pay a reservation fee
Step 5: Transfer the full investment amount to buy the property
Step 6: Citizenship Bay will provide guidance in preparing the necessary documents and completing the required government forms
Step 7: Citizenship Bay will submit a complete application to the relevant department in Panama on behalf of the applicants
Step 8: Pre-approval is granted after completion of due diligence and full assessment of the application
Step 9: Applicants must visit Panama to give biometrics.
Step 10: Citizenship Bay will receive the residence permit cards and deliver them to the clients
FAQs
The Panama Residence by Investment Program, also known as the Qualified Investor Program, offers foreign investors and their eligible family members immediate permanent residency upon approval in exchange for contributions to the country’s economy. The visa can be maintained as long as the investor continues to meet the applicable requirements.
Applicants can choose from several investment routes. The first is purchasing a new property of minimum $300,000, or a secondary market property of $500,000. The options also include investing $500,000 in Panama’s stock markets or putting a fixed-term deposit of $750,000 in a bank.
The qualifying investment must be maintained for at least five years, therefore, selling, transferring, or withdrawing the investment before the required period may result in loss of eligibility.
Major benefits include immediate permanent residency, minimal physical presence requirements, territorial tax advantages, access to Panama’s banking and commercial services, and the right to apply for citizenship after 5 years.
Yes, eligible dependents include spouse, children under 18, dependent children between 18 -25 who are full-time students, and the investor’s parents. Family reunification can be requested simultaneously with the main investor’s application.
Main documents include a valid passport, criminal record certificate, medical certificate, and investment-related documentation. Family members require additional documents.
The application can be done remotely through an authorized legal representative. However, investors must visit Panama for biometric data collection and to complete the process and obtain residency documentation.
Processing time typically takes around 30 business days, although the timeframe can vary depending on the complexity of the case and whether Immigration authorities request additional documentation.
Investors holding Panama’s Residency can apply for citizenship after five years of continuous legal residence, provided that they maintain the qualifying investment and meet additional requirements, including Spanish language knowledge, cultural knowledge, good moral character, and the formal renunciation requirement.
The five-year naturalization period is counted from the date permanent residence is formally granted. It is not counted from the temporary residence stage, the application filing date, or the date the investment was made.