PANAMA RESIDENCY
Panama Residency by Real Estate Investment
The Qualified Investor Visa offers direct permanent residency in the Americas, with a territorial tax system and a clear path to Panamanian citizenship.
Important: Panamanian residency is an Americas-based residency programme, not a European one. It does not include access to the Schengen Area, a European passport, or free movement within the European Union. If your goal is European residency or citizenship, please see our Greece and Italy Golden Visa pages.
QUALIFIED INVESTOR VISA
Real estate investment thresholds
Executive Decree 722, as amended by Decree 193. The investment must be made in encumbrance-free real estate registered in the applicant's name.
Threshold valid until 15 October 2026
Minimum investment in encumbrance-free real estate. Applies to applications submitted before 16 October 2026.
Valid until 15 October 2026. Applications submitted under this threshold are processed under the conditions in force at the time of submission.
Threshold effective from 16 October 2026
New minimum investment threshold in encumbrance-free real estate for applications submitted from 16 October 2026 onwards.
Effective from 16 October 2026 pursuant to Decree 193.
ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT ROUTES
Securities market
Investment in securities registered on the Panama Stock Exchange or in regulated investment funds.
Fixed-term bank deposit
Fixed-term deposit in a Panamanian bank holding a general licence. The deposit must remain active throughout the residency period.
PROGRAMME ADVANTAGES
Confirmed benefits
- Direct permanent residency — not temporary — granted in approximately 2 to 3 months from submission of a complete application.
- Path to Panamanian citizenship: eligibility to apply for naturalisation after 5 years of continuous permanent residency.
- Territorial tax system: foreign-source income is exempt from Panamanian income tax, regardless of amount.
- Panama does not require active tax residency to maintain investment-based permanent residency (subject to verification with a local adviser).
PENDING VERIFICATION
Points to confirm with legal counsel
The following aspects are subject to regulatory interpretation or recent changes. Ocean GK recommends validating them with a licensed Panamanian attorney before making any decisions.
- Inclusion of dependent family members (spouse, minor children): [verify with local attorney]
- Minimum annual stay requirements to maintain active permanent residency: [verify with local attorney]
- Long-term investment maintenance or renewal conditions: [verify with local attorney]
- Treatment of the US$300,000 threshold for applications in progress on 16 October 2026: [verify with local attorney]
The information on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or immigration advice. Programme requirements, investment thresholds, and conditions are subject to regulatory changes without prior notice. The conditions in force at the time of each application submission are those that apply to that file. Ocean GK does not guarantee approval of any residency application. All information should be validated with a licensed Panamanian attorney and with the National Migration Service of Panama before making any investment decision.
Interested in Panama residency?
Tell us about your investment profile and a specialist adviser will walk you through the process, timelines, and next steps.