Republic of Panama · investor · Leads to settlement
Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado)
By Sam Parks · Last reviewed:
Permanent residence for foreign nationals making a substantial qualifying investment in Panama, created by Decreto 722 of 2020.
- Processing time
- Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official SNM page.
- Government fees
- Indicative only - government fees apply on top of the qualifying investment; confirm current amounts on the official page.
- Typical duration
- Permanent residence, granted on a direct basis subject to maintaining the qualifying investment for the required term. Confirm current terms on the official SNM page.
- Sponsorship required
- No
- Leads to permanent residency
- Yes
Overview
The Qualified Investor (Inversionista Calificado) category, created by Decreto Ejecutivo 722 of 2020, grants permanent residence to foreign nationals who make a substantial qualifying investment in Panama - such as titled real estate, securities through a licensed Panamanian brokerage, or a fixed-term bank deposit - at or above the high threshold set by the decree and held for the required term. It is designed for direct permanent residence and is processed by the Servicio Nacional de Migracion. Panamanian law requires a licensed Panamanian lawyer to file the application.
Eligibility
Typical criteria
- ✓A qualifying investment is made in an accepted form (titled real estate, securities through a licensed Panamanian brokerage, or a fixed-term bank deposit).Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ✓The investment meets or exceeds the high threshold set by Decreto Ejecutivo 722 of 2020.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ✓The investment is held for the required term and evidenced with the prescribed documents.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ✓The application is filed by a licensed Panamanian lawyer with a valid passport and clean police-record certificate.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
Common blockers
- !Investment value below the high threshold set by Decreto 722 of 2020.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- !Real estate that is not free of liens, or securities not held through a licensed Panamanian brokerage.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- !Attempting to file without a licensed Panamanian lawyer, which Panamanian law does not permit.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
Typical evidence
- ·Property title (free of liens), brokerage certification, or bank certification of the fixed-term deposit.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ·Proof of the international transfer of the invested funds.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ·Valid passport and a police-record certificate, apostilled or legalised.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
- ·Power of attorney to the Panamanian lawyer and completed application forms.Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) ↗
Application pathway
Check the route fit
Confirm the investment form and the current threshold under Decreto Ejecutivo 722 of 2020 with a licensed Panamanian lawyer and the official SNM page.
Build the evidence pack
Complete the investment, gather the title, brokerage or deposit certification, proof of fund transfer, passport, apostilled police-record and power of attorney.
Submit through the official channel
Your licensed Panamanian lawyer files the Qualified Investor permanent-residence application with the Servicio Nacional de Migracion.
After approval
Hold the qualifying investment for the required term and keep your residence documents and ID current.
Official application links
Where to actually go next
These are the official pages to use for this route. Open them before preparing documents: the forms, fees, appointment systems, and sponsor steps can change without warning.
- Official guidanceApplicantUse official Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado) route page ↗
Use this official page to confirm requirements and follow the government filing route for Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado).
Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) · verified
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Frequently asked questions
How much must I invest for the Panama Qualified Investor visa?+
Decreto Ejecutivo 722 of 2020 sets a high minimum threshold, with accepted forms including titled real estate, securities through a licensed Panamanian brokerage, or a fixed-term bank deposit, each held for a required term. Because the figure is set by decree, confirm the current amount on the official SNM page.
Is the Qualified Investor residence permanent from the start?+
The Qualified Investor category is designed to grant permanent residence directly, subject to maintaining the qualifying investment for the required term. Confirm the current process and conditions on the official SNM page.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
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