Republic of Panama · investor · Leads to settlement

Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado)

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Source check: all 6 official citations reconfirmed 13 September 2026

Permanent residence for foreign nationals making a substantial qualifying investment in Panama, created by Decreto 722 of 2020.

No sponsorship requiredLeads to permanent residencyPermanent residence, granted on a direct basis subject to maintaining the qualifying investment for the required term. Confirm current terms on the official SNM page.
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

In short

As of 9 July 2026, the Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado) for Republic of Panama is an unsponsored Panama immigration route. Sources: official Republic of Panama government pages, reviewed 9 July 2026.

Cite this: https://visaatlas.org/visas/panama/qualified-investor#answer

What is the Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado) in Republic of Panama?

Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado) is an unsponsored Panama route. Indicative government fees are Indicative only - government fees apply on top of the qualifying investment; confirm current amounts on the official page; indicative processing time is Indicative only - confirm current timelines on the official SNM page; typical duration is 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. This route can lead to permanent residence.

Verified against Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama) on 1 June 2026.

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

Common blockers

Typical evidence

Application pathway

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. Submit through the official channel

    Your licensed Panamanian lawyer files the Qualified Investor permanent-residence application with the Servicio Nacional de Migracion.

  4. After approval

    Hold the qualifying investment for the required term and keep your residence documents and ID current.

After approval: prepare for your next step

For Qualified Investor Permanent Residence (Inversionista Calificado), use the actual decision and the issuing authority’s instructions to establish what has been granted. A successful application, permission to enter, permission to work and a residence document are not interchangeable.

  1. 1. Check the decision. Confirm the name, passport, status granted, start date and any next action. Resolve an error with the authority before relying on the document for travel or employment.
  2. 2. Establish the travel step. Read any entry window, activation, collection or in-country registration instruction. For an extension or change of status, do not assume leaving the country is required or safe while a further step remains pending.
  3. 3. Confirm what you may do. Check whether employment, self-employment, remote work or study is permitted under the status granted. Do not infer unrestricted work rights from the absence of an employer sponsor.
  4. 4. Organise the household. Check each accompanying person’s permission separately, then arrange healthcare, accommodation, access to money and the relevant local registrations. A tax number or bank account does not by itself prove a right to work.
  5. 5. Keep the ongoing conditions visible. Record the actual expiry, renewal process, permitted absences and any duty to report changes. An initial grant does not automatically establish permanent residence or citizenship.

Plan the practical side of your stay

Once you have checked the official route, you can prepare for day-to-day life in Panama. These optional services are separate from the application and do not establish visa eligibility.

Official application links

Where to actually go next

Government links only

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.

  1. Official guidanceApplicant
    Use 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.

Can I use real estate bought with a mortgage for the Panama Qualified Investor visa?+

The qualifying real estate must be free of liens, and property that is not free of liens is a common reason this route fails. Confirm the accepted investment conditions on the official SNM page.

What's the difference between Panama's Qualified Investor and Economic Solvency residence routes?+

Both are investment-style routes to permanent residence, but the Qualified Investor category (Decreto 722 of 2020) is designed to grant permanent residence directly against a high qualifying investment, while Economic Solvency is based on evidencing your own economic means through a qualifying deposit or titled real estate at the amount set by regulation. Confirm the current amounts and conditions for each on the official SNM page.

How do I prove the money for my Panama investor visa came from me?+

Among the required documents is proof of the international transfer of the invested funds, alongside the property title (free of liens), brokerage certification, or bank certification of the fixed-term deposit. Confirm the current evidence list 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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How we verified this

We check every figure on this page against the primary government source, record the date it was last checked, and re-check it on a regular schedule. Rules change, so always confirm time-sensitive details with the official source before you rely on them. Visa Atlas is an information-only publication and does not give legal advice.

Primary source: Servicio Nacional de Migracion (Panama)

Last checked: 1 June 2026

See the full evidence trail and methodology