Executive Decree 17/2026 (Panama)
Panamanian decree on qualified-investor residence.
Panama's Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026 sets the Qualified Investor residence threshold at $300,000 for new property bought from a developer and $500,000 for resale; files already lodged follow the old rules.
Last refreshed: 3 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Will resale buyers shift to new builds after Panama's decree?
Timeline for Executive Decree 17/2026 (Panama)
Set property thresholds for investor residence
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Executive Decree 17 of 2026 is the Panamanian decree that governs the Qualified Investor permanent-residence route. Dated 8 September 2026 and published in the official gazette on 16 September, it replaces Executive Decree 722 of 2020.
The decree splits the property route by the kind of home bought. New property bought from a developer qualifies at $300,000; resale property needs $500,000. Applications already lodged continue under the old rules.
The split makes new-build stock the cheaper property route into Panamanian residence and raises the bar for buyers of existing homes. It arrived a week after a separate measure, Executive Decree 16 of 31 August, admitted Ecuadorians to the Friendly Nations route, which the investor decree leaves untouched.
How much must I invest in Panama property for residency?
Does Panama's new decree affect applications already filed?
What did Panama's Executive Decree 17 replace?
