Qualified Investor residence route (Panama)
Panama's permanent-residence route granted for qualifying investment in property, securities or deposits.
Buying a resale home in Panama now takes US$500,000 to secure Qualified Investor permanent residence, against US$300,000 for a new build bought from a developer, under Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026.
Last refreshed: 4 October 2026
Why does Panama's investor residence now cost more for resale homes?
Timeline for Qualified Investor residence route (Panama)
Mentioned in: Brazil moves nomad visas to e-visa only
Nomads & CommunitiesBackground
Panama's Qualified Investor subcategory (Inversionista Calificado) grants permanent residence to foreigners WHO place a set sum in Panamanian property, securities or bank deposits. Executive Decree 722 of 15 October 2020 created it, and it is separate from the Friendly Nations regime.
Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026, issued through the Ministry of Public Security and published in the official gazette on 16 September, replaced the 2020 decree. Law firms report thresholds of US$300,000 for new property bought from a developer, US$500,000 for resale property or securities, US$500,000 in fixed deposits at state banks and US$750,000 at private banks.
Files lodged before the decree follow the old rules. Investments or binding contracts made earlier may also use them if the application comes within six months.