---
titulo: "Panama Qualified Investor Visa: Permanent Residency by Investment"
titulo_seo: "Panama Qualified Investor Visa: Residency by Investment"
meta: "US$300,000 in property, US$500,000 in securities or US$750,000 on deposit buys direct permanent residency in Panama in weeks. You hold it for five years."
autor: "Diego Ospina Serna"
fecha: 2026-07-07
actualizado: 2026-07-07
materia: "Immigration Law"
idioma: "en"
par: "visa-inversionista-cualificado-panama"
resumen: "A guide to Panama's Qualified Investor Visa (Executive Decree 722 of 2020, amended by Decree 193 of 2024): the three investment routes (real estate, securities or a bank deposit), their amounts, the direct permanent residency and the process."
tags: ["Immigration", "Investment", "Residency"]
orden: 20260707
faq:
  - q: "Does it grant permanent residency at once?"
    a: "Yes, that is its advantage: it grants permanent residency directly, without a prior provisional stage."
  - q: "How much must I invest?"
    a: "US$300,000 in real estate, US$500,000 in securities or US$750,000 in a fixed-term deposit, depending on the route."
  - q: "How long must I hold the investment?"
    a: "Five years from the date the residency is granted. Selling or reducing the investment before that term can cost the residency."
  - q: "Must I live in Panama during the process?"
    a: "Continuous physical presence during the process is not required."
fuentes:
  - nombre: "Executive Decree 722 of 2020"
    url: "https://iurispa.com/legislacion/decreto-ejecutivo-722-de-2020/"
  - nombre: "Executive Decree 193 of 2024"
  - nombre: "National Immigration Service"
    url: "https://iurispa.com/instituciones/servicio-nacional-de-migracion/"
---

For the investor who wants permanent residency in Panama by the fastest route, the Qualified Investor Visa is the reference option. Unlike other categories, it grants permanent residency directly, without first passing through a provisional stage. This guide explains the routes and their amounts.

> Informational guide, not personalized immigration or tax advice. Amounts and terms may change by decree; confirm them with the National Immigration Service before investing.

## Legal basis

The visa is governed by Executive Decree 722 of 2020, amended by Executive Decree 193 of 2024. Its differentiating advantage is **direct permanent residency**, with a process that can be resolved in a few weeks and without requiring continuous physical presence during it.

![[ley:decreto-ejecutivo-722-de-2020]]

## The three investment routes

You can qualify through one of these, keeping the investment for five years:

| Route | Amount | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | US$300,000 | Property in your own name, free of liens |
| Securities | US$500,000 | Investment in the Panamanian securities market, through a brokerage |
| Fixed-term deposit | US$750,000 | In a Panamanian bank, free of liens, for five years |

*The US$300,000 real estate threshold has been subject to adjustments by decree; confirm the amount and its validity with the National Immigration Service before committing the investment.*

## Requirements and documents

Besides proving the investment, you need a valid passport, a police record from your home country, a Panamanian health certificate, and documentation supporting the lawful origin of the funds. The application is filed with the National Immigration Service through a Panamanian attorney.

## Why it is attractive

It is the fastest path to permanent residency for high-net-worth profiles. Combined with Panama's territorial taxation, which does not tax foreign-source income, it is attractive for those relocating their residency or diversifying their assets. If the goal is to reside without such a high investment, it is worth comparing with the [[panama-friendly-nations-visa]] or the [[retire-in-panama-guide-for-pensioners]].