Panama Qualified Investor Programme: Permanent Residence Directly, Without a Temporary Stage
You want permanent residence in Panama, and you want to know what you must invest. The Qualified Investor Programme grants permanent residence directly, from B/.300,000 in new property or a B/.500,000 fixed-term deposit. The ministry says a decision takes about 30 working days.
A ministry page that does not match the new decree
Panama replaced its Qualified Investor rules in September 2026, and the ministry's programme page still shows older figures. The page shows a USD 750,000 deposit at any licensed bank, while the new decree sets B/.500,000 at two named state banks and B/.750,000 at a private bank with a general licence. Guides copy whichever one they find first.
What it looks like from the outside:
- A programme page with older amounts than the ministry news.
- A new decree whose full text is a scanned file.
- Different minimums for new and for resale property.
How it feels:
- You worry you will quote the wrong amount.
- You fear buying property that does not qualify.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when two official pages disagree.
You do not have to sort out two sets of figures alone
We know how hard it is to invest when the ministry's own pages disagree. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe an investment should rest on the decree, not on the oldest page you can find.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Permanent residence from the start | You skip the temporary stage | You know where you stand from day one |
| Three ways to qualify | New property, a fixed-term deposit or the securities market | You choose the asset that suits you |
| Family cover | The ministry page lists spouse, children and qualifying parents | The people you worry about are covered together |
| An application that can start from abroad | An attorney can begin it before you enter Panama | You start before you travel |
| A special counter for investors | The Migration Service runs a dedicated desk | Your file does not wait in the general queue |
Where it takes you: permanent residence in Panama. This is a residence status, not a passport.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You can invest B/.300,000 in new property, or B/.500,000 in resale property or a fixed-term deposit | You want to buy resale property below B/.500,000: the first-sale minimum is B/.300,000, and resale property needs B/.500,000 |
| You want permanent residence without a temporary stage | You want a deposit at any licensed bank: a private bank needs B/.750,000, a state bank B/.500,000 |
| You can keep the investment for 5 years | You need the money back within 5 years |
| You can send the funds from abroad and trace them | Your funds cannot be documented |
Not sure Panama is the best fit? Compare all Latin America routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need a qualifying investment, kept for five years, with proof each year. The ministry certifies the investment, and the Migration Service grants the residence.
What the ministry pages list:
- A qualifying investment: first-sale property from B/.300,000, second-sale property at B/.500,000, a fixed-term deposit of B/.500,000 at Banco Nacional de Panama or Caja de Ahorros (B/.750,000 at a private bank), or an investment through the securities market.
- Keeping the investment for 5 years and filing proof of it each year.
- For dependants: the ministry page lists the spouse, children and qualifying parents.
The decree also sets clearer processes and timelines for handling applications. Your local partner reviews the decree text with you before you commit.
The routes and rules
Three options qualify, and the amounts depend on the asset. The figures are from the ministry's September 2026 news on Decree 17.
| Option | Minimum | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| New property (first sale) | B/.300,000 | New properties sold for the first time |
| Resale property (second sale) | B/.500,000 | Unchanged under the new rules |
| Fixed-term deposit | B/.500,000 | Only at Banco Nacional de Panama or Caja de Ahorros |
Who can be included. The ministry page says the investment can extend to your spouse, children and qualifying parents. Your local partner checks each person's documents before you file.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The investment is the larger cost, and other costs sit on top. Set both against the cost of a wrong start: a property that does not qualify and a deposit in the wrong bank.
| Item | What we have read |
|---|---|
| Investment | B/.300,000 (first sale), B/.500,000 (second sale or deposit) |
| Property taxes, legal and professional fees | On top; agreed with the local partner |
Source: MICI Qualified Investor page and MICI news of 21 and 28 September 2026.
Property introductions in Panama
Real estate is the most common Qualified Investor route, and we introduce you to local property partners. They find new properties from B/.300,000 and resale properties from B/.500,000, and they handle the purchase with you. The purchase is an agreement between you and the seller. We give no investment advice and quote no returns. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your residence.
- Step 1: Find your route. Use Find my program. You get a shortlist and a cost view for your family in a few minutes.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We qualify your case and check your funds, family and documents. When your case is qualified, we bring in the right local partner in Panama, who files with the ministry and the Migration Service. You make the investment you chose.
- Step 3: Your residence in hand. The authority decides, you keep the investment for 5 years with yearly proof, and you file proof of it each year.
The ministry page says a decision takes about 30 working days under the established procedure. It is an estimate, not a promise.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: MICI Qualified Investor page and MICI news of 21 and 28 September 2026.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Decree | Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026, which replaces the 2020 framework (Decree 722); in Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613 of 16 September 2026 |
| New property | B/.300,000 minimum for first-sale property |
| Fixed-term deposit | B/.500,000 at Banco Nacional de Panama or Caja de Ahorros, or B/.750,000 at a private bank with a general licence |
| Securities market | Options widened; US$500,000 in approved securities |
| Government fees | B/.5,000 to the National Treasury plus B/.5,000 to Immigration for the main applicant, and B/.1,000 plus B/.1,000 for each dependant: about US$16,000 for a family of four. This follows law-firm summaries of Executive Decree 17 of 2026; we have not read the Gazette text yet. |
What could change: the minimums, the banks and the securities options. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the residence
You keep the status by keeping the investment in place. The investment stays in place for 5 years, and you file proof of it each year.
- Proof: a yearly filing that shows the investment is still in place.
- Family: each dependant keeps their link to your file.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing guides while the rules shift. You hold a brochure, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your family has a residence in Panama, your route is one that exists, and your file went in clean. You feel relieved, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Relieved: your family has a base in Latin America
- Confident: you chose a route that exists today
- Protected: the people you worry about are covered
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Panama Qualified Investor Programme really cost?
You invest B/.300,000 in new property, or B/.500,000 in resale property or a fixed-term deposit. Government fees are B/.5,000 to the National Treasury plus B/.5,000 to Immigration for you, and B/.1,000 plus B/.1,000 for each dependant: about US$16,000 for a family of four. The B/.300,000 figure is the first-sale route only. Property taxes and legal fees sit on top.
How long does it take?
The ministry page says about 30 working days under the established procedure. It is an estimate, and we tell you what we know about the queue before you commit funds.
Will my application be approved?
No route promises approval, and we make no approval claims. What we control is the file: a qualifying investment, documented funds and clean certificates. We tell you before you pay if your case does not fit.
What is the Panama Qualified Investor Programme?
The Qualified Investor Programme is a Panamanian programme that grants permanent residence to foreigners who make a qualifying investment. The Ministry of Commerce and Industries certifies the investment, and Executive Decree 17 of 8 September 2026 now sets the rules.
What changed in September 2026?
Decree 17 replaces the 2020 framework. It keeps B/.300,000 for first-sale property, keeps B/.500,000 for resale property, sets a fixed-term deposit at B/.500,000 in two state banks or B/.750,000 in a private bank, sets government fees and widens the securities options.
Do I get a temporary residence first?
No. The ministry page says the programme grants permanent residence directly, without a temporary stage.
Can I use any bank for the deposit?
No. The September 2026 news names Banco Nacional de Panama and Caja de Ahorros. The programme page still shows an older rule, so we follow the decree.
Can my family be included?
Yes. The ministry page says the investment can extend to your spouse, children and qualifying parents.
Do I have to live in Panama?
Decree 17 of 2026 sets no minimum stay for the investor. Earlier rules asked for a visit at least once every 2 years, so confirm the current visit rule with us before you plan travel.
What if the rules change after I apply?
Panama replaced its rules in September 2026. The status box shows the date we last read each source.
Do you help with buying a property?
Yes, through introductions. For the property route we introduce you to local property partners in Panama. We give no investment advice and quote no returns, and the purchase is an agreement between you and the seller. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
