There are a few different ways to become a permanent resident in Panama, the most recent one is through the Qualified Investor’s program, which is a brand-new immigration program launched in October of 2020, as its name suggest this program was made specifically for investors and offers 3 different way to apply for a permanent residency while investing in one of the most stable economies in the region. 

The first option is to invest in a real state either for commercial or residential use for the amount of USD 300,000 (or USD 500,000 starting October 15, 2022), the second one is to invest in securities for the amount of USD 500,000, and the third one is investing in a time deposit for USD 750,000 in a Panamanian bank, all 3 options have some unique benefits and advantages that other immigration programs don’t offer, as well as some minor requisites, one of them being that you must hold on to your investment for at least 5 years, and the advantages being a fast 30-day processing time, making this process one of the fastest ways to become a permanent resident, another advantage is that Panama is one of the best places to invest in Latin America, therefore, any investment is sure to be a very fruitful and successful one, depending on your needs and type of investment, you can plan for your return on your investment to be for the either the short or the long term.

If you are thinking about living in Panama for an extended period of time, or if you frequent Panama on a regular basis, you may consider becoming a permanent resident, there are many different pathways to becoming a Panamanian permanent resident, one of the most recent ones is with decree number 722 of October 15 of 2020, where the government has created an easy way for investors to not only invest but at the same time be able to permanently live in Panama, thanks to the Qualified Investor’s program, where you can invest in real estate, securities, or a time deposit for the amount of at least USD 300,000 in the case is a real estate investment and only for two years after this law was signed, after that the amount goes up to USD 500,000 or for up to USD 750,000 when it comes to the time deposit.

Any of these investment options will have to be held for at least 5 years and the funds must come from a foreign source, the advantages of this program are that you will have a permanent residency, being able to live, study or work in Panama, as well as being able to bring your dependent family members to Panama, such as your spouse or unmarried children, the ability to apply for citizenship after 5 years and an expedited process with only a 30 day waiting period, making in this process one of the fastest ways you can become a permanent resident.

If you are looking for a more affordable investment option, then the reforestation visa program might be a great option, it starts at USD 138,000 as long as your investment is going to reforestation or plantation, if you spend USD 350,000 then you are eligible for a fast-track process where you can obtain the residency immediately. If you are interested in learning more about this investment option please click here, there you will not only be able to learn more about this residency but you will also find some investment packages ready for you.

The QIIP is also suitable for those individuals that can’t apply to other immigration programs, such as the friendly nations visa, where only investors from countries that are within the friendly nations visa program may apply.

In the following section, we will explore the three different ways you can become a permanent resident, through the QIIP.

Real Estate investment – This is the most versatile of all the investment options, as well as being the most affordable one for now, through this method you will not only be able to gain permanent residency while investing in one of the most stable economies in Latin America, but you can potentially become a home/apartment owner at the same time, this investment option allows you to invest in either commercial or private real estate. If you want to use this residency program purely as an investment opportunity, you can choose to buy a commercial property and either put up your own business, or rent it to another business, furthermore, if you decide to buy a private property, renting that property can also be a very lucrative investment opportunity, furthermore, if you want to make your life easier, and don’t want to have to manage your own rental property, you can contact us, we are a Profesional property management company located in Panama and have been in business for 20 years.

Securities Investment – This is another great option in the qualified immigration investment program, and one that offers a good amount of versatility, because you can invest in a wide variety of different securities options, the requisites for this investment option are generally the same as the other options, such as the amount of the investment has to be 500,000, the investment must stay and have an effect within the country, and must be held for at least five years, furthermore, for this type of investment there are some requirements that only apply for this investment option, those are the following:

• A certification given by a broker-dealer firm, that has been previously certified by the Panama stock market superintendence, where it shows the details of the securities, the amount of the investment as well as the name of the investor.

• An authenticated copy of the resolution given to the broker-dealer firm by the Panama stock market superintendence.

• A certification by the Panama stock market superintendence concerning the titles of securities acquired by the investor.

Time deposit – A time deposit work by depositing a determined amount of money in a bank and letting it collect interest, it is called a time deposit because you are not able to take the money out for a specific and previously determined period of time, and in this case, that period would be five years, this is a long-term investment option, and even though it is the most secure option it is also the least versatile, as well as being the most expensive option.

Besides the regular requirement for all investments above mentioned, this investment option has the following requirement:

• An authenticated copy of the time deposit certificate given by the bank where shows the name of the investor, the value, and the amount of time for the deposit.

• A certification from the bank that states the existence of the time deposit, the name of the investor, the amount, the term, that it is free from encumbrances, and that the funds come from a foreign source.

The qualified investor's immigrations program is perfect for those that want to invest in Panama and at the same time have the option to live and work here, with the option to bring family members for an additional fee, along with investing in one of the most privileged countries in the region, and a fast processing time, making this one of the best investment options anywhere.