Panama’s Residency by Investment Program can fit many people, from investors who travel the world for business to retirees. The Residence by Investment Program makes it easier to move to and live in Panama while helping the country grow. It requires a minimum investment of $100,000 in a Panamanian forestry project. Once you made your investment, you can directly get your residency status in Panama.
Although the processing times for the Panama residency by investment program may change depending on your case, it will typically take 1 to 3 months. Foreign nationals mostly prefer Panama’s program for its favorable tax advantages.
What You Will Find in This Article
- Key Aspects for Panama Permanent Residency by Investment
- Panamanian Golden Visa Benefits
- Who is eligible for the Panama Residency by Investment Program?
- Panama Golden Visa Program Requirements
- Panama Golden Visa Process
- Required Documents for Obtaining Residency in Panama
- The Processing Times for Residency Status by Investment
- How to Get a Panama Investment Visa? Step-by-Step
- Living in Panama
- Pros and Cons of The Panama Residence by Investment Program
- Alternative Investment Programs
Key Aspects for Panama Permanent Residency by Investment
- The Panamanian Government introduced this program to attract foreign investment by offering residency in exchange for investments.
- The minimum investment amount starts at $200,000 for real estate purchases.
- To be eligible for the program, you can choose one of the following routes for direct investment: real estate, the Panamanian stock market, fixed-term bank deposits, starting a business or employment, or approved reforestation projects.
Panamanian Golden Visa Benefits
The Panama Residency by Investment Program provides a range of benefits, making it an attractive option for investors and their families.
Here are some of them:
- Panama Residency by Investment Program lets you live, work, and access your children in schools, setting you up for a fulfilling life in Central America.
- Panama’s strategic location and its significant logistics role make it a great starting point for businesses in the Americas.
- The Panama Golden Visa extends residency to your spouse, children, parents, and disabled relatives, making it family-inclusive.
- Panama’s location makes it easy to reach neighboring countries for business ventures in Central and South America.
- Panama doesn’t tax your foreign-sourced income because it follows a territorial tax system. No wonder it is a proper destination for entrepreneurs and investors seeking a business-friendly environment.
In summary, this permanent residency visa program offers a package of benefits tailored to global investors, business owners, and families.
Who is eligible for the Panama Residency by Investment Program?
Eligibility for the Panama Residency by Investment Program includes individuals who:
- Are over 18 years old.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Can make a qualifying investment in Panama through one of the approved routes: Qualified Investor, Friendly Nations, or Forestry Investor.
Please note that the criteria may vary depending on the chosen investment route.
Family Reunification
- Your legally married spouse,
- Your children under 18 or under 25 if they are students
- Your disabled dependent relatives
- Your primary parents
Panama Golden Visa Program Requirements
You have multiple options to guarantee the right to reside in Panama, making Panama more appealing to more people by offering different residence options.
Here are three different routes to become a resident of Panama:
Panama Qualified Investor Visa
The Panama Qualified Investor Visa grants you Panama permanent residency by investment.
Often known as Panama Golden Visa,
To be a qualified investor:
- Invest a minimum of $300,000 in Panamanian real estate.
- Make at least $500,000 in the Panamanian stock market investment.
- Make at least $750,000 in a fixed-term account at a Panamanian bank deposit.
Please note that you must hold your minimum investment for at least five years.
Friendly Nations
The Friendly Nations Visa is for citizens from specific countries that maintain friendly relations with Panama.
The list includes the US, Canada, UK, EU countries, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and other countries listed as Friendly Nations by Panama.
To get Friendly Nations:
- Start a business in Panama or make a work agreement with a Panamanian company.
- Invest a minimum of $200,000 in real estate.
- Deposit a minimum of $200,000 in a fixed-term deposit account at a national bank in Panama. It must be valid for at least 3 year
Once you complete the process, you will get a two year temporary residency first, then you can switch to the permanent residency
Forestry Investor
The Forestry Investor Visa, also known as the Panama Reforestation Visa, focuses on sustainable investment in Panama’s reforestation projects.
To be a forestry investor, you can consider one of the following investment opportunities:
- Invest a minimum of $100,000 to get a Temporary Residence Permit for two years, meaning you’ll get temporary residency, and then you are eligible to get a Permanent Residence Permit after 2 years. After five years, Permanent Residency in Panama opens the way to applying for Panamanian Nationality.
- Invest a minimum of $350,000 to get immediate permanent resident status and Cédula (Panama ID) for you and your dependents.
When it comes to maintaining residency status, you must keep your investment for five years. Otherwise, your Panama permanent residency by investment in Panama status will be suspended and possibly permanently revoked.
Panama Golden Visa Process
As we mentioned, there are a few ways to qualify for the Panama Golden Visa, which grants residency, and the residency application process and required documents vary depending on the chosen route.
Required Documents for Obtaining Residency in Panama
In general, we can summarize the required documents and process as follows:
- Make sure you have a valid passport
- Collect the necessary documents proving your investment, such as a license, registration document, certificate, and bank statements
- Submit a clean criminal record
- Get a certificate of good health
- Provide your residence address
- Certificate of the student status and the single status of your children
- Prove your connection with your dependents
- Prepare your photo
- Submit your application and pay the applicant fee
- Wait for confirmation, being aware that the waiting process may vary
The Processing Times for Residency Status by Investment
The time it takes to obtain residency through investment in Panama varies depending on your investment and the due diligence required. However, it generally takes between one and eight months.
How to Get a Panama Investment Visa? Step-by-Step
Step 1: Prepare Documents
To start the process, you must complete all application forms, gather supporting documents, and pay the required fees.
Step 2: Submit & Due Diligence
You must make your investment before applying. In the second step, you must apply to the National Immigration Service. Then, you must undergo further due diligence and fulfill any additional requirements until you get approval.
*At this step, you can also authenticate a Power of Attorney to handle the whole process remotely.
Step 3: Obtain Residency
You can then receive your permanent residency status if you have chosen the Qualified Investor or Friendly Nations route. If you have picked the Forestry Investor route, you can get your permanent residency after two years.
After 5 years of holding your permanent residency, you can be eligible for Panamanian citizenship if you comply with the legal requirements.
Living in Panama
Panama offers a tropical lifestyle with a lower cost of living than many other countries.
As a permanent resident,
- You’ll have access to Panama’s public healthcare system, with excellent private options available.
- As one of the offshore tax havens, you won’t pay taxes on income earned outside the country, making it ideal for retirees and investors.
- You’ll have the freedom to own property, open a bank account, and truly establish yourself in Panama.
- Panama allows dual citizenship, so you can keep your existing passport.
- A Panama passport grants visa-free travel to many destinations worldwide.
Pros and Cons of The Panama Residence by Investment Program
Pros
- Panama is strategically located between North and South America, offering access to a vibrant regional economy and global trade routes among Latin American countries.
- Panama has business-friendly policies.
- They have a system where you might not pay taxes on the money you earn outside of Panama, plus tax rates for residents are often favorable.
- The program opens doors to investing in Panama’s real estate, businesses, and green energy projects, which could diversify your investment portfolio.
Cons
- The official language is Spanish, although many people speak English. So, if you don’t know Spanish, it can be a little tricky to communicate sometimes.
- You will need to deal with paperwork and bureaucracy during the application process. It may take some time and some help from experts.
- You’ll need to meet residency requirements, such as holding your investment for a certain period and keeping up with renewals.
- Just like anywhere else, investments in Panama can fluctuate with the market. This is something to keep in mind before deciding.
Before jumping into an investment program, make sure it’s the right fit for your goals.
Alternative Investment Programs
You may seek a more expedited route to secure a second passport. Let’s learn about citizenship programs that allow investment without a residency requirement.
1. St. Lucia Citizenship by Investment (CIP)
St. Lucia CIP is a program designed for foreign investors seeking immediate citizenship in the beautiful Caribbean island nation of St. Lucia.
Investment Options:
- Donate at least $240,000 to the St. Lucia National Economic Fund (NEF).
- Invest in the National Action Government Bonds (NAB) of at least $300,000 and hold for five years.
- Invest in government-approved real estate valued at least $300,000.
2. Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (CIP)
The Antigua and Barbuda Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program offers a path to immediate citizenship in this amazing Caribbean archipelago.
Investment Options:
- Donate a minimum of $230,000 to the National Development Fund (NDF).
- Invest at least $300,000 in government-approved real estate and hold it for at least five years.
- Invest at least $1.5 million in a government-approved business. Create jobs and support the country’s economic growth.
- Donate $260,000 to the University of the West Indies (UWI) Fund. Your application will cover your family of six (or more). The minimum number of persons per application is six.
Benefits of These Programs
These programs allow you to become a St. Lucian or Antigua and Barbuda citizen and hold a passport that grants visa-free travel to over 140 destinations, including the Schengen Zone and the UK. So you can enjoy the flexibility of traveling the world with ease.
You can obtain your citizenship within 4 to 6 months. Moreover, there are no minimum residency requirements to maintain citizenship. Plus, you can include dependent family members in your application for an additional fee.
Considering taxes, you are not required to pay them on worldwide income unless you become a resident of St. Lucia or Antigua and Barbuda.
We highly recommend professional advice to navigate the application process effectively.
Get Golden Visa: Your Guide to Panama Residency by Investment
At Get Golden Visa, we specialize in helping investors navigate Panama’s Golden Visa and various residency-by-investment programs. Our team provides end-to-end support from selecting the right program to securing residency.
Fill out the form below to receive your personalized guide to residency by investment and take the next step with confidence.
Contact Form
While we provide advisory services based on the legislation and administrative practice in effect at the time of your consultation, we cannot guarantee that future legal or policy changes will not affect eligibility, timing, or requirements for St Kitts citizenship.
We act as an independent advisory firm, not a government body, and all applications remain subject to Panama law and the discretion of the relevant authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions on Panama Residency
Do I have to pay taxes when I reside in Panama?
No. While residing in Panama, you do not have to pay taxes on income you earn outside the country.
How much does it cost to become a resident in Panama?
The cost varies depending on the type of visa you apply for and whether your family will come with you. Many factors determine the cost. For example, if you are applying for the Forestry Investor Visa alone, your cost will be at least $100,000, plus additional expenses such as application fees.
How long does it take to get residency through an investment program?
The timeframe for getting residency can vary depending on factors such as the chosen investment route and the application process. Still, it typically takes from a few months to a year.
What else should I know about Panama’s immigration process?
Panama City, the capital of Panama, is a popular destination in Latin America. When it comes to relocating to Panama, you need to know that the National Immigration Service in Panama is responsible for processing immigration applications. For example, you will get service from this office if you apply for the Qualified Investor Program to obtain permanent residency in Panama.
Through this residency program, you can obtain permanent residency in Panama immediately upon approval.
However, Panama does not permit dual citizenship. You cannot keep your original citizenship if you want to acquire Panamanian nationality. In the visa application process, you’ll need to open a local bank account in Panama as well.
If you’re planning to reside in Panama after becoming a Panamanian citizen, you can enjoy many benefits. You may also invest in real estate in Panama for additional opportunities. Before you become a citizen, you can also discover new benefits by obtaining permanent residency in Panama.
