This residency program has recently introduced an Investor passport as from October 2025, this new passport benefit strengthens Panama’s position in the global residency-by-investment market. It has been announced that under Panama’s new Law No. 493 of 2025 (and related acts) dated October 28, 2025, resident investors and their families participating in the Panama Qualified Investor Visa program will be able to obtain a special travel document valid for the duration of their residency. This document will replace the visa sticker and confirm resident status, allowing entry into and exit from the country. It does not replace a national document and does not grant citizenship, but it significantly simplifies mobility and strengthens the legal protection of the investor’s status.
The Panamanian government agency responsible for implementing the new “Investor passport” has been given six months to develop and disseminate the regulatory framework for this new option.
Terms and benefits of Panama Qualified Investor Visa
Panama Qualified Investor Visa is a “Golden Visa” for investors, which allows you to immediately obtain permanent residence, bypassing the stage of a residence permit.
The application for Panama Qualified Investor Visa is submitted remotely based on a power of attorney, and the processing time is 30-45 days. After that, the main applicant and dependent family members will need to fly to Panama to provide their biometric data. The visit typically requires scheduling a full working week to complete all necessary steps smoothly.
After receiving a visa, the requirements for stay are minimal — one visit to the country every two years to maintain status.
This Panama Qualified Investor Visa program offers a fast-track path to permanent residency. This type of visa allows to live, work, and study in Panama.
With permanent residency in Panama, you will be able to:
- Open a bank account in Panama that accepts cryptocurrency transfers
- Open accounts in Euros and US Dollars
- Apply for citizenship (this passport grants visa-free entry to the Schengen Area, the UK, Hong Kong, Singapore, Cyprus, Mexico, and Montenegro) after 5 years, demonstrating knowledge of the Spanish language.
Eligible Dependents for Panama Qualified Investor Visa
- Spouse
- Children under 18 and permanently disabled children (with no age limit).
- Unmarried children aged 18–25 who are full-time students and financially dependent.
- Dependent parents of the main applicant.
Each dependent requires proof of relationship and financial dependency.
Panama’s Qualified Investor Visa. Investment options
Purchase of real estate – $300,000.
Note that investors can submit application without title deed only confirming payment to the developer or seller. So that is possible to invest in real estate under construction.
A Panama securities in the stock market through a licensed Panamanian brokerage – $500,000.
A fixed-term deposit in an approved Panamanian bank – $750,000.
All investment options mentioned above have a must hold period of 5 years.
An example of real estate eligible for the Panama Qualified Investor Visa program is a luxury residential complex in the new, modern district of Costa del Este. According to the project, this will be an apart-hotel with its own management company. The building will have a swimming pool, a spa center, and rooms for meetings and events. Apartments of 65 sq.m. start from $314,699.
