Panama Qualified Investor Visa: $300k / $500k investment rules (2026)
Panama's balboa is pegged 1:1 to the US dollar; we show amounts in USD.
This is an investment residence route, not an income visa. Dividend, pension or rental income does not qualify you on its own — you must meet one of the investment floors in Decreto Ejecutivo No. 17 of 8 September 2026. YieldVisa’s income calculator does not score this route.
Official requirements (DE 17)
| Fact | What the official source says | Status | Primary source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instrument | Decreto Ejecutivo No. 17 of 8 September 2026, issued by the Ministerio de Seguridad Pública. Published in Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613 on 16 September 2026; Art. 21 puts it in force on publication. It replaces Decreto Ejecutivo 722 of 15 October 2020 (as amended). MICI (Ministry of Commerce and Industries) runs the program window; it did not issue this decree. | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Real estate — first sale from a developer | At least $300,000 (Art. 4 a). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Real estate — resale | At least $500,000 (Art. 4 b). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| How the amount is counted | The qualifying amount is the lesser of the price paid and the commercial value. MICI may require an appraisal (Arts. 5–6). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Promesa (promise of purchase) | Supported by a trust of at least $300,000, or 100% paid to the developer backed by a bank instrument. Promesa support is capped at 3 years. If the developer defaults, a 180-business-day rule applies (Art. 7). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Securities | At least $500,000 (Art. 8). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Bank deposit | $500,000 at Banco Nacional or Caja de Ahorros; $750,000 at other private banks (Art. 9). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Gifts and donations | Excluded from counting toward the minimum (Art. 2). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| How you may hold it | Personally, through a company, or through a private interest foundation; spouses may combine (Arts. 2 and 3.6). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Government fees | $10,000 for the principal and $2,000 per dependent (Art. 11). No age-based fee split appears in the decree. | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Hold period | Keep the investment for 5 years, or reinvest within 90 days if you sell earlier (Art. 12). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Naturalization filing | After 5 consecutive years, the naturalization filing is routed through the MICI window (Art. 14). Constitutional and legal requirements still apply. This is not a guarantee of citizenship. | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Processing times (decree) | 15 business days at MICI and 30 at the Servicio Nacional de Migración (Art. 15). | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
| Transition | 6-month grace for contracts or investments signed before 16 September 2026 (Art. 19), running to about 16 March 2027. | Verified | migracion.gob.pa gacetaoficial.gob.pa |
How this differs from Pensionado, Rentista and Friendly Nations
Pensionado and Rentista test income (or deposit interest). Friendly Nations tests nationality plus a job, $200,000 of Panama real estate, or a $200,000 deposit. The Qualified Investor Visa tests a qualifying investment under DE 17. See the Panama guide for the income routes.
Not legal advice. Citizenship after five years still depends on constitutional and legal requirements; the decree only routes the filing through MICI’s window.