Residency
Panama — Residency: Permanent Residency
One permanent-residence route in Panama, the qualified-investor permit under Executive Decree 722 of 2020, per the trade ministry (MICI). The sheet dates from December 2020 and does not cover the other permanent routes.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceMICI Panama - Requisitos permiso de residencia permanente en calidad de inversionista calificado (Decreto Ejecutivo 722 de 2020)Last reviewed: 2026-10-27
Key facts
- The investor first obtains a certification of the investment from the Direccion Nacional para la Promocion de las Inversiones, applied for at DIGESI.
- Qualifying investments in the sheet are real estate (Registro Publico title and a land-titling authority valuation), a property promise-of-sale with a trust, securities held with a licensed broker, or a bank fixed-term deposit.
- Funds must be shown to come from abroad, by a bank letter, a stamped foreign bank statement, or a notarised letter or bank certification.
- The Migration Service application needs a notarised power of attorney, three photos, a certified passport copy, a criminal record certificate and a sworn declaration of personal background.
- Two payments are required: US$5,000 to the National Treasury and US$5,000 to the Migration Service, plus the investment certification.
Steps
- Step 1: Meet Eligibility Criteria — While the exact criteria are unclear, it's believed that applicants must meet certain requirements, such as investing in the country or being a family member of a Panamanian citizen.
- Step 2: Submit Application — The application process is not well-documented, and it's uncertain how to proceed.
- Step 3: Wait for Approval — The processing time for permanent residency applications is unknown, and it's unclear how long it takes to receive approval.