Blog

Panama Qualified Investor Program remains an active, investment-based route to permanent residency for high-net-worth individuals, built around qualifying capital deployment and an accelerated decision timeline. The legal framework continues to confirm real estate eligibility starting at B/. 300,000 and an expedited resolution target of up to 30 business days through a dedicated processing window.

What “active” means in practical terms

The strongest indicator that Panama Qualified Investor Program remains active is that:

• It is anchored in Executive Decree No. 722 (Oct 15, 2020).

• It received a formal update via Executive Decree No. 193 (Oct 15, 2024), which modifies and adds provisions to Decree 722—typical of a program that remains in force.

Program position for HNWIs

This program is commonly described as a “Golden Visa” style route because it offers:

• Permanent residency (not temporary-to-permanent).

• A structure that can align with asset allocation (real estate, securities, or bank deposit), depending on your risk preference.

• A compliance posture that is document-driven (source of funds, investment evidence, and legal verifications).

Investment options and typical entry points

The program is designed around three investment categories (as described by Panama’s Ministry of Commerce and Industries).

1) Real estate investment (from B/. 300,000)

• Decree 722 provides that the permanent residency permit as a Qualified Investor can be based on B/. 300,000 in real estate, with specific conditions (e.g., property requirements and documentation).

• This is the source of the market shorthand: “≈USD 300,000,” since the legal threshold is set in balboas.

2) Securities / capital markets route

• One of the authorized routes is investment in securities issued via Panama’s stock market framework, subject to proof and execution through appropriate channels.

3) Fixed-term deposit in local banks

• Another route is a time deposit in a Panamanian bank, structured under the decree’s requirements and evidenced through formal banking documentation.

Expedited processing: the “~30 working days” claim

The 30-working-day positioning is not just marketing. The decree text (as published and indexed in legal repositories) states that the application should be resolved in a period not greater than 30 business days, counted from receipt of the request, through a special processing window at the National Immigration Service.

Business interpretation for HNWIs:

• “30 days” is a regulated service target, not a guaranteed SLA.

• Your actual timeline depends on file quality, banking readiness, and asset execution speed (especially in real estate closings).

What sophisticated investors should verify before deploying capital

For HNWIs, the risk is rarely eligibility—it’s execution. Prioritize these controls:

• Source of funds + audit trail

  • Bank letters, remittance path, supporting financial statements, and clean beneficial ownership disclosures.

• Asset-quality due diligence (real estate route)

  • Title review, lien checks, developer credibility (if off-plan), and enforceable contract protections.

• Proof package alignment

  • The decree-driven nature of the program means your success depends on documentary precision (investment evidence must match the legal definition).

Why this program stays attractive for HNWIs

Panama Qualified Investor Program tends to fit clients who want:

• Permanent residency rather than multi-step status conversion.

• A pathway that can integrate into a broader wealth structuring plan (real assets, market instruments, or cash placements).

• A solution that supports long-term optionality (family planning, business footprint diversification, and jurisdictional risk management).

How Globalia Consulting (partner of Globevisa Group) can help

We work with HNWIs using a compliance-first, execution-led model:

• Program fit and route selection

  • We map your objectives to the optimal investment route (real estate vs securities vs deposit) based on liquidity, control, and risk posture.

• Bankable file building

  • Source-of-funds and source-of-wealth pack, legalization/translation coordination, and evidence formatting to match decree requirements.

• Investment execution oversight

  • We coordinate with vetted local professionals for due diligence, contracts, and closing mechanics—reducing execution risk.

• Time-to-decision optimization

  • We structure submissions to reduce back-and-forth and protect the expedited processing objective.