Qualified Investor permanent residence: new (first-sale) real estate
Changed83changed 16 Sep 2026: Executive Decree 17 of 8 Sep 2026 keeps the $300,000 minimum for first-sale property, with no end date
- Minimum
- US$300,000
- What counts
- New, unoccupied property bought from the developer (first sale) for $300,000+, held 5 years. Recognised value is the lower of price paid and market value, less liens; financing above the minimum allowed
- Processing
- Set by Executive Decree 17: investment certificate from the Ministry of Commerce (MICI) within 15 business days, then the immigration decision within 30 business days of a complete file
- Permit
- Not published
- Time you must spend there
- No minimum stay; visit Panama at least once every two years to keep permanent residence
- Path to a passport
- Citizenship possible after about 5 years; the permit is permanent residence from the start.
- Family
- dependants included
- Tax
- Territorial: only income produced in Panama is taxed (Fiscal Code art. 694); foreign-source income is not taxed
Official source · Second source · checked 2026-10-20




















