Programme Overview
Panama Golden Visa
From $300,000 — financed against your portfolio, not liquidated from it.
Or compare it against the other programmesPanama at a glance
Panama's Qualified Investor Visa Programme offers permanent residency through real estate or business investment. Strategically located between North and South America, Panama provides a stable economy, territorial tax system, and pathway to citizenship.
Investment from
$300,000
Processing
5-10 months
Stay required
None
Golden Visa. Spouse and dependants included. There is a pathway to citizenship.
Panama Golden Visa — investment routes
Real Estate Investment
Purchase of residential or commercial real estate in Panama
- ▪Investment of $300,000
Business Investment
Investment in Panamanian business or establishment of new enterprise
- ▪Investment of $500,000
Bank Deposit
Fixed-term deposit in Panamanian bank for minimum 5 years
- ▪Investment of $750,000
Panama Golden Visa benefits
- Permanent residency from day one
- Include spouse and dependent children
- Territorial tax system (no tax on foreign income)
- No minimum stay requirements to maintain residency
- Path to citizenship after 5 years
- Strategic location and business hub
- US dollar economy
- Growing international business center
Eligibility Requirements
- ▪At least 18 years old
- ▪Clean criminal record
- ▪Valid passport with 6+ months validity
- ▪Proof of investment
- ▪Health certificate
- ▪Proof of economic solvency
- ▪Police clearance from country of origin
- ▪Investment maintained during residency
Who can be included
- Spouse
- Dependent children under 18
- Children under 25 if students
- Parents and in-laws (additional fees apply)
Taxation
Panama operates a territorial tax system, meaning only income earned within Panama is taxed. Foreign-sourced income is not taxed, making it attractive for international investors and digital nomads.
Residency requirements
No minimum stay requirement to maintain permanent residency status. However, residency card must be renewed periodically and extended absences may require explanation.
Path to citizenship
Eligible for Panamanian citizenship after 5 years of permanent residency. Requirements include basic Spanish language proficiency, clean criminal record, and demonstrated ties to Panama.
Application process
Typical duration: 5-10 months- 01
Investment & Documentation
1-2 monthsComplete qualifying investment and gather required documents
- 02
Application Submission
1-2 monthsSubmit application to National Immigration Service
- 03
Processing & Approval
3-6 monthsGovernment review and permanent residency approval
Costs and fees (Commission)
Every charge the programme makes, and the sales commission an intermediary adds on top of them.
Investment
$300,000-$750,000
Depending on chosen investment route
Government Fees
$5,000-$8,000
Immigration application and processing fees
Legal Fees
$5,000-$10,000
Immigration attorney and document preparation
Property Costs
2-4%
Transfer tax and closing costs if purchasing real estate
Sales commission
$25,000–$45,000
Bundled into the investment or the legal package, depending who is quoting.
Fee Based Model
The same programme, bought without an intermediary's commission.
You save
$25,000–$45,000
The sales commission on the left, which you do not pay. The $10,000 fee replaces it.
Total estimated cost
$340,000–$820,000
Including the sales commission above.
Total estimated cost
$315,000–$775,000
The programme's own charges, plus the $10,000 fee. No commission.
What the advice costs
The programme costs the same. The advice does not.
Through a commission
$25,000–$45,000
Sales commission on Panama. Bundled into the investment or the legal package, depending who is quoting.
Through a fee
$10,000
Paid once, and it runs to the permit being issued — route selection, the financing, the portfolio, and the agent appointed and managed for you. Paid by you, so the answer can be no.
Total saving
$25,000–$45,000
The whole commission, before the $10,000 fee. The programme costs what it costs either way.
This is the commission only. The licensed agent, the legal work and the government fees in the list above are payable whoever advises you, and nothing here removes them — a saving that quietly included a statutory fee would be the same trick in the other direction.
Commission ranges are typical rather than universal, and no firm is named. They are not published anywhere, which is the point of them.
Fund Your Panama Investment with a Lombard Loan
Instead of liquidating your portfolio to fund the From $300,000 Panama investment, use your existing assets as collateral and keep your money working for you.
Traditional: Liquidate Assets
- ✗Sell From $300,000 from your portfolio
- ✗Trigger capital gains tax (up to 20%)
- ✗Lose years of compound growth
- ✗After 10 years: $647,677
Lombard Loan: Keep Your Portfolio
- Borrow From $300,000 against $600,000 collateral
- No capital gains event triggered
- Portfolio continues growing at 8%
- After 10 years: $1.21M
10-Year Wealth Projection
Is Panama right for you?
Ideal for
- International entrepreneurs seeking tax-efficient base
- Remote workers wanting US dollar economy
- Retirees seeking warm climate with modern healthcare
- Business owners needing Americas hub location
- Investors seeking real estate with rental potential
Consider alternatives if
- ▪Those seeking EU residency or Schengen immediate access
- ▪Investors unable to commit $300K+ to real estate
- ▪Those wanting citizenship in under 5 years
- ▪Applicants preferring English-only environment
- ▪Those seeking passive income from investment itself
Alternative programmes to consider
Related Resources
FAQs
Half an hour, $100, no commission.
Whether Panama is right for you, what it will actually cost, and whether a visa with no capital contribution gets you the same place for nothing.