June 15, 2025
Limitless Team
Are you considering moving to Panama in 2025 and are you intrigued by the possibility of obtaining residency through investment? This route, which is increasingly popular among businessmen, retirees and foreign entrepreneurs, allows them to legally establish themselves in the country through various forms of investment. But one of the most common questions is: How much do I need to invest and in what exactly?
Panama has different legal residency programs designed to attract foreign investment. In general, interested parties can obtain the residence in Panama investing in real estate, making fixed-term deposits in local banks or buying securities issued in the country. Each option has its own rules, minimum amounts and maintenance conditions.
What makes this alternative attractive is Panama's economic stability, its clear legal system and its strategic approach as a regional hub, as well as a favorable environment for foreigners and investors. However, there are also challenges: from knowing the current legislation to understanding how a possible drop in the value of the investment may affect your immigration status.
In this updated guide for 2025 from Limitless Legal, we simply and directly break down the key requirements of residency by investment program in Panama. You'll see the minimum amounts required, the types of investments that qualify and real examples to better guide you. This information is essential if you are starting your journey towards a legal residence in Panama or if you represent a company or family interested in establishing themselves in the country.
In this first part we will cover two fundamental aspects:
- How much do you have to invest to get an investment visa?
- Details and examples about investing in real estate, one of the most popular options.
Whether you're evaluating a Panamanian visa for the purchase of real estate or simply by comparing options, here you'll find practical and up-to-date answers. Let's get started!
How much do I have to invest to obtain residency in Panama?
The Panamanian Government offers several programs of Legal Residence for Foreigners, held on the basis of Foreign investment. For the most part, these visas require proof that an investment has been made in the country for a certain minimum amount, with a legal origin and with a commitment to keep it for a certain period.
For 2025, the requirements remain in line with previous years, although they can always be updated. Depending on the route you choose (real estate, bank deposits or securities), these are the minimum investment amounts required:
- Investment in real estate: Minimum USD $300,000. As of October 15, 2026, the amount increases to USD $500,000.
- Fixed-term deposit: USD $500,000 minimum.
- Investment in securities: USD $750,000 invested in the Panama Stock Exchange or other financial instruments regulated by the government.
There is also the call Qualified Investor Visa, a quick option that grants permanent residence without having to go through temporary residence first. This program is designed to attract International Investors interested in an agile process —even from outside— with approval times of only 30 business days.
Many are wondering: Can I add different types of investment to reach the minimum amount? The answer is no. The law requires that the investment come from a single modality for each application.
So, if you're considering getting the Panamanian residence for foreigners in 2025, it is important to define from the start which route is best for you. Factors such as the type of business, your residence goals, time frames, asset liquidity and risk tolerance will influence this decision.
In the next few sections, we thoroughly analyze each alternative, starting with one of the most popular methods: Buying real estate in Panama.
Real Estate Investment: Legal Requirements and Examples
The option to purchase real estate in Panama It is one of the most used to obtain the Legal Residence under the investor program. This is because many foreigners already have housing plans or see buying a property as a way to protect their assets.
By 2025, the law allows you to obtain permanent residence if you make a minimum investment of:
- USD $300,000 if you make the purchase before October 15, 2026.
- USD $500,000 if the investment is made after October 16, 2026.
The property must be free of encumbrances (mortgages or debts) and in the name of the main applicant. It is also valid if the property is acquired through a Panamanian limited company where the investor is the sole shareholder.
What types of properties qualify?
Both apartments and houses, urban or rural land are valid, provided that the project is registered with a legally constituted developer in Panama. Payments must also be able to be verified through bank transfers, international transactions or notarial certificates.
Practical example
Let's say you want to move to Panama City and find a new apartment in Punta Pacifica valued at USD $320,000. If you make the payment before October 15, 2026, your investment meets the requirement. Latin Americans, Europeans and North Americans tend to choose areas such as San Francisco, El Cangrejo or Panama Pacifico due to their modern infrastructure and great connectivity.
However, if you decide to wait until 2026, you will need to buy one or more properties with a total value of at least USD $500,000. You can purchase multiple properties, but the total amount is required to have been legally transferred and registered.
Required main documents
To submit your request for Panamanian visa for the purchase of real estate You must include:
- Certificate from the Public Registry of Panama proving ownership of the property
- Certified copy of the sales contract
- Proof of the legal origin of the funds
- Investment and Economic Stability Affidavit
This type of legal residence in Panama is ideal for those who plan to live in the country or those who want to maintain a long-term investment with valuation potential. In the next part of this guide, we'll explore how the mode of Panamanian Residence by Bank Deposit. Keep reading to understand if this path is right for you.
Fixed-term deposits: minimum amounts and banking conditions
If you're looking for a simple and safe way to get the legal residence in Panama, the fixed-term deposits in Panamanian banks they can be an excellent alternative. This route is available under the scheme of visa for investors, and the Panamanian government has maintained it as one of the most accessible options for foreigners who wish to settle in the country.
To apply to the investment visa using a bank deposit, you must comply with specific legal requirements in terms of amount, duration and financial institution.
Minimum amount required for 2025
Current legislation states that the fixed-term deposit must be at least USD $300,000. This amount must be kept for a minimum of three years. Starting in 2024, Panama increased the amount from the previous $200,000 as a measure to align immigration policy with the objectives of attracting foreign investment long-term.
The deposit must be in the name of the visa applicant and must be made at a bank with a general license in Panama, authorized and supervised by the Superintendency of Banks.
Conditions you should know
- Currency: the deposit must be made in US dollars.
- Deadline: minimum of three years without early retirement.
- Bank institution: only banks under Panamanian supervision qualify. Deposits in foreign banks are not accepted, even if they are located within the country.
- Notarized bank record: essential part of the migratory file.
An important advantage of this option is that it does not involve risks related to the real estate or stock market. It is a more conservative modality, ideal for those looking for stability or for retirees and passive investors who want to protect their capital.
Practical example
Imagine that Ana, an Argentinian entrepreneur, wants to obtain her Panamanian residence in 2025 but you don't want to buy property. Decides to carry out a term deposit in Panama for $300,000 at a local bank with a fixed interest rate of 3.5% per year. For three years, you cannot withdraw or move that money, but at the end of the term, you can renew it or dispose of the funds freely. Your investment is clear, secure and allows you to apply for the visa without complications.
This route is also valued for its transparency: the requirements are well defined and do not depend on subjective assessments of market value, as in real estate.
As in all forms of residence visa for investment in Panama, it is important to keep the amount deposited for the entire term of the permit. If the deposit is canceled early, residency status may be lost. That's why financial planning early on is essential.
However, if your inclination is to participate more actively in the Panamanian financial market, investing in securities may be another valid alternative. Let's see what requirements apply for this modality.
Investing in Panamanian Securities: What Qualifies?
Another way to get the legal residence in Panama It is through the investment in securities issued by Panamanian companies. This option is especially attractive for more sophisticated investors or those who wish to actively participate in the country's financial ecosystem.
This mechanism is also part of the Residency by Investment Program and has been promoted as a way to boost the stock market and offer more dynamic alternatives to foreign capital.
Requirements to apply via investment in securities
To apply for a Panamanian visa under this modality, the law requires a minimum investment of USD $750,000 in securities issued in Panama. This is one of the ways that demand more initial capital, but it can also provide opportunities for higher returns.
The values must meet the following conditions:
- Be issued by Panamanian companies and registered with the Superintendency of the Securities Market (SMV).
- Investing through a Securities Firm authorized and operating in Panama.
- Stay for a minimum of five years to keep the residence.
Both common shares and corporate bonds are accepted, provided they are duly registered and lawfully acquired.
This option is ideal for those looking to diversify their portfolio, have experience in financial markets or want to have a more direct participation in the formal Panamanian economy. In exchange for the commitment to stay and exposure to market risk, you can obtain a visa with the possibility of renewal and, eventually, permanent residence.
What types of values are valid?
From the migratory point of view, the following instruments qualify:
- Common shares in local companies registered on the Latin American Stock Exchange (Latinex).
- Corporate bonds and fixed income instruments issued by Panamanian corporations.
- Authorized and properly structured collective investment trusts under national regulation.
They do not qualify investments in cryptocurrencies, foreign stocks, or securities acquired outside the Panamanian regulatory framework.
Practical example
Take the case of Jorge, a Colombian businessman with experience in stock market investments. Decide to invest $750,000 in bonds issued by a Panamanian energy company, via a regulated brokerage firm. Through this structured transaction, Jorge applies for his visa and obtains his Panamanian Residence for Foreigners 2025, meeting all the conditions of the program.
A key recommendation for this type of solution is to work with financial advisors duly licensed in Panama, since the process involves relevant technical criteria and detailed documentation on the acquisition and history of financial instruments.
It is also worth noting that, because these are assets subject to fluctuation, there is a possibility that the market value of these instruments will decrease over time. Can this put your immigration status at risk? We examined precisely that scenario in the next fundamental point.
What happens if the value of your investment decreases?
One of the most frequently asked questions among those seeking to obtain the legal residence in Panama investment is what happens if the investment loses value over time. It's a valid concern, especially considering that the market for real estate in Panama, the financial values And the interest rates they can fluctuate. But the good news is that Panamanian laws contemplate these situations, with certain key conditions that every investor must take into account.
What Panamanian immigration law says about loss of value
The different programs of visa for investors in Panama they are regulated by specific resolutions of the National Migration Service. In general, the verification of compliance with the minimum amount is carried out at the time of filing the application for residence or when renewing immigration status (in the case of temporary permits).
This means that:
- The investment must comply with the minimum amount required at the time of the initial procedure.
- If your visa is permanent, the subsequent market value of the investment does NOT usually affect your approved legal status.
- If you are holding a provisional permit (such as a so-called “qualified investment residence”), there may be continuous verification in future stages.
What if the value of the property falls or the deposit rate falls?
For those who access the legal residence in Panama by bank deposit Or by buying real estate, a decrease in the value of the investment does not necessarily imply the loss of the immigration permit, provided that the initial investment has complied with the requirements of the law. That is to say:
If you purchased a property for U.S. $300,000 In 2024 and this is devalued to US $280,000 in 2026, your residence is still valid because you invested the amount required at the time of processing.
In the case of fixed-term deposits, what is being reviewed is that:
- Be a deposit in the name of the applicant
- For the minimum amount required in that year
- And that it is frozen for a minimum period (currently 5 years for “qualified residence”)
If the interest rate falls, or the market value of the financial instrument decreases, your legal status is not immediately affected. What matters is having met the conditions initially, including deadlines and ownership.
Cases in which you could lose your residence
Although the drop in value is not a direct reason for cancellation, there are scenarios in which the investor could lose their Panamanian visa:
- You dissolve the deposit or sell the property before the established minimum term
- The investment never reached the required amount (for example, if you only invested $280,000 when $300,000 was required)
- You are unable to prove the legal origin of the funds to the Panamanian authorities
- You committed document fraud or falsehood in the declaration of amounts invested
In this regard, having adequate legal advice is key to properly documenting the investment, protecting your immigration status and evaluating how market changes could impact you when renewing your residence or converting a temporary permit to a permanent one.
Recommendations if your investment loses value
If you notice that your investment is losing value — for example, due to a decline in the housing market or a drop in bank rates — it is recommended that you:
- Gather all documents that prove initial compliance
- Keep the original contracts, deeds or bank certificates
- Consult regularly with an attorney to evaluate your current immigration status
- Avoid selling any assets linked to your visa ahead of time
In short, if the value of your foreign investment in Panama It is reduced after the application is approved, it does not automatically mean that you will lose your residence. The important thing is to have complied with the legal amounts and conditions at the right time. However, it is good practice to stay informed, to document everything correctly and to seek specialized guidance in the face of any significant change.
✍🏼 Take note...
Get the residence in Panama by investment is an attractive alternative in 2025 for foreigners seeking to settle legally in the country. Throughout this guide, we explore the three main paths: real estate, fixed-term deposits and Panamanian values. Each of these options has minimum investment amounts specific, legal conditions and documentary steps that must be met for your request to be valid. We also address a common concern: What happens if the investment loses value?. Panamanian regulations provide some flexibility, provided that the initial conditions have been strictly respected. Whether you are considering buying an apartment, opening a bank deposit or investing in local financial instruments, Panama offers a stable, competitive environment with clear frameworks for attracting foreign investment. With proper preparation, this route can provide you not only with legal status, but a solid foundation for living, working, or entrepreneurship in the country.
Are you considering getting the Panamanian residence by investment, but you are not sure which option is best suited to your case or how to ensure compliance with the requirements? At Limitless Legal we can accompany you at every step: from validating documents, analyzing your investment, to submitting your application to Migration. Our legal team in Panama specializes in immigration processes for foreign investors and will help you protect your immigration status with total security.