Residency & Golden Visas / Panama / Route
Panama · Investment route
Secure Panama permanent residency through a regulated fixed-term bank deposit with capital stability and expert guidance from XIPHIAS.
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Programme overviewنظرة عامة
Advising UAE residents on residency abroad from our Dubai office.
What you getالمزايا
Immediate permanent residency upon approval (Qualified Investor framework).
Option to apply for an E-Cédula (Panamanian resident ID) after approval, subject to local procedures.
Eligible dependents can be included (spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents, subject to documentation).
Eligible to apply for Panamanian nationality after five consecutive years of residence; naturalisation requires renouncing your existing nationality.
Low-volatility investment structure relative to market-linked options (subject to bank and interest-rate risk).
Interest on time deposits in Panama is commonly treated as exempt income under Panama tax rules (confirm with your tax advisor).
Investment & costsالتكاليف
Qualifying investment
Minimum Fixed-Term Deposit
Before submission · Open a fixed-term deposit of at least USD 750,000 (B/.750,000) with a Panamanian bank holding a general license, on a term of at least five years. The deposit must be free of liens and funded from abroad.
Figures are indicative and exclusive of professional fees. Your advisor confirms an exact, written cost breakdown for your family size.
Eligibilityالأهلية
Requirements
Be at least 18 years old and legally admissible.
Clean police clearance certificate (apostilled/authenticated as required).
Open a fixed-term deposit of at least USD 750,000 (B/.750,000) in a Panamanian bank with a general license.
Deposit term must be at least 5 years and free of liens/encumbrances.
Provide notarized copy of the fixed-term deposit certificate and a bank certificate confirming deposit details and that funds came from abroad.
Valid passport (minimum 6 months validity recommended).
Health certificate from an authorized doctor (issued recently).
Proof of lawful source of funds and evidence the funds came from abroad.
Pay required government fees and provide proofs of payment.
Proof of funds
Who cannot apply
Criminal record or inadmissibility issues.
Failure to prove the lawful source and foreign origin of funds.
Deposit not meeting program conditions (amount/term/bank license/lien-free status).
Early termination of the deposit or failure to maintain the qualifying investment for the required period.
The processكيف نعمل
Step 1 - Eligibility Assessment
For a preliminary eligibility assessment and guidance, the candidate gets in touch with XIPHIAS.
Step 2 - Bank Deposit Setup & Documentation
XIPHIAS supports the candidate in coordinating the fixed-term deposit setup, KYC, and assembling route-specific bank certificates and supporting documentation.
Step 3 - File the Application
Authorized local representatives work with XIPHIAS to submit the Qualified Investor permanent residency application to the Panamanian authorities.
Step 4 - Background & Funds Verification
Panamanian officials verify admissibility, source of funds, and the qualifying bank deposit documentation.
Step 5 - Approval & Permanent Residency Card
Upon approval, the applicant receives permanent resident status and completes local procedures for residency documentation and ID processes.
Document checklistالوثائق
Identity & Civil
Documents may require apostille/authentication and certified translation.
- ✦Valid passport (all applicants)
- ✦Passport-size photos
- ✦Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- ✦Birth certificates for children (if applicable)
Police & Health
Requirements depend on where you apply and your country of residence.
- ✦Police clearance certificate (apostilled/authenticated)
- ✦Certificate of good health (issued recently)
Investment - Bank Deposit Route (Fixed-Term Deposit)
These are route-specific documents required for the bank deposit option.
- ✦Notarized copy (by the issuing bank) of the fixed-term deposit certificate showing holder, amount, and term
- ✦Bank certificate stating existence of the deposit, holder, amount, term, lien-free status, and confirming the funds came from abroad
- ✦Supporting bank account opening/KYC documents (as required by the bank)
Funds Transfer & Source of Funds
Must demonstrate the investment funds' legitimate source and foreign origin.
- ✦Bank letter(s) confirming transfer/receipt of funds from abroad
- ✦Bank statements showing the transfer trail
- ✦Affidavit or supporting documentation showing lawful source of funds
Dependents (if applicable)
Additional documentation may apply depending on the dependent category.
- ✦Relationship proof (marriage/birth certificates)
- ✦Student certificate for dependent children aged 18-25 (if applicable)
- ✦Dependency evidence for parents (if applicable)
Your XIPHIAS advisor prepares a personalised document list at onboarding. The checklist above is indicative and may vary by family size.
Family scopeالأسرة
All eligible dependants can be included in one application or added after approval.
Age limits, dependency definitions, and addition fees vary by jurisdiction. Your advisor confirms exact rules at onboarding.
Approved projectsالمشاريع
Panama Fixed-Term Deposit (CD) - Qualified Investor Route
Qualifying fixed-term deposit in a Panamanian general-license bank, documented with required bank certifications.
Project availability and inventory change. Your advisor confirms current options and any exclusive allocations at onboarding.
Risk notes
The real estate threshold is USD 500,000. The USD 300,000 transitional rate under Executive Decree 722 of 2020, as amended by Executive Decree 109 of 2022, either lapsed in October 2024 or lapses on 13 October 2026, depending on how the transitional article is read. Either reading gives the same practical answer: budget USD 500,000.
Panama does not permit dual citizenship. Migración’s own naturalisation form requires an express and irrevocable renunciation of the previous nationality, and Article 13 of the Constitution treats acquiring another nationality as tacit renunciation.
Panama’s Friendly Nations Visa is limited to the nationalities listed in Executive Decree 226 of 2021. XIPHIAS confirms your nationality against the current list with Migración before advising that the route is open to you.
Compliance
Qualified Investor Visa: real estate USD 500,000; securities USD 500,000 held five years; or a fixed deposit of USD 750,000 on a five-year term. Grants permanent residence.
Friendly Nations Visa now grants two years provisional residence and then permanent residence — the former immediate-permanent route no longer exists. Real estate USD 200,000, or a fixed deposit of USD 200,000 for three years, or an employment letter.
Naturalisation after five years under Article 10 of the Constitution, or three years with a Panamanian spouse or children.
Government fees are payable to the Servicio Nacional de Migración and the National Treasury; XIPHIAS confirms the current schedule for your file.
Questionsأسئلة شائعة
This route, answered.
It is a permanent residency program in Panama created under Executive Decree 722 (and related amendments), allowing permanent residency through qualifying investments such as real estate, securities, or a fixed-term bank deposit.
Start the Panama route.
A senior advisor will confirm the exact costs, timeline and documents for your case — privately, and entirely off the record.