Immigration
The Economic Solvency Visa grants two-year provisional residency to individuals who demonstrate financial self-sufficiency through real estate ownership or a fixed-term bank deposit, with eligibility to subsequently apply for permanent residency.
The Economic Solvency Visa of Panama is one of the country's most established residency-by-investment programs. It is designed for investors, entrepreneurs, retirees, and international families seeking to establish residency in Panama while diversifying and protecting their wealth.
To qualify, the applicant must make a minimum investment of USD 300,000 through one of the following modalities:
Fixed-term bank deposit in a Panamanian banking institution.
A combination of real estate and fixed-term deposit that reaches the minimum required amount.
As a general rule, an additional investment of USD 2,000 is required for each dependent included in the application.
Obtaining legal residency in Panama through a qualified investment.
The possibility of including eligible dependents within the same application.
Access to the Panamanian banking system and the local real estate market.
Wealth diversification through real estate assets or financial instruments.
The option to apply for permanent residency once the applicable immigration requirements have been met.
One of the main advantages of the Economic Solvency Visa is the flexibility to combine different asset classes within a single immigration application.
Eligible investments may include:
Apartments
Houses
Commercial premises
Offices
Land or development lots
Fixed-term bank deposits
This flexibility allows applicants to structure their immigration investment in accordance with their personal financial objectives and risk profile.
The main applicant may include the following dependents within the same immigration application:
Spouse
Parents
Children under 25 years of age
This makes the program especially attractive for families seeking long-term relocation and legal stability in Panama.
This residency category is available to applicants of all nationalities.
However, certain nationalities may require a Panamanian tourist visa before traveling to Panama to complete the immigration process in person before the National Immigration Service.
Applicants may also make the qualified investment through a Panama corporation or a private interest foundation.
In these cases, the main applicant must demonstrate that:
They are the 100% beneficial owner of the entity; and
They act as the legal representative of the corporate structure
This feature offers additional advantages for:
Asset protection
Wealth planning
International wealth structuring
Family ownership arrangements
The qualified investment in real estate and/or fixed-term deposits generally must be maintained for a minimum period of three years.
Updated investment certifications are normally required only when the applicant applies to convert provisional residency into permanent residency.
Unlike the Qualified Investor Program, the Economic Solvency Visa initially grants:
A provisional residency permit valid for two years
After completing the provisional residency period, applicants may apply for:
Permanent residency in Panama
This applies to all investment modalities, including:
Real estate investments
Bank deposits
Mixed investment structures
Applicants under this category may eventually be eligible to apply for Panamanian citizenship by naturalization after completing:
Five (5) years of permanent residency in Panama
The initial two-year provisional residency period generally does not count within the eligibility timeframe for citizenship, except in limited situations related to reciprocity treaties or special legal exceptions.
Applicants seeking citizenship must also demonstrate:
Genuine ties to Panama
Economic contribution
Social integration within the country
Panama continues to attract international investors and families due to its:
U.S. dollar-based economy
Territorial tax system
Modern international banking sector
Strategic location connecting the Americas
Strong real estate market
Political and economic stability
International lifestyle and infrastructure
For many applicants, the Economic Solvency Visa offers a balanced combination of:
Residency
Wealth preservation
Real estate ownership
Banking access
Long-term international diversification
Applicants generally require approximately 30 days to:
Prepare supporting documents
Obtain apostilles or legalizations
Coordinate investment structures
Organize banking or real estate documentation
Once in Panama:
The documents are reviewed
The immigration file is prepared
The application is filed before the National Immigration Service
This stage generally requires approximately 2 weeks in Panama.
After filing, Immigration issues a temporary processing card valid for six months while the application is under review.
Once approved, the main applicant and their dependents must personally return to Panama for:
Registration
Photograph
Issuance of the two-year provisional resident card
This final stage generally requires approximately 2 business days.
Applicants may apply for permanent residency approximately one month before the expiration of the provisional residency card, provided that:
The qualified investment remains active
The immigration requirements continue to be met
Updated investment certifications are submitted when required
The transition process allows applicants to continue building long-term residency status in Panama while maintaining their investment structure.
Common questions answered before your consultation.
Yes. The Panama Economic Solvency Visa is generally available to applicants of all nationalities, provided they meet the investment, documentation, and immigration requirements. However, some nationalities may need to obtain a Panamanian tourist visa or an entry authorization before traveling to Panama to complete the immigration application filing in person before the National Immigration Service.
Yes. Holders of the Economic Solvency Visa may apply for a work permit in Panama. However, residency does not automatically grant authorization to work, so a work permit must be processed separately before the corresponding labor authorities.
Applicants can generally qualify by maintaining a minimum investment of USD 300,000 through Panamanian real estate, fixed-term bank deposits, or a combination of both types of investment. If the applicant includes dependents in the application, an additional investment of **USD 2,000 per dependent** is generally required. This amount must be taken into account when planning the total investment for a spouse, children, parents, or other eligible dependents.
No. Pre-construction or under-construction properties generally do not qualify for the Panama Economic Solvency Visa. For this category, the investment must normally be backed by a completed property registered in Panama's Public Registry at the time of filing the application.
If your goal is to invest in a pre-construction real estate project, you may consider the Qualified Investor Residency Program, which allows certain real estate investments under development to be eligible, provided they meet the requirements established by the immigration legislation in force.
Yes. The Panama Economic Solvency Visa initially grants a two-year provisional residency permit. After completing the provisional residency period, applicants may apply for permanent residency in Panama, provided that the qualified investment remains active and the immigration requirements continue to be met. This makes the program attractive to investors, retirees, entrepreneurs, and international families seeking a structured path to long-term residency in Panama.
Yes. The Economic Solvency Visa allows combining a real estate investment with a fixed-term bank deposit, provided that the total value of both investments reaches the minimum amount required by the immigration legislation in force.
Many investors use this structure to diversify their assets between the real estate market and the Panamanian banking system. Our team can assist you both with opening the bank account needed for the fixed-term deposit and with the due diligence, negotiation, and legal property purchase and sale process in Panama.
Schedule your initial consultation and let us guide you through the process. We respond within 1 business day.
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