Qualified Investor Visa - Securities Investment Packages

A securities-based residency project requires more than a USD 500,000 investment decision

Panama’s Qualified Investor Visa is one of the country’s most recognized residency-by-investment routes. The securities investment option may be attractive for international clients who prefer to qualify through a regulated investment account instead of purchasing real estate or creating a fixed-term bank deposit.

Under the current framework, the applicant must generally make one or more qualifying investments through a brokerage house licensed in Panama, for a minimum amount of USD 500,000. Executive Decree No. 17 of September 8, 2026 broadened the eligible securities categories, subject to the applicable registration, custody and supervision requirements. The qualifying investment must be maintained for at least five years.

Panama’s current Qualified Investor framework is governed by Executive Decree No. 17 of September 8, 2026, which replaced Executive Decree No. 722 and its amendments. The framework maintains the permanent-residence route for qualifying investors and requires the Ministry of Commerce and Industries (MICI) to certify the qualifying investment for the National Immigration Service.

For securities-based cases, the process may involve more providers than the client initially expects: immigration counsel, financial or investment advisors, a bank, a brokerage house, compliance officers, authorized translators, MICI, the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores, the National Immigration Service and, after approval, cédula and settlement steps.

CitizenResident helps coordinate the roadmap between those parties.

Why investors consider this route

• Permanent residency for the main applicant and eligible family members.

• USD 500,000 minimum securities investment, subject to current regulation and professional review.

• Financial investment route instead of property purchase or fixed-term deposit.

• Licensed brokerage house workflow in Panama.

• Portfolio-oriented structure for investors familiar with financial markets.

• USD-based economy for banking and investment planning.

• Strategic base in the Americas with strong regional connectivity.

• Banking, brokerage and professional services ecosystem, subject to compliance.

• Possible Special Travel Passport roadmap, subject to regulation.

• Future naturalization roadmap, depending on nationality and legal requirements.

• Potential tax planning opportunities, reviewed separately with tax professionals.

Choose the package that fits your investment-residency plan

CitizenResident offers two coordination levels:

Basic Package

Focused coordination for the essential securities-investment residency workflow.

Best for clients who need support with:

• preliminary due diligence organization;

• document collection;

• roadmap and timeline coordination;

• communication with legal and financial professionals;

• personal bank account coordination;

• brokerage account coordination;

• document legalization and translation workflow;

• funds transfer follow-up;

• MICI and immigration workflow coordination;

• basic status tracking.

Premium Package

Enhanced coordination for clients who want a more complete Panama arrival and post-approval experience.

Best for clients who want everything in Basic plus:

• airport VIP pass coordination;

• airport-to-city transportation;

• local SIM card assistance;

• family travel coordination for permanent resident cards;

• local rental coordination support;

• cédula coordination;

• Panama tax ID coordination, if applicable;

• special travel passport roadmap support, if available under current regulation and quoted separately;

• stronger post-approval organization.

Why securities investment coordination matters

The securities option may be operationally sophisticated because the client is not simply opening one account or submitting one document. The process may require:

• selecting the appropriate investment route;

• reviewing the immigration suitability of the securities or investment fund;

• confirming that the investment can support the MICI certification;

• opening a personal bank account;

• opening a brokerage or investment account;

• passing bank and brokerage due diligence;

• transferring funds through correspondent or intermediary banks;

• responding to additional compliance questions;

• obtaining certifications from the brokerage house and the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores;

• coordinating the MICI certification;

• coordinating the immigration application.

MICI’s requirements for Qualified Investor certification expressly refer to investments made through a securities brokerage house licensed by Panama’s Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores, including a certification from the licensed brokerage house showing the investor’s name, investment amount, details of the securities held and the custodian entity, as well as SMV-related documentation.

This is why step sequencing is critical. The investment should not be treated as isolated from immigration review, banking compliance or MICI certification.

Basic vs Premium comparison

How the securities investment process usually works

Estimated overall timeline: approximately 3–6 months from a complete client file and successful bank and brokerage onboarding through permanent-residence approval. Compliance reviews, investment execution, third-party certifications or authority requests may extend the overall schedule.

1. Category comparison and initial strategy

The client first needs to understand how the securities investment option compares with other routes, such as real estate investment or fixed-term bank deposit. This comparison should consider timing, liquidity, investment profile, compliance burden, risk tolerance, family needs and post-approval obligations.

CitizenResident may help coordinate this initial decision-making process with independent legal, financial and professional partners.

2. Preliminary due diligence and document collection

Before accounts are opened or funds are transferred, the client’s profile should be organized for compliance review. This may involve identity documents, proof of address, professional background, corporate documents, tax information, source of funds and source of wealth evidence.

3. Roadmap and timeline action plan

CitizenResident helps coordinate a practical action plan showing what must happen first, what can move in parallel and what depends on bank, brokerage, legal or authority approval.

4. Investment option coordination

The client may need to coordinate with financial advisors or investment providers to evaluate eligible securities or investment funds. Any selected investment should be reviewed by the immigration legal partner for immigration compatibility and should be capable of supporting MICI certification.

CitizenResident does not recommend securities, funds, portfolios or investment strategies.

5. Document legalization and translation

Documents may be required for the bank, brokerage house, MICI and Immigration Office. Foreign documents may need apostille or consular legalization, and non-Spanish documents may require authorized translation.

6. Personal bank account coordination

A personal bank account may be needed to receive, document or route funds, depending on the structure. Bank approval is subject to compliance review and is never guaranteed.

7. Brokerage account coordination

The client may need to open an investment or brokerage account with a licensed securities brokerage house. The Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores publicly presents itself as the securities market regulator and publishes investor alerts, regulated information and documents of interest through its official platform.

8. Funds transfer and intermediary bank follow-up

After approval, the transfer of funds may require follow-up with sending banks, receiving banks, intermediary banks or compliance departments. Additional due diligence questions may arise during or after the transfer.

9. Brokerage and SMV certifications

For the securities investment option, the documentation may include a certification issued by the licensed brokerage house and a certification from the Superintendencia del Mercado de Valores related to the registration of the relevant securities.

10. MICI and Immigration Office workflow

Once the investment evidence is organized, the application process may involve MICI certification and immigration filing before the corresponding authorities. Under the current framework, MICI certifies the qualifying investment for the National Immigration Service.

11. Travel to Panama for resident cards

After approval, the client and family may need to travel to Panama to complete resident card steps, photographs, registrations and other post-approval actions.

12. Cédula, tax ID and post-approval coordination

Depending on the client’s needs, post-approval steps may include cédula coordination, tax ID coordination if applicable, local rental coordination and ongoing support.

13. Special Travel Passport roadmap

Panama approved a legal framework for a special passport benefit for permanent residents under the Qualified Investor category and their dependents, but application requirements and implementation should be confirmed under current regulation and the Passport Authority’s procedures.

This should not be presented as citizenship, a guaranteed document or an included service unless expressly confirmed in writing.

Professional Responsibility Notice

CitizenResident helps coordinate the project workflow, document flow, provider communication and client follow-up. Immigration advice, eligibility review, investment suitability, securities selection, financial advice, tax advice, brokerage services, legal opinions, filings and representation before authorities are handled by independent licensed professionals, regulated institutions or competent authorities. Government decisions, bank approvals, brokerage approvals, investment performance, document acceptance and processing times are outside CitizenResident’s control.