Golden Visa

This visa offers you the chance to obtain a Panamanian Permanent (Indefinite) residency and E-Cedula (Local ID) within thirty (30) business days of the initial application, without having to come physically to Panama for the application, until the Permanent Residency has already been approved and is ready for pick up.  After five (5) years of having obtained the permanent residency, you will have the option of applying for Panamanian Citizenship.

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The Golden Visa is the only permanent residency category in Panama with the following benefits:

1. Applications will be submitted and processed in a VIP Counter established at the Ministry of Commerce only for this residency category.

2. Applicants will be able to get the application submitted through their lawyer, without having to come physically into to the Republic of Panama for the application. 

3. The approval process for this residency will take a maximum of thirty (30) business days.

4. For applicants using Real Estate Investment option to show investment, this residency category allows applicants to start process while property is in Pre-Construction stage. 

 

Three (3) Investment options available to qualify for this visa are the following:

1. Real Estate Purchase of a property in the Republic of Panama for a minimum amount of Three Hundred Thousand American Dollars (US$300,000.00) until October 15th of the year 2024.  After until October 15th of the year 2024, the amount will increase to Five Hundred Thousand American Dollars (US$500,000.00).

• Applicant must maintain said property investment for at least five (5) years after the initial application, that will be verified by the Government on a yearly basis.

• The property can be purchase in your personal name or in the name of a corporation.

• Government will allow applications to be submitted for Pre-Constructions Properties while under construction.  Applicant must send required minimum amount of funds to a Trust Company and show Trust Contract Agreement as part of the documentation or pay directly to the developer the required minimum amount of funds to qualify. 

• Applicant can use financing on Property Purchase for any amount above the minimum required for the investment. 

 

   2. Invest a minimum of Five Hundred Thousand American Dollars (US$500,000.00) in the Panamanian Stock Market.

• Applicant must maintain investment in the Panamanian Stock Market for at least five (5) years after the initial application, amount that will be verified by the Government on a yearly basis.

• Investment can be made in any security issued by a Panamanian Company or Panamanian Government. This includes common shares, preferred shares, bonds, etc…

• Interest earned on investment is not taxed by the Panamanian government.

 

   3. Establish a Five (5) Year Term Time Deposit in a Panamanian Licensed Bank for a minimum Seven Hundred and Fifty Thousand 

        American Dollars (US$750,000.00) in your personal name or in the name of a private interest foundation.

• Interest earned on investment is not taxed by the Panamanian government.

 

Procedures for Applying for Permanent (Indefinite) Residency through The Golden Visa:

1. Provide all required documents and Sign Special Power of Attorney.

2. Our law firm submits your application your Permanent Residency. 

3. After the application is submitted, within approximately thirty (30) business days, the ministry of commerce will issue the final resolution approving your permanent residency.

4. After final resolution has been issued approving your permanent residency, we will notify the applicant, so they can coordinate a trip to Panama, so we can proceed and coordinate obtaining the permanent residency Identification card. 

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*Note: The Panamanian government requires you to be in Panama at least once every two (2) years to maintain the Panamanian Residency.

 

Required Documents for The Golden Visa:

1. Signed special power of attorney by the applicant.

2. Visa application form is filled out and signed by the applicant.

3. Signed Letter of Responsibility for dependents (if applicable)

4. Photocopy of the entire valid passport of the applicant, including all the pages in the passport.

5. Police record from the country of last two (2) years of residency, for main applicant and any dependent over 18 years old. The police report must contain the following premises to have validity at moment of application:

• This police report cannot be older than six (6) months.

• If you are a U.S. Citizen this must be a document issued by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (F.B.I.).  For Canadians it must be a fingerprinted RCMP report for the entire country.

• The Police Report must be authenticated by Panamanian Consulate in the country of its issuance or duly apostilled in the country of its issuance of said police report.

   6. Documentation Needed for proof of Dependents:

• For Spouses: Marriage Certificate report cannot be older than six (6) months.

• For Children: Birth Certificate.  For Children between 18 – 25 years of will also need to proof that they are enrolled, full time, in a University in the Republic of Panama or outside of Panama. 

• For Parents: Applicants Birth Certificate.

 

*Note:  For these documents to have validity at moment of application they must be authenticated by Panamanian Consulate in the country of its issuance or duly apostilled in the country of its issuance of said police report.

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   7. Six (6) passport sized photographs of the applicant (and dependents - if applicable).

   8. Proof of Investment is provided by the following manner:

• If you are buying a property you need to provide the following documents:

a. The Public Registry certificate of ownership.  If Property is Pre-Construction, the Trust will issue a Certification that the Funds are in their custody and Copy of the Trust Agreement.  If the payment has been done directly to the Developer, they must provide letter confirming they have received full amount and bank statement reflecting the wire transfer received.

b. Registered copy of the purchase contract.

• If you are opening a CD or Time Deposit, the bank account is opened, and you establish the time deposit. The bank then must provide the following documents

a. An Authenticated certificate of deposit

b. A copy of the time deposit contract.

c. A letter certifying the amount of money and time for which the CD has been established.