The subcategory of Permanent Resident as Qualified Investor has been created in the Republic of Panama within the immigration category of Permanent Resident for Economic Reasons.
This subcategory was created by Executive Decree No. 722 of October 15, 2020 promulgated through Official Digital Gazette No. 29136 of October 16, 2020, the date of its entry into force.
To establish residency according to this subcategory, the applicant must make a minimum investment of US$500,000 in the Republic of Panama with foreign source funds, which the applicant may make personally or through a legal entity of which he is the final beneficiary.
The investment for this immigration subcategory may be made in any of the following ways:
Through the purchase of a real estate located in the Republic of Panama for a minimum price of US$500,000, which must be free of liens or encumbrances for that minimum value;
Through a contract of promise to buy and sell real estate free of encumbrance located in the Republic of Panama for a minimum price of US$500,000, made through a trust deposit in a bank or trust company licensed in the Republic of Panama;
Through one or more investments made through a Panama Brokerage House for a minimum amount of US$500,000 in securities of issuers whose businesses affect the territory of the Republic of Panama and whose commitment is maintained for at least five (5) years; and,
The opening of a fixed-term deposit for US$750,000 in a bank with a general license in the Republic of Panama will also apply as a minimum investment required for this immigration subcategory, for a minimum period of five (5) years and must be free of all encumbrances.
To request and obtain this subcategory of residence, in addition to complying with the numerals of article 28 (except numeral 4) of Decree Law No. 3 of 2008, the following must be provided:
Payments of US$5,000 to the National Treasury as fees for the application of the immigration process and US$5,000 to the National Migration Service as a repatriation deposit;
If the application includes dependents, payments of US$1,000 to the National Treasury as fees for the immigration process and US$,000 to the National Migration Service as a repatriation deposit, for each dependent; and
Suitable banking, financial or legal documentation that shows that the applicant made the investment in question and that the funds come from a foreign source.
In any case, it will be necessary for the investment in question to remain in force for a minimum period of five (5) years. If the investment ceases to exist before this term without being reinvested in the aforementioned terms, the official cancellation of the permanent residence thus granted will be given.
Applications under this subcategory may be submitted prior to the entry into the national territory of the applicant and his/her dependents, if any, through a lawyer in the Republic of Panama.
During the first twenty-four (24) months after the entry into force of this new immigration subcategory, investment through real estate may be for the minimum sum of US$300,000.
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