Panama’s Qualified Investor Programme recorded higher participation and investment between June 2025 and June 2026, according to new data from the MICI.

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, UNITED STATES, August 26, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Panama’s Qualified Investor Programme recorded higher participation and investment between June 2025 and June 2026, according to new data from the Ministry of Commerce and Industries — MICI. The figures show that real estate remains the dominant route, while applicants come from markets across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.

Immigrant Invest, a consulting company working in the field of investment migration, explains what the latest results mean for foreign investors considering permanent residence in Panama.
What is driving the Programme’s growth
Between July 2025 and June 2026, Panama issued 268 Qualified Investor certificates backed by $113.6 million in investment. During the July 2024 to June 2025 period, 193 certificates were issued, representing more than $90.1 million in investment.

This means that, by the end of June 2026, the number of Qualified Investor certificates had increased by around 39% compared with the previous 12-month period, while investment had risen by more than $23.4 million.

MICI links the increase to stronger promotion of the programme in international markets and improvements to the application process. In December 2025, the government launched a new platform to reduce administrative steps, improve case tracking, and make the process more transparent for investors.

The updated process has helped double the number of certificates issued each month. For example, in April 2026, MICI reported that monthly application volumes had increased from around 10—12 cases to more than 30, with peaks of 38 applications in a single month. The Ministry also said that more than 700 investors had been approved since the programme was introduced, generating over $350 million in investment.
Why real estate dominates
Real estate remains the main investment route under the programme. Property investment accounted for 87.3% of certificates issued between July 2025 and June 2026, followed by fixed-term bank deposits at 7.5% and securities investments at 5.2%. A year earlier, real estate represented 85.5% of certificates, showing that its share has increased further.

Property serves two purposes. An eligible real estate purchase allows an investor to place capital into a physical asset while also meeting the financial requirement for permanent residence. This differs from the other routes, where capital is held in securities or a fixed-term bank deposit.

Investors still need to assess the property separately from its immigration function. Its location, legal status, purchase price, intended use, and possible resale should fit the investor’s wider plans. Meeting the programme threshold does not by itself determine whether a particular property is a suitable investment.

How the Qualified Investor Programme works
Panama’s Qualified Investor Programme grants permanent residence to eligible foreign investors without requiring them to obtain temporary residence first. The programme currently provides 3 options, each with a different minimum capital requirement.

Applicants can qualify through one of the following investments:
Real estate — at least $300,000 in property located in Panama.
Securities — at least $500,000 in eligible securities registered and held through authorised institutions.
Fixed-term deposit — at least $750,000 deposited with a bank licensed to operate in Panama.

The investment must be maintained for at least 5 years, with evidence provided annually. Permanent residents must also visit Panama at least once every 2 years to maintain their status. Eligible dependants, such as a spouse, children, and parents, can also be included under the programme.
Who is investing in Panama
The latest figures show applicants from the United States, Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Spain, Germany, Russia, and China, confirming that the programme is reaching investors across several major markets.

MICI has promoted the programme internationally and worked with legal firms, financial advisers, and other private-sector intermediaries to broaden its reach. The Qualified Investor Programme also forms part of Panama’s wider investment policy by bringing capital into the country while offering eligible investors a direct route to permanent residence.

What investors should consider beyond eligibility
Qualifying for residence is only one part of an investment decision. Applicants also need to assess whether the chosen investment fits their wider financial and residence plans.

‘An investment may meet the programme requirements and still be unsuitable for a particular investor. The legal status of the asset, the applicant’s source of funds and family circumstances, as well as the holding period and long-term use of the asset, all need to be considered before capital is committed,’ said Eymi Castro, Investment Migration Expert at Immigrant Invest.

Due Diligence is particularly relevant for property purchases, since two properties with the same purchase price can have very different legal, financial, and practical characteristics. Investors should therefore consider the residence application and the underlying investment as connected decisions rather than treating the qualifying amount as the only factor.
Conclusion
Panama’s Qualified Investor Programme is becoming a more established option for internationally mobile investors looking to combine residence planning with capital allocation. Its recent growth suggests that the programme is gaining visibility beyond the region, while real estate remains the main route through which investors choose to qualify.

Immigrant Invest has worked in investment migration since 2006, helping international high-net-worth individuals and their families obtain residence and citizenship around the world. The team assists clients with programme selection, Due Diligence, document preparation, and coordination of the investment and application process.

Contact Immigrant Invest to assess whether Panama’s Qualified Investor Programme fits your investment and residence goals.

Elena Ruda
Immigrant Invest
+356 2033 0178
email us here
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