Panama’s Investor Residency Programs Reach Historic Highs

Panama’s investor residency programs saw record-breaking growth in 2024, according to the latest figures from the country’s immigration authorities. The data highlights a sharp rebound in key visa categories, particularly for investor and independent means visas, signaling renewed global interest in Panama as a residency destination.

Friendly Nations Visa Statistics

The Friendly Nations Visa (FNV) saw a strong rebound in 2024, with approvals rising to 3,228, a 52% increase from the 2,120 recorded in 2023. This is the first uptick in approvals since 2021 when a surge in applications pushed numbers to a peak of 4,319 ahead of the program’s minimum investment requirement, increasing from $5,000 to $200,000.

Independent Means Visa Rise

Meanwhile, the Independent Means Visa, also known as the Jubilados y Pensionados program, achieved a record 1,917 approvals in 2024, surpassing the 1,627 approvals in 2023. This category has consistently grown since 2021, when it recorded 625 approvals, indicating increasing interest from foreign retirees and high-net-worth individuals.

Investor Visa Record Approvals

Panama’s Investor Visa Programs maintained exceptionally high approval rates in 2024, with all programs exceeding 95%:

• Fixed Deposit and Real Estate Investor Visas: 100% approval rate

• Qualified Investor Permanent Residency (QIPR): 99% approval rate (up 4% from 2023)

• Jubilados y Pensionados Visa: 97% approval rate (unchanged from 2023)

• Friendly Nations Visa: 97% approval rate (up 2 points from 2023)

Between 2023 and 2024, the visa programs saw significant growth:

• Qualified Investor Visa: +75% (from 187 to 327 approvals)

• Self-Solvency Fixed Deposit Visa: +65% (from 105 to 173 approvals)

• Self-Solvency Real Estate Visa: +111% (from 63 to 133 approvals)

These figures demonstrate Panama's success in attracting investors, retirees, and expatriates through its recalibrated visa programs, setting new records and showing strong potential for continued growth.