Tier 2 · Visas and residency by investment · CRITICAL DEADLINE
Executive Decree 722 — Panama Qualified Investor Visa (QIV)
The QIV is the fastest path to Panamanian permanent residency: approval in ~30 days. The real estate modality — most used for titled forestry investment — rises from USD 300,000 to USD 500,000 on October 15, 2026.
⏳ USD 300,000 window closing
QIV modalities
| Modality | Today | From Oct 16, 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 300,000 | USD 500,000 | Most used path for forestry investment with individually titled lot. |
| Bank time deposit | USD 750,000 | USD 750,000 | In Panamanian bank · 3 years · no announced change. |
| Securities | USD 500,000 | USD 500,000 | On Latin American Stock Exchange (Latinex) · no announced change. |
The real estate threshold increase is the most relevant change for forestry investment: most operators structure investment as titled lot purchase, qualifying under Real Estate.
Why it matters for forestry investment
QIV is compatible with the purchase of individually titled forestry lots when:
- The operator delivers individual title (not derechos posesorios / possessory rights).
- Investment equals or exceeds the prevailing real-estate threshold.
- The project has valid MiAmbiente resolution.
- During the pre-title phase, investment is guaranteed via fiduciary (common among serious operators — see comparison).
Common combination: Three forestry lots at USD 100,000 each (USD 300,000 total) could qualify under QIV real-estate until October 15, 2026 — alternative to one large lot. After the transition, the sum must reach USD 500,000.
QIV vs Forestry Visa — key differences
| Aspect | QIV real-estate | Forestry Visa Regular | Forestry Express |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum investment | USD 300K (→USD 500K Oct 2026) | USD 100K | USD 350K |
| Time to PR | ~30 days | 3 years | ~6 months |
| Resale allowed | 5 years | 8 years | 5.5 years |
| Investment type | Titled real estate | Approved forestry project | Approved forestry project |
| Approx. legal cost | USD 16K (1 applicant) | USD 5K + USD 1.4K final | USD 7.5K |
Estimated costs based on communication from registered Panamanian operators. Dependent costs (spouse, children) are additional in all modalities.
Complete analysis · Decree 722 — QIV
In-depth decree analysis: verbatim text, step-by-step documentary requirements, QIV-compatible fiduciary structure, and QIV vs Forestry vs FNV decision tree by profile.
PDF · 5-8 pages · instant delivery
Or included in the Complete Legal Framework bundle USD 99.
Official sources
Original decree: Executive Decree 722 — Qualified Investor Visa · National Migration Service · Official Gazette.
Threshold modifications: Official amendments published in the Official Gazette · transition to USD 500,000 effective October 15, 2026.
Implementing authority: National Migration Service of Panama · migracion.gob.pa.