The New World Realty Group has a wide range of immigration and residency options available to individuals looking to invest or retire in Panama. Panama has created a number of permanent residency options that are specifically geared to attract foreign investment. To find out which Visa best suits your particular needs please contact a representative of the New World Realty Group.

Business Investor Visa:

Investors in a Panamanian business can qualify for a permanent residence visa under the business investor program. This is very similar to the Reforestation Visa, and is applicable to those who wish to invest in commercial, financial and industrial activities (excluding retail) in Panama. There are two categories:

Micro Enterprise Investor ($40,000)
Macro Enterprise Investor ( $150,000)

Micro Enterprise Investor

In order to qualify for Micro Enterprise Investor Visa, applicants must invest a minimum of $40,000 (plus $4000 for each dependent) in a registered Panamanian company in which they are a director/officer. The company must employ at least three Panamanian citizens full-time.

Upon approval of the application, applicants will be issued a one-year, provisional residency visa, which can be renewed three times; after the fourth year, applicants can apply for permanent residency and eventual naturalization.

Macro Enterprise Investor

In order to qualify for a Macro Enterprise Investor Visa, applicants must invest a minimum of $150,000 (plus $4000 for each dependent) in a registered Panamanian company in which they are a director/officer. The company must employ at least three Panamanian citizens full-time.

Upon approval of the application, applicants will be issued a one-year, provisional residency visa, after which they can apply for permanent residency and eventual naturalization.

Multiple Re-Entry Visa (MRV):

Anyone without a full Panamanian passport needs a Multiple Re-Entry Visa (MRV) if they want to travel in and out of Panama.

This includes immigrants, permanent residents and visa-holders, as well as those who are in the process of applying for any of these. The MRV allows you to come and go as many times as you like, until the expiration date and/or as long as you are legally allowed to reside in Panama.

It takes approximately five (5) business days to process the MRV at the Immigration office.

The Validity of the MRV depends on your status:

• If your residency visa is in process, the MRV will be valid for up to one (1) year, and no longer than the temporary residency visa.
• If your residency application has been approved, the MRV will be valid for up to two (2) years, and no longer than your residency visa.

Reforestation Visa:

In April 2006, the Department of Immigration reactivated the immigrant category of Reforestation Investor. You can invest directly by purchasing land for reforestation, or indirectly by investing in a certified reforestation project. With this visa, foreigners become eligible for a permanent residency visa and eventual naturalization.

This type of visa may be suitable for those who wish to invest in cash wood crops such as teak plantations; however, it should be noted the investment must be made for a minimum of 10 years, and there are no guarantees on returns. This category is very similar to the Business Investor category, however, there are number of tax incentives in place for Reforestation Investors.

In order to further encourage investment in reforestation, the Panamanian government has put in place various incentives; preferential loans, 100% of the investment into reforestation is income tax deductible, income tax exemption on all revenues derived from the commercialization of forest products, import tax exemption on all goods and materials used for reforestation / forest plantations, real estate tax exemption & transfer tax exemption for farms with half of total area dedicated to reforestation (minimum 200 hectares). There are two types of visas under this category:

Reforestation Micro-Investor ($40,000)
Reforestation Macro-Investor ($80,000)

Reforestation Micro-Investor

To qualify as a Reforestation Micro-Investor, applicants must directly or indirectly invest a minimum of $40,000 USD (plus $4000 for each dependent) for at least 10 years in an certified reforestation project. Certification is granted by the Ministry of the Environment's Forestry Department.

Upon approval of the application, applicants will be issued a one-year, provisional residency visa, which can be renewed three times; after the fourth year, applicants can apply for permanent residency and eventual naturalization.

Reforestation Macro-Investor

To qualify as a Reforestation Macro-Investor, applicants must directly or indirectly invest a minimum of $80,000 USD (plus $4000 for each dependent) for at least 10 years in a certified reforestation project. Certification is granted by the Ministry of the Environment's Forestry Department.

Upon approval of the application, applicants will be issued a one-year, provisional residency visa, after which they can apply for permanent residency and eventual naturalization.

Pensionado Visa:

Qualifying for the Pensionado program is quite simple. Applicants need only provide proof of retirement with monthly pension of $1500 from a foreign government, international organization or private entity, plus an additional $100 for each dependent including a spouse.

This grants you (and any dependents) a legal residency in Panama which remains valid as long as you continue to meet the pension income requirements. Under this visa you may not apply for a Panama passport or naturalization.

Until recently, applicants of all ages with proof of retirement status and monthly pension were accepted; however, recent changes mean that those not of retirement age may be refused a pensioner visa. Please contact us to find out if you qualify.

Rentista Visa:

The Rentista Visa (Private Income Retiree) is principally for those retirees who were self-employed, owned their own business or have received a retirement lump sum, rather than montly pension payments.

By making a five year term deposit at Panama's Banco Nacional that generates a minimum of $750/month in interest (roughly $220,000 at current rates), you (and any dependents) are granted a renewable temporary residence permit of five years. The monthly interest earned would be deposited directly into the applicants savings account and the applicant can withdraw the funds in the savings account at any time.

Unlike the Pensionado visa, the Rentista visa also entitles you to receive a limited Panamanian passport for travel purposes, renewable every five years; like the Pensionado however, you cannot apply for a full passport or naturalization. With the travel passport, you can come and go as freely as you like; you are not required to reside in Panama.

To find out which documents are required and how to apply for any of the visa's listed above please contact a representative of the New World Realty Group.

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