Panama’s Qualified Investor route grants direct permanent residency, typically in 30–90 days. Real estate from USD 300,000 (rising to USD 500,000 after 15 October 2026), securities USD 500,000, or a bank deposit; naturalisation possible after ~5 years.
| Criterion | Panama Qualified Investor | Costa Rica Investor |
|---|---|---|
| Type | RBI | RBI |
| Minimum investment | US$300,000 | US$150,000 |
| Family of 4 | US$300,000 (family of 4) | — |
| Processing time | Approximately 30-90 days. Kraemer & Kraemer: 30-45 business days. Immigrant Invest: ~3 months. NTL Trust: 1-3 months / PR in ~90 days. | Approximately 6–12 months from filing to resolution (some firms cite 4–9 months); varies by case complexity and country of nationality. |
| Mobility | — | — |
| Path to citizenship | Naturalisation possible after approximately 5 years of permanent residence (continuous/effective). Requires a Spanish-language test and a Panamanian civics/history exam, plus evidence of ties. Panama generally requires renouncing prior citizenship in principle, though enforcement is debated — Panama is RBI, NOT CBI; there is no citizenship-by-investment. [VERIFY dual-citizenship practice and exam specifics]. | Naturalisation possible after approximately 7 years of legal residence (reduced to 5 years for nationals of Spain and Ibero-American/Central American countries); Spanish-language and civics assessment apply. [VERIFY language/test specifics] |
| Tax note | — | — |
| Verification | ✓ verified vs official source (2026-06-10) | tracked against official sources |
Costa Rica Investor has the lower verified entry cost (US$150,000 vs US$300,000). The right choice depends on your nationality, family composition, timeline and goals — a specialist comparison takes 30 minutes.
Costa Rica Investor has the lower verified minimum: US$150,000. Total cost depends on family size and government fees — verified figures above.
Panama Qualified Investor: US$300,000 (family of 4). Family composition (children's ages, parents) often decides this — both programmes treat dependants differently.
Yes — ✓ verified vs official source (2026-06-10); tracked against official sources. Every figure traces to the official government source; see our methodology and live change log.