| This is a new concept but one that is gaining in | | | | Investor Visa (Inversionista) |
| popularity. This is for the nautically inclined only with | | | | Designed for those who wish to establish a business in |
| boating skills that are developed. Basically you live your | | | | Panama (note, though, that some retail businesses and |
| present country and become a citizen of the world | | | | some professions are reserved to Panamanians). |
| traveling perpetually on your yacht. While all this sounds | | | | There must be a minimum investment of $150,000 and |
| great you still need to have papers and documents of | | | | minimum of three, permanent Panamanian employees |
| registration and passports to avoid constant hassles | | | | hired. It is granted provisionally for one year and after |
| with authorities wherever you go. So what can be | | | | renewal is granted permanently with the right to be |
| done is as follows: | | | | issued a cedula identity card. Five years after obtaining |
| You form an anonymous Panama SA company | | | | the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to apply for |
| (bearer shares). This company then buys a yacht for | | | | Panamanian nationality. |
| at least $150,000. Now you need to hire three | | | | Small Business Investor Visa |
| Panamanians for at least $253.00 a month each. So | | | | (Inversionista de Pequeña Empresa) |
| you have deckhands, crew, cook etc. This would let | | | | Designed for those who wish to establish a small |
| you get residency in Panama quickly and after three | | | | business in Panama (note that retail businesses and |
| years you could apply for citizenship and get a | | | | some professions are reserved to Panamanians). |
| Panama passport. You could also do a version of this | | | | There must be a minimum investment of $40,000 and |
| using the small investor visa to do it with a $40,000 | | | | minimum of three permanent Panamanian employees |
| investment and three employees on your fishing or | | | | hired. It is granted provisionally for one year, and needs |
| touring boat. You can get a Panama cell phone, mail | | | | to be renewed three more times before it is granted |
| box, bank account, visa debit card, atm card and you | | | | permanently with the right to a cedula. Five years after |
| can travel the world. For most this isn't feasible but it is | | | | obtaining the permanent visa, holders will be eligible to |
| fun to dream anyway. | | | | obtain Panamanian nationality. |