Intel
ISO: PAN Territorial Tax

Panama

Entry Threshold $300,000
Asset Class Real Estate (Pre-Con)
Time to Residency 30 Days
Foreign Tax 0%
Panama is the "Singapore of the Americas"—a dollarized logistics hub offering true territorial taxation. The Qualified Investor Visa (QIV) grants immediate permanent residency for a $300k real estate investment.

Strategic Rationale

Panama represents the optimal hedge against currency devaluation and fiscal overreach. Its economy is fully dollarized (USD), yet it has no Central Bank, meaning it cannot print money to inflate away your wealth.

The "Qualified Investor" Speed: Unlike older programs that required years of temporary residency, the QIV program grants Permanent Residency in 30 days. This status is "locked in" immediately upon investment, providing an instant Plan B lifestyle option.

The Red Carpet Workflow
Day 0 Remote Filing
Day 30 Approval Letter
Day 60 Visit for ID (Cedula)
Year 5 Naturalization Eligibility

Critical Analysis

The Alpha
Territorial Tax: Income earned outside of Panama is taxed at 0%, regardless of remittance.
Currency: Functional use of the US Dollar eliminates FX risk for dollar-denominated assets.
Presence: Minimal requirement to visit once every 2 years to maintain PR.
The Risks
Citizenship Lag: While PR is fast, citizenship takes 5 years and requires fluency in Spanish.
Banking: Opening bank accounts can be bureaucratic for US persons (FATCA).
Friendly Nations: The cheaper $200k route now requires employment/company formation, adding complexity.

Fiscal Protocol

The Territorial Advantage: Panama's tax code is strictly territorial. If your business operations, clients, and revenue generation occur outside Panama, that income is tax-exempt. This applies even if the money is remitted to a Panamanian bank.

Corporate Structuring: Using a Panamanian corporation for international trade can be highly efficient, provided economic substance rules are met where necessary.