15 October has passed. What happened to the $300,000 investor visa?
Short answer: Nothing changed on 15 October 2026. Executive Decree No. 17 (8 September 2026, Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613 of 16 September) has been in force since 16 September: US$300,000 for new first-sale property, US$500,000 for resale. The only 15 October in its history is the date of the decree it replaces, Decree 722 of 15 October 2020. The date that does matter for earlier investments is six months from 16 September.
Many guides said the threshold would jump from $300,000 to $500,000 on 15 October 2026. Two professional legal alerts describing the published decree say something different. This note sets out what they report, which dates are real, and what to ask your lawyer. It is general information, not legal advice.
Step 1: what happened on 15 October
Nothing, according to the decree as described by two firms. EY’s law alert reports that Executive Decree No. 17 of 8 September 2026, published in Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613 on 16 September 2026, updates the Permanent Resident Qualified Investor category, replaces Executive Decree No. 722 of 15 October 2020 and its amendments, and applies from 16 September 2026. Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán gives the same decree number and Gaceta number.
The only 15 October in that history is the date of the old decree. Older guides that said the amount would rise to $500,000 after 15 October 2026 were written before the new decree was published and are not describing it. Neither alert mentions a 15 October 2026 deadline.
Step 2: the routes in the decree
The table follows the two alerts. We have not read the decree text itself, so the wording of each condition comes from them.
| Route | Minimum | What the summaries say it covers |
|---|---|---|
| New property, first sale | US$300,000 | New or unoccupied, transferred by the developer or its successor |
| Resale property | US$500,000 | Previously sold, occupied, leased or transferred to an unrelated third party |
| Promise of sale | US$300,000 | Through a licensed trust, or 100% paid to the developer backed by a bank guarantee |
| Securities | US$500,000 | Eligible Panamanian securities; five-year hold |
| Fixed-term deposit | US$750,000 / US$500,000 | US$750,000 at a private bank; US$500,000 only at Banco Nacional or Caja de Ahorros; five-year hold |
Step 3: the dates that do matter
Both alerts describe transitional rules. Applications filed with the Ministry of Commerce and Industries or the National Migration Service before 16 September 2026 continue under the requirements, conditions and amounts in force when they were filed, though more favourable procedural provisions of the new decree can apply immediately. Investments made and binding contracts perfected before 16 September 2026 can also use the previous regime, provided the application is filed within six months of the new rules taking effect. Counting from 16 September 2026, that points to mid-March 2027; ask your lawyer for the exact last day and what counts as a perfected binding contract.
EY adds that the investment is certified by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries, that the certificate is valid for three months and must be presented to Migration, and that the securities and fixed-deposit routes require a five-year hold.
Step 4: what this changes for a buyer
For a buyer comparing new-build and resale, the decree keeps a $200,000 gap between the two routes. If you already hold a contract or an investment from before 16 September, the six-month window is the date to ask about. If you are choosing now, the threshold depends on whether the property is a first sale by the developer or a resale, and on how it is documented.
A disclosure: Brax is paid a commission by developers on new-build units, which are the $300,000 route. Compare the resale price per m² and the new-build price per m² before deciding; we publish both in our comparison.
Step 5: how to check it yourself
Ask your lawyer for the text of Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613 and which article governs your case. Ask which date the Ministry will treat as the date of your investment, whether your contract counts as binding and perfected, and what the certification timeline is. We also keep our own page on the decree: Decree 17 and the $300K question.
Related: Decree 17 and the $300K question, New vs resale price per m², How to verify a property title.
Questions about a specific unit? Jacky, from the Brax team, answers on WhatsApp: +507 6776-4203. Brax is paid a commission by developers on new-build units.
Common questions
Did the Panama investor visa threshold change on 15 October 2026?
No. According to EY and Icaza, González-Ruiz & Alemán, Executive Decree No. 17 of 8 September 2026 (Gaceta Oficial Digital No. 30613, 16 September 2026) has applied since 16 September: US$300,000 for new first-sale property and US$500,000 for resale. Neither alert mentions a 15 October 2026 deadline.
What is the deadline for investments made before Decree 17?
Per the two alerts, investments made and binding contracts perfected before 16 September 2026 can use the previous regime if the application is filed within six months of the decree taking effect, which points to mid-March 2027. Confirm the exact date with a lawyer.
Does a resale apartment qualify at $300,000?
According to the alerts, resale property requires US$500,000; the US$300,000 minimum is for new or unoccupied property first transferred by the developer or its successor.
What other routes does the qualified investor program have?
Per EY: securities at US$500,000 with a five-year hold, and fixed-term deposits at US$750,000 in a private bank or US$500,000 at Banco Nacional or Caja de Ahorros. Promise of sale at US$300,000 through a trust or with full payment backed by a bank guarantee.
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