For mainland Chinese passport holders the position has two parts. The Friendly Nations Visa list does not include the People's Republic of China, so that specific route is not open. The Qualified Investor visa is open to applicants of any nationality. This page explains both.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
Panama runs two different programmes that are often grouped together. The Friendly Nations Visa is limited to a published list of countries. The People's Republic of China is not on that list, so mainland Chinese passport holders cannot qualify under the Friendly Nations route. Holders of a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport are treated differently, because Hong Kong is on the list.
The Qualified Investor visa, by contrast, is open to applicants of any nationality. For most mainland Chinese applicants this is the route that applies. Confirm your eligibility for each route with the National Immigration Service.
The Qualified Investor visa offers three main options. A real estate purchase of at least USD 300,000 in Panamanian property free of liens. A securities investment of at least USD 500,000 through a licensed Panamanian broker. Or a fixed term bank deposit of at least USD 750,000 in a Panamanian bank held for at least five years.
The Friendly Nations route is set out for completeness, but it is not available to mainland Chinese passport holders, so the figures for it are not the relevant ones for this nationality.
The Qualified Investor visa was designed for a faster review than some other categories, and it can lead to permanent residence. Processing times move with caseload and document readiness, so confirm the present timeline with the official authority.
Any path to citizenship that follows residence is governed by separate naturalisation rules. Confirm those with the official authority.
Indicative thresholds for the Qualified Investor visa are shown below. Government fees and professional costs sit on top and change over time, so confirm them with the official authority.
| Qualified Investor option | Minimum investment | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Real estate | USD 300,000 | Panamanian property free of liens |
| Securities | USD 500,000 | Through a licensed Panamanian broker |
| Bank deposit | USD 750,000 | Held for at least five years |
| Friendly Nations route | Not available | Mainland Chinese passport holders are not on the list |
| Government and legal fees | Confirm the current figure with the official authority | Set by Panama authorities |
Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. National Immigration Service of Panama (Servicio Nacional de Migracion) publishes the binding detail. Verify before you act.
No. The People's Republic of China is not on the Friendly Nations list, so mainland Chinese passport holders cannot use that route. Hong Kong passport holders are treated differently because Hong Kong is on the list.
The Qualified Investor visa is open to applicants of any nationality. Options include USD 300,000 in real estate, USD 500,000 in securities, or a USD 750,000 bank deposit held for at least five years.
It can lead to permanent residence, and any later path to citizenship is governed by separate naturalisation rules. Verify the present settings with the official authority.
Information, not advice. Figures are indicative and current as of June 2026. Always confirm the present rules with the official program authority and a licensed professional before you act.
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