Central and South AmericaInvestment Immigration Programs

The following areCentral and South America regions included4 itemProgramCompilation of public data (neutral comparison, not ranked by superiority). Click to view the thresholds, costs, timelines, and processes for each program.

Central and South America: This site currently covers 4 programs: Costa Rica Investor Residency (Inversionista), Panama, Brazil Investment Residency, and Paraguay. All programs are long-term residency (not direct citizenship); transitioning from residency to citizenship typically requires several years of residence and other conditions. Costa Rica Investor Residency: threshold reduced from US$200,000 to US$150,000 under Law 9996 as a limited-time offer (valid until mid-2026). ⚠️ As of June 2026, the offer period has ended; whether the current amount has reverted to US$200,000 should be confirmed with DGME. Panama offers multiple residency routes based on deposits, real estate, or designated investments, known for tax-friendly policies (no taxation on foreign-sourced income) and no minimum stay requirements, suitable for applicants using Latin America as a business base. Brazil and Paraguay programs have relatively lower thresholds but are more suited to those with genuine relocation intentions; applicants should consider language (Portuguese/Spanish), living environment, and policy stability.

🇵🇦 Panama Qualified Investor Visa (QIV) Central and South AmericaThe Panama Qualified Investor Visa (Qualified Investor Visa, QIV…
🇵🇾 Paraguay investment residence (SUACE) Central and South AmericaParaguay offers residence through SUACE (Single Window for Inves…
🇨🇷 Costa Rica Investor Residency (Inversionista) Central and South AmericaCosta Rica's investor residence (Inversionista) is managed by th…
🇧🇷 Brazil Investment Residence (VIPER) Central and South AmericaIn Brazil, permanent residency can be obtained through real esta…

Central and South AmericaInvestment Immigration FAQs

What is the current threshold for Costa Rica's investment residence?

Under Law 9996, the threshold was reduced from US$200,000 to US$150,000 in 2021, but as a limited-time offer (valid until mid-2026). As of June 2026, the offer period has ended, and the current amount may have reverted to US$200,000; confirm the latest applicable amount with DGME before applying.

What are the attractions of Panama residence?

The main attractions of Panama residence include: no taxation on foreign-source income (only Panama-sourced income is taxed), multiple residence routes (deposit, real estate, designated investments, etc.), no mandatory minimum residence requirement (depending on the program), a stable USD-denominated financial environment, and its geographic position as a Latin American business hub. Specific conditions are subject to official announcements from Panama's immigration authority.