Tracker | Updated as rules change
LATAM Residency Rules Tracker
What it takes to qualify for investor residency through real estate, market by market. Two of these thresholds moved in 2026, so check the change log before you plan around a number. Last updated 25 October 2026.
| Market | Real estate route | Other routes | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa Rica | US$150,000 for applications filed by 14 Jul 2026. For later filings, advisers disagree: some say US$150,000 still applies, others say it reverted to US$200,000. | Shares, securities, productive projects | Law 9996 and its regulation; confirm with DGME |
| Panama | US$300,000 first-sale property; US$500,000 resale | US$500,000 deposit at a state bank; US$750,000 at a private bank | Executive Decree 17 of 2026, in force 16 Sep 2026 |
| Colombia | 350 monthly minimum wages (COP 612,816,750 in 2026), property in your own name | Registered FDI above 650 monthly minimum wages | Visa M Inversionista |
| Dominican Republic | US$200,000 | Direct business investment of US$200,000 | Decree 631-11 |
| Mexico | Not yet tracked | Residency is mainly via financial solvency | Coming in a future update |
Change log
- 16 Sep 2026, Panama: Executive Decree 17 separates new and resale property. New-build stays at US$300,000; resale rises to US$500,000. A state-bank deposit route at US$500,000 is added, and proof-of-funds rules tighten.
- 14 Jul 2026, Costa Rica: Law 9996’s five-year incentive window closes. Import and transfer-tax perks end for new applicants, and the investor minimum for new filings is now disputed between US$150,000 and US$200,000.
- 1 Jan 2026, Colombia: The minimum wage resets to COP 1,750,905, raising the peso value of every investor threshold.
Want an alert when a threshold moves? Subscribe to the LATAM Tape; rule changes lead the issue.
Sources: Law 9996 and El Financiero CR (Costa Rica); MICI and Erickson Immigration Group (Panama); Cancillería and Affirma Legal (Colombia); Decree 631-11 and DGM (Dominican Republic). Not immigration or legal advice; requirements change and are applied case by case, so confirm with the authority or a licensed lawyer before committing funds.