Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interview
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Plan B
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomad
    • Healthcare
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
      • Rest of the World
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
Escape Artist
  • Features
    • Interview
    • News
    • Field Notes
    • Trending
  • Your Plan B
    • Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Second Citizenship
    • Digital Nomad
    • Healthcare
  • Destinations
    • Europe
      • France
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Scandinavia
      • Spain
      • United Kingdom
      • Rest of Europe
    • Central America
      • Belize
      • Costa Rica
      • El Salvador
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua
      • Panama
    • Others
      • Africa
      • Asia
      • Australia
      • North America
      • South America
      • Middle East
      • Rest of the World
  • Travel Tips
    • Know Before You Go
    • Packing List
    • Food + Culture
    • Health + Wellness
  • Subscribe
👤

THE NUMBER ONE SOURCE FOR BUILDING A LIFE ABROAD

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
  • Panama

Here’s how to get residency in Panama using your IRA

  • BY staffwriter
  • February 25, 2017
Total
0
Shares
0
0
0

If you’re thinking of moving to Panama, you’ll need a residency permit. Here’s how to use your U.S. IRA to get residency in Panama… and make a nice profit to boot… with an investment in teak.

If you’re from the United States, Canada, or any of the other 50 friendly nations, you can get residency in Panama with an investment of $20,000 in local teakwood. You get permanent residency in a top retirement destination and expat haven, plus a guaranteed return on your investment in 5 to 7 years (depending on the lot selected).

First let me talk about the investment. Then I’ll show you how to get residency in Panama using your IRA.

Ever since the financial crisis, timber has been the darling of the 1%. According to CNN Money, the ultra rich are all-in on this “steady eddy” investment. They’re avoiding risk and paper investments in favor of hardwoods.

The rush to wood began in 2013 and has continued throughout 2016. “In the rarefied world of the wealthy, timber is the hot new commodity.” CNN Money

That article is focused on timber companies where the minimum investment is $5 million. That’s great if you’re in the 1%. If you’re not, here’s how to get in on the hardwoods boom.

Click here for more on: Timber! Why the rich are buying trees

For my purposes here, suffice it to say that hardwoods are a solid (no pun intended) investment that generates stable returns over time. It’s not correlated to the dollar or the stock market, which means it’s a decent hedge against country risk.

And a hedge against potential risk might just be what the doctor ordered during a Trump presidency. No matter your political bent, you must agree that times are changing. That there will be significant growing pains as Trump changes how the United States interacts with the world.

For better or worse, the Trump train has left the station and we’re all along for a ride. If you’re concerned about what might happen to our economy, consider taking some money off of the table. Invest in conservative steady-eddy teakwood that doesn’t rise and fall with the U.S. economy.

That’s why you want to invest in hardwoods. Here’s how to get residency in Panama using your IRA and an investment in teak…

Panama is working hard to replant its forests and improve its “green” image. So, they came up with the reforestation visa. If you’re from a top 50 country, and plant $20,000 of timber, you qualify for residency. If you’re from a restricted country, and plant $80,000 of timber you qualify for residency.

  • Total cost from a top 50 country is $20,000. Total cost, including legal and other fees, from a restricted country is about $100,000. Most restricted applications are from India, Pakistan, China, etc.

After 5 years of of residency, you can apply for citizenship and a passport in Panama. A second passport from Panama is one of the most valuable travel documents out there and absolutely the best value in 2017 for those from friendly nations.

Considering you get visa free travel to the European Union and 127 countries in total, a passport from Panama is comparable to St. Kitts with a cost of $350,000 and St. Lucia which requires an investment of $550,000. Yes, you need to wait out the 5 years, but you get a heck of a passport for an investment of $20,000.

And most of this $20,000 investment can come from your U.S. retirement account. So long as your IRA is with a custodian that allows for international investments, you can use it to buy your teak plot.

If you’re with a custodian that doesn’t allow international investments, you can move to one that does. You have the right to transfer your IRA from one custodian to another at any time.

  • You are limited to one roll-over per year, but you can make as many direct transfers as you like.

If you prefer to cut out the custodian, you can form an offshore IRA LLC. While it’s not required for this investment, you can move your entire retirement account offshore. If you want to get your savings out of the United States, you can form an offshore IRA LLC and instruct your custodian to wire the balance of your accounts into this structure.

Once your cash is in a foreign IRA LLC, you’ll have checkbook control over your account. You can send the wire to buy teak. You would be the manager of your retirement account and be able to make whatever other investments you like.

I hope you’ve found this article on get residency in Panama using your IRA helpful. For more information on how to buy teak, or to move your retirement account offshore, please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call us at (619) 550-2734. All consultations are free and confidential.

Contact Author

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Name*
Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

Stay Ahead on Every Adventure! 

Stay updated with the World News on Escape Artist. Get all the travel news, international destinations, expat living, moving abroad, Lifestyle Tips, and digital nomad opportunities. Your next journey starts here—don’t miss a moment! Subscribe Now!

If you’re thinking of moving to Panama, you’ll need a residency permit. Here’s how to use your U.S. IRA to get residency in Panama… and make a nice profit to boot… with an investment in teak.

If you’re from the United States, Canada, or any of the other 50 friendly nations, you can get residency in Panama with an investment of $20,000 in local teakwood. You get permanent residency in a top retirement destination and expat haven, plus a guaranteed return on your investment in 5 to 7 years (depending on the lot selected).

First let me talk about the investment. Then I’ll show you how to get residency in Panama using your IRA.

Ever since the financial crisis, timber has been the darling of the 1%. According to CNN Money, the ultra rich are all-in on this “steady eddy” investment. They’re avoiding risk and paper investments in favor of hardwoods.

The rush to wood began in 2013 and has continued throughout 2016. “In the rarefied world of the wealthy, timber is the hot new commodity.” CNN Money

That article is focused on timber companies where the minimum investment is $5 million. That’s great if you’re in the 1%. If you’re not, here’s how to get in on the hardwoods boom.

Click here for more on: Timber! Why the rich are buying trees

For my purposes here, suffice it to say that hardwoods are a solid (no pun intended) investment that generates stable returns over time. It’s not correlated to the dollar or the stock market, which means it’s a decent hedge against country risk.

And a hedge against potential risk might just be what the doctor ordered during a Trump presidency. No matter your political bent, you must agree that times are changing. That there will be significant growing pains as Trump changes how the United States interacts with the world.

For better or worse, the Trump train has left the station and we’re all along for a ride. If you’re concerned about what might happen to our economy, consider taking some money off of the table. Invest in conservative steady-eddy teakwood that doesn’t rise and fall with the U.S. economy.

That’s why you want to invest in hardwoods. Here’s how to get residency in Panama using your IRA and an investment in teak…

Panama is working hard to replant its forests and improve its “green” image. So, they came up with the reforestation visa. If you’re from a top 50 country, and plant $20,000 of timber, you qualify for residency. If you’re from a restricted country, and plant $80,000 of timber you qualify for residency.

After 5 years of of residency, you can apply for citizenship and a passport in Panama. A second passport from Panama is one of the most valuable travel documents out there and absolutely the best value in 2017 for those from friendly nations.

Considering you get visa free travel to the European Union and 127 countries in total, a passport from Panama is comparable to St. Kitts with a cost of $350,000 and St. Lucia which requires an investment of $550,000. Yes, you need to wait out the 5 years, but you get a heck of a passport for an investment of $20,000.

And most of this $20,000 investment can come from your U.S. retirement account. So long as your IRA is with a custodian that allows for international investments, you can use it to buy your teak plot.

If you’re with a custodian that doesn’t allow international investments, you can move to one that does. You have the right to transfer your IRA from one custodian to another at any time.

If you prefer to cut out the custodian, you can form an offshore IRA LLC. While it’s not required for this investment, you can move your entire retirement account offshore. If you want to get your savings out of the United States, you can form an offshore IRA LLC and instruct your custodian to wire the balance of your accounts into this structure.

Once your cash is in a foreign IRA LLC, you’ll have checkbook control over your account. You can send the wire to buy teak. You would be the manager of your retirement account and be able to make whatever other investments you like.

I hope you’ve found this article on get residency in Panama using your IRA helpful. For more information on how to buy teak, or to move your retirement account offshore, please contact me at info@premieroffshore.com or call us at (619) 550-2734. All consultations are free and confidential.

Contact Author

"*" indicates required fields

If you'd like to read the full story, simply enter your email to subscribe to our newsletter.

For even more expert insights, unmissable resources, and exclusive invites, explore our premium subscription offers here.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.


OR

Subscribe Now

Already a Subscriber? Click here to login

Subscription required

You've reached your limit of free articles. For full access to Escape Artist, and all of our insights on travel, moving abroad, and the digital nomad life, click here to Subscribe.

Already a Subscriber? Log in here

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Previous Article
  • Your Plan B

7 Cool Things To Do In Bangkok This Holiday

  • BY EA Editors
  • February 25, 2017
View Post
Next Article
  • Finance

The Best Offshore Investment for 2017

  • BY staffwriter
  • February 25, 2017
View Post
You May Also Like
Two passports including a blue Cuban passport and a Canadian passport held together, representing international travel and dual citizenship documentation
View Post
  • Second Residency
The Ancestral Hedge for a Second Passport
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • April 8, 2026
Happy asian family that enjoys beach activities during the summer holidays. parent and children enjoy the sunset sea on beach.Holiday travel concept, Summer vacations.
View Post
  • Relocation
Why Families Are No Longer Raising Children in One Place
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • April 3, 2026
Overlooking modern red three-dimensional buildings and flying planes, taken in the Library Park of Quanzhou City, Fujian Province, China
View Post
  • Second Residency
How to Leave a Country Without Losing Your Wealth
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • March 25, 2026
Aerial view a woman gazing out over the ocean along the shoreline of Shoal Bay Beach with crashing waves and palm trees on the island of Anguilla.
View Post
  • Plan B
The Rise of the Plan B Portfolio
  • BY Luigi Wewege
  • March 25, 2026
Assessing Stability Before You Relocate
View Post
  • Relocation
The Stability Test: What to Check Before You Relocate
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • February 18, 2026
Remote worker with laptop and tablet at outdoor garden desk showing digital nomad lifestyle and location independence for global professionals seeking residency
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
10 Digital Nomad Havens Offering a Path to Citizenship
  • BY Isha Sesay
  • February 17, 2026
Brown leather travel bag with passport and boarding pass at airport check-in counter showing international travel and global mobility for expats planning relocation
View Post
  • Second Citizenship
The World’s Most Powerful Passports Are Changing
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • January 12, 2026
Is Panama Right for You? A Guide to Expat Life, Costs and Everyday Comforts
View Post
  • Panama
Is Panama Right for You? A Guide to Expat Life, Costs and Everyday Comforts
  • BY EA Editorial Staff
  • December 15, 2025
Trending Posts
  • Sunlit view of Valencia, Spain, featuring ornate historic buildings along a palm-lined street, with pedestrians and light traffic under a clear blue sky. 1
    • Spain
    Why Valencia Is on Everyone’s Radar
    • April 7, 2026
  • Stethoscope shaped around airplane symbolizing international healthcare access 2
    • Healthcare
    Accessing Long-Term Healthcare Abroad: What Are My Options?
    • April 1, 2026
  • Senior couple enjoy sea water 3
    • Plan B
    Retirement Abroad and the New Cost of Living
    • April 1, 2026
  • Happy asian family that enjoys beach activities during the summer holidays. parent and children enjoy the sunset sea on beach.Holiday travel concept, Summer vacations. 4
    • Relocation
    Why Families Are No Longer Raising Children in One Place
    • April 3, 2026
  • Evening street scene in Dubai with illuminated digital billboards, pedestrians, and modern skyscrapers rising in the background 5
    • Plan B
    Geopolitical Risk and the Shift Beyond the Gulf
    • April 8, 2026
Subscribe
Know Before You Go
  • Woman walking barefoot along a beach in the Philippines with boats, waterfront buildings, and lush limestone hills in the background 1
    • Digital Nomad
    A Digital Nomad’s Complete Guide to the Philippines
    • April 10, 2026
  • Sunlit view of Valencia, Spain, featuring ornate historic buildings along a palm-lined street, with pedestrians and light traffic under a clear blue sky. 2
    • Spain
    Why Valencia Is on Everyone’s Radar
    • April 7, 2026
  • Satellite view of Egypt’s New Administrative Capital urban layout in desert 3
    • Real Estate
    Egypt Is Building an Ultra-Modern Capital Outside Cairo: Will It Work?
    • March 30, 2026
  • Female traveler standing in Bali rice paddies during golden hour 4
    • Costa Rica
    Costa Rica or Bali? A Tale Between Two Paradises
    • March 27, 2026
  • Hillside neighborhood in Mexico with white villas, palm trees, and lush vegetation overlooking the city 5
    • Mexico
    Consider Cuernavaca for Eternal Spring Living
    • March 23, 2026
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Shop
Why Subscribe

The newly imagined Escape Artist brings you fresh content with a global focus, and sharp, up-to-the-minute coverage of the joys, challenges, and opportunities of life abroad.

For a limited time, we’re offering a special discount on all subscription deals, so be sure to lock-in these incredible savings and start receiving top-notch travel and expat content today!

Sign up for the EA Newsletter

Get important news delivered directly to your inbox and stay connected!

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Escape Artist
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Disclaimer

Input your search keywords and press Enter.

Escape Artist

The Newsletter for a
Life Beyond Borders

Practical insights and real stories for those building a life abroad, trusted by 75,000 readers worldwide.

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Before you go, want $50 off your Summit registration?

Subscribe, and get $50 discount code for Plan B Summit registration.

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Download Your Free Guide

Fill out the form below to get instant access to your guide + receive a $50 discount code for Plan B Summit 2026!

Newsletter Subscription