Government of Canada services and information in Panama City, Panama

Refer to International adoption.

Adoption:

Central authority for adoption cases in Panama is the National Secretary of Children, Youth and Family under the Ministry of Social Development.

Adoption is possible for Panamanian and foreign adoptive parents and may be granted to married or common-law couples, opposite-sex couples or single adults who meet the requirements of the law.

Surrogacy:

Although surrogacy is available in Panama, there are no laws to support intended parents if something goes wrong.

Anyone pursuing reproductive assistance abroad should contact lawyers and clinics directly to confirm the current status in that country and any legal restrictions that might apply.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

Requirements for registration of birth in Panama.

Complete your citizenship application before booking an appointment online. If you have additional questions, send us an email at panamcs@international.gc.ca.

All requests for certified criminal record checks from Canada must go through the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada (RCMP). The C-216C RCMP fingerprinting form can be requested digitally at the Canadian Embassy in Panama at panamcs@international.gc.ca.

The embassy/consulates of Canada have no control over the process and cannot answer questions or expedite the process.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

Foreigners can be married in Panama. Check all requirements and documentation.

The office provides the following notarial services, to Canadian citizens and in limited cases, to non-Canadian citizens, if the documents are intended for use in Canada. Note: Documents must be in English or French or accompanied by an official translation in English or French.

Appointments are available during office hours and may be requested online. If you have questions concerning a notarial service, send an email to panamcs@international.gc.ca before booking the appointment.

Authentication/Attestation (certify the document signature, the position of an official and the seal are genuine):

• Documents issued in Canada; clients requiring information about authenticating documents while outside of Canada, refer to Authentication of documents to learn more on how to authenticate or apostille a document (fees apply). Please email us if you have any questions.
• Witness a signature on a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad form (fees apply).

Certified copy (certify the document is a true copy of the original):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a certified true copy (fees apply).

Witness a signature (consular officer witnesses a signature):

• Documents presented by a Canadian citizen or a non-Canadian citizen for use in Canada; exceptions apply (fees apply).
• Government-issued identification requiring a witnessed signature (fees apply).

Note: Complete all documents before booking an appointment. Sign all documents in front of the consular officer.

Driver’s license information

Tourists visiting Panama may drive with a valid driver’s license from their home country for a period of 90 days. Legal residents must apply for a Panamanian driver’s license with Sertracen, which is the entity in charge of issuing local driver’s licenses.

To request a Panamanian driver’s license, you will require a letter from the Embassy certifying the validity of the license. To get this letter, include the following documents inside a sealed envelope:

• your valid and original Canadian driver’s license
• a copy of your Canadian passport bio page
• a copy of Panamanian residency ID in order to issue an authentication letter
• Credit card authorization form (PDF)

Note: Expired licenses or notarized copies are not accepted. Only the original license is accepted.

Once the documents are ready:

1. Book an appointment online to receive the service in person, or
2. Submit the envelope to the Embassy by courier in a sealed envelope, or
3. Drop-off the sealed envelope at the Embassy yourself to the security guard screening check point. (This option must not be taken as an appointment.)
   • The letter will be issued on a standard service time of 3 business days. This option must not be taken as an appointment.

Once you receive the letter from the Embassy, it must then be authenticated by local authorities. Follow the steps found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Panama (in Spanish only).

For more information, please call + 507 504-9392/511-4045/511-4046 or email them at autenticaciones@mire.gob.pa.

At the time of your visit, you will be required to take a vision and hearing test at the Sertracen office. Additionally, you must provide:

• Panamanian residency documents
• original and valid passport
• original and valid Canadian driver’s licence
• authenticated document
• a proof of blood type
  • Get your proof of blood type by checking the list of authorized laboratories

Once you have the authenticated letter, proceed with applying for a Panamanian license by following the steps on the Sertracen website.

You can pay online for all your passport services before completing your passport application.

Book an appointment online to present your documents in person. If you have any additional questions, send us an email at panamcs@international.gc.ca.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad and Retiring abroad.

Panamanian law does not allow same-sex marriages

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.