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. Appointments are available during office hours and may be requested by email.

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 by email. Our office hours are from Monday to Friday 8:30am to 12:00pm, please check our holidays calendar before you book an appointment.

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

• Documents issued in Canada must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa before the office will certify the documents (fees apply).

• Witness a signature on a Statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad form (fees apply).
• Clients requiring information about authenticating documents while outside of Canada, refer to Authentication of documents.

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:

1. You will require a letter from the Embassy certifying the validity of the license. To obtain this, you may:
   • Book an appointment (appointments are available during office hours and may be requested by email)
   • Submit requirements to the Embassy by courier on a sealed envelope
   • Drop-off in person a sealed envelope
   • Must include inside the envelope the following requirements:your valid and original Canadian driver’s license, a copy of your Canadian passport bio page and copy of Panamanian residency ID in order to issue an authentication letter. Expired licenses or notarized copies are not accepted, only the original license.
   • Complete the Credit card authorization form (PDF only available to print, complete legibly and sign) and include it within your sealed envelope.
2. The letter from the Embassy must be authenticated by local authorities. Please visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Panama to make an appointment and for the steps you need to follow. For more information please call + 507 504-9392/511-4045/511-4046 or email them to autenticaciones@mire.gob.pa
3. Obtain proof of your blood type. Please visit official site for the list of authorized laboratories
4. 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

Please visit the Sertracen website for more information about locations and complete steps to follow.

Refer to our Service fees section to pay online before completing your passport application.

Book an appointment to present your documents in person.

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.