Obtaining a Panamanian ID Through Having a Panamanian Parent

How to Get a Panamanian ID if You Have a Panamanian Parent

Necessary Requirements to Request the Service:

You must provide the original birth certificate issued by the Civil Registry Office or the equivalent entity of the country where the birth took place. This certificate should specify the individual’s gender (male or female) and also:

• Be properly authenticated either by the Panamanian Consulate in the country where the birth occurred or through the Apostille Convention (ratified by Panama through Law 6 of June 25, 1990, which eliminates the requirement of legalizing foreign public documents).
• If there is no Panamanian consulate in the country of birth and the country is not a signatory to the Apostille Convention, the document must be authenticated by a diplomatic or consular representative of a friendly nation in that country. This authentication must then be endorsed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that nation and subsequently by the Panamanian Consulate in the friendly nation, and confirmed by Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
• If the Apostille is written in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by a sworn translator authorized in Panama. The translation must be stamped and signed by the translator on each page.
• The authenticated certificate must then be validated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama, at the Office of Authentication and Legalization, located at Plaza Aventura, Avenida Ricardo J. Alfaro, Ground Floor.
• If the document is authenticated through the Apostille Convention, this validation is not necessary.
• If the birth certificate is written in a language other than Spanish, it must be translated by a public translator authorized in Panama. The translation must bear the translator’s stamp and signature on each page.
• If there is no official translator in Panama for the document’s language, a certification issued by the Office of the General Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Panama must be provided, confirming that no official translator exists. In such cases, a foreign translation may be accepted, provided it is authenticated by the Panamanian diplomatic or consular officer accredited in that country and legalized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Panama.

Additional Documents Required:

1. Sworn Declaration

   • A sworn affidavit must be issued by the Panamanian father or mother before a public notary in Panama, in accordance with Article 99 of Law 31 of July 25, 2006. This affidavit must state that they are the biological parent of the child and that the birth certificate submitted for registration does not originate from an adoption process.
   • If the parents reside abroad, they may make this sworn declaration before the Panamanian Consulate in their country of residence.
   • If done before a Consul, this document must be endorsed by Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as stated in Section 3 of Point 1.

2. Residence Certification

   • Issued on behalf of the Panamanian father or mother by the local justice of the peace in their place of residence.
   • If the child is of legal age, the residence certification must be issued in their own name, as they must prove residency in Panama according to Article 9, numeral 2 of Panama’s Constitution.

3. Copies of Identity Documents

   • Photocopy of the Panamanian ID card or passport of the Panamanian parent.
   • Photocopy of the foreign parent’s passport (personal details must be visible).
   • If the child is of legal age, an additional copy of their passport (showing personal details, entry and exit stamps) is required. These must be certified by a notary, a Panamanian consul, or a Civil Registry official.

4. Authorized Representatives

   • The birth registration documents may be filed by either parent or the grandparents without the need for special authorization.
   • If another person applies for the registration, they must present a notarized authorization from one of the parents or grandparents.
   • If registration is requested by a lawyer, a notarized power of attorney and a written request must be submitted.

5. Multiple Siblings

   • If applying for the registration of multiple siblings, additional copies of shared documents (such as the sworn affidavit, residence certification, and parents’ identity documents) must be provided for each child.

Where to Submit the Application:

• Electoral Tribunal of Panama
  • National Directorate of the Civil Registry
  • Location: Omar Torrijos Herrera Avenue, Township of Ancon, Tribunal Electoral building, Panama City, Republic of Panama.
• Regional Offices of the Electoral Tribunal in Each Province
  • If submitted at a regional office, processing time will be longer due to the need to send documents to the central office.

Important Observations:

• As per Article 4 of Decree 3 of February 11, 2008, Civil Registry officials may personally verify the accuracy of the submitted evidence before registering the birth.
• Compliance with the requirements does not guarantee automatic approval of the application. Additional documents may be required, which could extend processing time.
• The Panamanian parent’s name on the birth certificate must match their identity documents. If the mother uses a married last name, the marriage certificate must also indicate her maiden name.
• Translations must be error-free and faithfully correspond to the birth certificate. Translations must be done by a sworn translator in Panama.
• Apostille seals must also be translated into Spanish.
• If the Panamanian parent is deceased, the surviving parent or a close relative (up to the fourth degree of kinship) may submit the sworn affidavit. If no relatives exist, the child may submit it themselves, but the death must be registered in the Panamanian Civil Registry.
• Residence certifications must be accurate. If the text suggests the applicant does not have a permanent residence in Panama, the document will be rejected.

Legal Basis:

• Article 9, numeral 2 of the Constitution of Panama
• Law 31 of July 25, 2006

Important:

As per Article 101 of Law 31 of 2006, a child born abroad to Panamanian parents cannot be registered as Panamanian if the parent had not acquired Panamanian nationality before the child’s birth.

Law Office of Edgardo Espinosa, Esq.
Immigration Lawyer
The Century Tower, 4th Floor, Suite 401
Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue
Panama City, Panama

Tel: +507 6772-4739
Email: info@lawyerinpanama.com
Website: https://lawyerinpanama.com