Domestic adoption
The persons interested in becoming adoptive parents must provide the following documentation:
- Birth certificate of the person or persons interested in adopting a child
- Marriage certificate
- Employment verification letter or income tax return
- Bank reference letter or a similiar document indicating financial stability
- Psychosocial assessment of the children of the adopting parents or of any person permanently residing in the house of the adopting parents, except for people working for the adopting parents.
- Certificate of good physical and mental health issued by a licensed physician in the Republic of Panama
- Psychological evaluation issued by a Panamanian licensed psychologist
- Two (2) coloured ID size photos taken recently
- Photos, postcard size and in color, of the external appearance, internal appearance, and back part of the residence of the requesting party or parties
- Background check certificate
- Social work evaluation of the adopting parent(s) by a qualified social work professional.
- Two letters of recommendation from persons of good character who are not relatives and who have known the person for a period of more than ten years.
- Acceptance of post-adoption follow-up during the three years following the adoption.
- For domestic applicants, certificate of completion of the Training Program for Prospective Adoptive Parents issued by the National Secretariat for Childhood, Adolescence and Family or by a cooperating organization approved for this purpose by this Secretariat.
- Affidavit establishing the parties’ intention to adopt.
International adoption
Besides the documentation required for national adoption, the foreign adopting parent(s) or Panamanian citizens domiciled outside the country or residing abroad must comply with the requirements below:
- Psychological analysis of the applicants, including the psychological family dynamics, endorsed by the central authority or body accredited by the central authority of the receiving country..
- Socio-economic evaluation of the applicants, including family dynamics and functionality, endorsed by the central authority or body accredited by the central authority of the receiving country.
- Police clearance certificate issued by the corresponding authoritty
- Copy of passport.
- Copy of the authorization of the adoptee to enter the receiving country.
- Authorization to adopt issued by the central authority or bodies accredited by the central authority responsible for adoptions in the receiving country.
- Certification issued by the central authority or bodies accredited by the central authority of the receiving country, stating the commitment to follow up the child or adolescent in the adoption process for a period of three years.
- Certificate of completion of the course for adoptive parents, issued by the central authority or agencies accredited by the central authority in matters of adoption from other nations recognized by the Republic of Panama.
- Authorization or visa of the receiving country for the entry of the adopted child or adolescent.
- Certification issued by the immigration authority or naturalization authority regarding the requirements for the adoptee to become naturalized or acquire citizenship of the receiving country.
Note: Documents issued abroad must be apostilled for use in Panama or authenticated by the Panamanian Consulate in the country of issuance. Since Spanish is the official language in Panama, documents written in a different language should be translated by a Panamanian certified translator.
Adoption of an adult person
The adoption of persons of legal age according to the General Law of Adoptions of the Republic of Panama jurisdiction of the farnily sectional judge and the process will be limited to the standard ordinary processes set forth in the Farnily Code of Panama
In order to proceed with the adoption of a person of legal age, it is necessary:
- The consent of the son or daughter to be adopted
- Coexistence of the person with his/her adopting parents, of no less than five years prior to becoming of legal age.
- That the existence of affective family bonds between the person and the future adoptive parents.
- That the future adoptee submits the request for adoption within the two years after reaching legal age.
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