If you were married in Panama and need to use your marriage certificate in another country, you will likely be asked to provide an apostille. An apostille officially certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal on a public document so that it is legally recognized in all countries that are parties to the Hague Convention of 1961.
Below is a step-by-step guide on how to obtain an apostille for your Panamanian marriage certificate.
1. Obtain an Original Copy of the Certificate
The first step is to request a recent, official copy of your marriage certificate issued by the Electoral Tribunal of Panama, the authority in charge of the Civil Registry.
You may request it in person or through a third party, and it must be an original certificate, not a photocopy.
2. Verify the Signature and Seal
The document must:
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Bear the original signature and seal of the authorized official from the Electoral Tribunal.
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Be authenticated by that entity and the corresponding fiscal stamp must be paid.
Without these elements, the Chancellery will not be able to issue the apostille.
3. Submit the Document to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
The Office of Authentication and Legalization of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (located in Panama City) is the competent authority to issue apostilles.
However, other entities such as the Judicial Branch of Panama and the Ministry of Government are also authorized to issue apostilles.
You can do that:
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Scheduling an appointment online to apostille your document and then bringing the original certificate along with your ID or passport, or
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Using a courier service if you are outside Panama.
4. Payment and Processing Time
When scheduling your appointment online through the Government of Panama’s portal, the system will indicate the amount to be paid.
You must pay both the fiscal stamp and the apostille fee. The system will send you a notification indicating when to bring the document in person to complete the process. The apostille is issued in both physical and electronic format.
5. Receiving the Apostilled Document
The Ministry will attach a separate page containing the official apostille, duly signed and digitally sealed.
Once issued, the document is legally valid in all countries that are members of the Hague Convention.
6. If You Are Outside Panama
If you are overseas, you can:
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Request the apostille through a legal representative or courier service in Panama. The apostilled certificate can also be sent by international mail to your country of origin or residence.
Useful Tips
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Check with the foreign authority whether they require an official translation of the certificate. If so, contact a Panamanian sworn translator to prepare the certified translation of your marriage certificate for international use.
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Keep a digital copy of your apostilled document for future use.
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If your marriage certificate is old, it is advisable to request a recent one before starting the apostille process.
In Summary
Obtaining an apostille for a Panamanian marriage certificate is a straightforward process if the proper steps are followed: obtain the original certificate, verify its authenticity, and submit it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for certification.
Once apostilled, your Panamanian marriage certificate will be legally recognized abroad.
Edgardo Espinosa, Esq.
Translator and Attorney
The Century Tower Building
Ricardo J. Alfaro Avenue
4th Floor, Office 401
📞 +507 6290-3468
✉️ info@lawyerinpanama.com