What counts as an official translation in Panama?
An official translation in Panama is one signed and sealed by a Certified Public Translator (TPA), certified by MEDUCA under Executive Decree 975 of 2017 and Resolution 2448 of 2018, and listed on MIRE's official register. That signature and seal make it valid before the National Immigration Service, the Civil Registry, universities and banks. Locally, people also call it a certified or public translation.
TPA stands for Traductor Público Autorizado, literally “authorized public translator.” When a Panamanian office, attorney or bank asks you for a traducción oficial, this is the document they mean.
Is a certified translation the same as an official one?
In Panama, in practice, yes. A TPA's translation carries a statement of accuracy along with the translator's signature and seal, so both words are used interchangeably. The difference matters when the document is headed to the United States: there, “certified translation” is defined by 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3), which only requires the translator's signed certification, with no government seal.
A TPA translation into English meets that standard, because it includes the translator's signed statement of accuracy and competence. For a USCIS filing you get both: the certification the rule asks for, and the official Panamanian signature and seal behind it.
What is a sworn translation, and does it apply in Panama?
“Sworn translation” is the English name for Spain's traducción jurada, done by a sworn translator-interpreter appointed by Spain's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAEC). It is Spain's equivalent of Panama's TPA, not a Panamanian figure. For a process in Spain you need a MAEC sworn translator; for a process in Panama you need a TPA certified under Executive Decree 975 of 2017.
Mixing the two up is a frequent mistake among people arriving from Europe. The same logic applies to any translation made outside Panama: even if it is official where it was done, Panamanian authorities normally ask for it to be redone here by a local TPA.
What is a simple translation, and when is it enough?
A simple translation has no official backing. Anyone can produce it, and it is useful for understanding a text or for your own reference. It carries no signature or seal from a translator certified under Executive Decree 975 of 2017, so the Civil Registry, a university or a Panamanian bank will not accept it. It is never enough for a formal process.
Which type of translation does each process ask for?
It depends on where you file, not on where the document came from. Panamanian authorities ask for a TPA translation. USCIS asks for a certified translation under 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3). Spain asks for a sworn translation by a MAEC-appointed translator. If you are not sure, tell us the country and the office where you will file, and we will point you to the right one.
| Where you file | Type required | Who signs it |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration, Civil Registry, universities and banks in Panama | Official translation (TPA) | Certified Public Translator registered with MIRE |
| USCIS and other US federal agencies | Certified translation | The translator certifies accuracy (8 CFR 103.2(b)(3)) |
| Processes in Spain | Sworn translation (traducción jurada) | Sworn translator-interpreter appointed by the MAEC |
| Personal use or reference | Simple translation | Anyone; no official validity |
For a process in Panama, ask for a translation by a TPA registered with MIRE. For USCIS, a certified translation with the translator's certification. For Spain, a sworn translation by a MAEC translator. A simple translation does not work for any official process.
How much does an official translation cost in Panama?
At Lingo, English ↔ Spanish costs $20 for the first 250-word page plus $0.08 per additional word, with Panama's 7% ITBMS tax on top, so a one-page document comes to $21.40. German ↔ Spanish is $25 per page plus $0.10 per additional word. Everything we produce is an official TPA translation; we do not sell simple translations for formal processes.
When the destination is the United States, the English certification required by 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3) is included at no extra cost. There is no rounding up to full pages: a 260-word document is charged for its 10 extra words, not for a second page. See the exact total in the online quote or on the pricing page.