How to get a foreign university degree recognized in Panama (UP and UTP)

Who recognizes foreign degrees in Panama?

The University of Panama is the general authority for recognizing and revalidating foreign degrees (homologación or reválida), a role it holds under its organic law, Law 24 of 2005. Engineering and technology programs within the field of the Technological University of Panama are recognized by UTP. If your profession is regulated, such as medicine, law or architecture, you will also need a license (idoneidad) from the relevant professional board afterwards.

Which documents does degree recognition require?

The core file has three documents, all apostilled in the country that issued them; in the US, a diploma is usually apostilled by the relevant state authority. The evaluating faculty compares your study plan course by course against the equivalent Panamanian program, which is why it asks for the complete study plan, not a summary, translated by a TPA under Executive Decree 975 of 2017.

• Diploma or degree certificate, apostilled in the country of origin.
• Official transcript listing every course and grade, apostilled.
• Complete study plan (pensum or syllabus), with the content of each course, apostilled.
• ID documents and, depending on the faculty, letters from the issuing university.

Which documents need a certified translation?

Those not in Spanish: degrees from the United States, Germany, Brazil, Italy or any non-Spanish-speaking university. Today we translate English and German; Portuguese and Italian are coming soon. The translation is signed by a Certified Public Translator registered with MIRE (Executive Decree 975 of 2017) and reproduces the whole document, with seals, grading scales and the apostille. Degrees from Venezuela, Colombia, Cuba or Spain need no translation, only the apostille.

See how we translate each piece: university diploma, academic transcript and course syllabus.

Why are so many recognition files rejected?

Because of the study plan. The typical pattern: the applicant apostilles and translates the diploma and transcript, then submits the study plan without an apostille, only partly translated, or not at all. Since the evaluation goes course by course, the university returns the whole file. The study plan is also the most expensive document to redo, since its translation starts at $70, so check it before you file.

How much does it cost to translate a recognition file?

The rate is $20 per 250-word page plus $0.08 per additional word, with Panama's 7% ITBMS tax on top. A diploma runs about $20–25 and a transcript $35–55. The study plan is the big item: depending on its length, it starts at $70. Up to 10 pages, we quote it exactly from the real word count of the PDF; beyond 10 pages, you get a special volume price.

German originals are $25 per page plus $0.10 per additional word. Send the whole set together and you get one exact price before paying: get a quote.

How long does the whole recognition process take?

The translations are quick: diploma and transcript in up to 3 business days, while a long study plan gets its own timeline in the quote. The university's evaluation takes several months and depends on the faculty. Because the process is long, Standard delivery is usually enough. Put your urgency into getting the apostilled documents from your home university early, since that is what takes longest.

Is degree recognition the same as the Foreign Professional visa?

No. The Foreign Professional residency permit is an immigration process before the National Immigration Service, under Decree Law 3 of 2008, that uses your degree to support your residency. Recognition is an academic process that lets you practice your profession in Panama. Many professionals do both, and the certified translations of your diploma and transcript serve both files.