Frequently asked questions

The only professional authorized to produce legally valid translations in Panama: certified by the Ministry of Education under Executive Decree 975 of 2017 and Resolution 2448 of 2018, and listed in the official registry of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIRE). Every Lingo translation is signed and physically sealed by a MIRE-registered TPA.

Usually not. Panamanian authorities — Immigration, the Civil Registry, universities, banks — require the signature and seal of a locally registered TPA. A certified translation from abroad, even a notarized one, is routinely rejected and must be redone in Panama. The good news: it is fast and inexpensive to redo correctly.

Apostille first, always, and in the country that issued the document. An FBI background check gets its apostille from the US Department of State, then gets translated in Panama so the apostille appears inside the certified translation. Translating first is the most common mistake and forces you to pay for the translation twice. Lingo does not provide apostille or notarization services: you handle that step directly with the issuing authority or your lawyer.

We charge a base rate for the first page, up to 250 words, and the rest per word. English ↔ Spanish: $20 for the first page and $0.08 per additional word. German ↔ Spanish: $25 for the first page and $0.10 per additional word. Panama's 7% ITBMS tax applies on top: a one-page certificate in English comes to $21.40 total; a longer FBI report typically runs $30–50. Documents over 10 pages get a special volume price.

If they are in the same language and you send them together in one order, you pay for the first page only once and the rest per word. English ↔ Spanish: $20 for the first page and $0.08 per additional word. German ↔ Spanish: $25 for the first page and $0.10 per additional word. Three 150-word English certificates cost $38.52 with tax, not $64.20: you save $25.68. Mixing languages means one first page per language.

Standard: up to 3 business days. Express: 1 business day (+50%). Same-day (+100%): only when you request it before noon and a translator is available. Timelines apply to documents up to 10 pages (2,500 words); longer documents get a special volume price, quoted by our team.

Yes. The signed and sealed PDF reaches you by WhatsApp or email at no cost. The printed original is delivered in Panama City for $5 + ITBMS per order, however many documents it includes. Outside Panama City, shipping is quoted separately and confirmed on WhatsApp before we charge it.

The pension or Social Security award letter proving lifetime income of at least $1,000/month, an FBI (or home-country) background check, and civil certificates for dependents. Everything issued in English must be apostilled in its country of origin and translated into Spanish by a MIRE-registered TPA.

We deliver full compliance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(3): complete English translation plus the translator's signed certification of accuracy and competence, which is the exact format USCIS requires. No apostille of the translation is needed for USCIS filings.

With Yappy, Panama's mobile payment app, available to customers of the banks in the Yappy network. Yappy is currently our only payment method: the payment request reaches your app and confirmation is instant. You see the full total, including 7% ITBMS, before you pay. Card payments are coming soon.

Yes. We operate under Panama's Data Protection Law (Law 81 of 2019): explicit consent, encrypted storage (AES-256), and automatic deletion of your files 60 days after delivery. Your document is only shared with the TPA who signs your translation.

The WhatsApp assistant quotes and takes orders 24/7, in English or Spanish. Human attention runs Monday to Friday 9am–6pm and Saturday 9am–1pm. Delivery times (Standard, Express, Same-day) count business days only, Monday to Friday.