Document translations for permanent residency in Panama
Almost every residency route in Panama runs on Decree Law 3 of 2008 and is filed with the National Immigration Service. The financial requirements change from one category to the next (Friendly Nations, Pensionado, Qualified Investor, marriage), but the document core repeats: birth certificate, background check and, where relevant, marriage certificate. Anything issued in English must be apostilled at origin and translated into Spanish by a Certified Public Translator registered with MIRE.
Which documents need translation?
Birth certificate
The base identity document in every route, and proof of relationship in family reunification cases. Translated in full, apostille and margin notes included.
Background check
FBI, ACRO, RCMP or your home country's equivalent, and sometimes one from each country you lived in recently. Apostilled at origin before translating.
Marriage certificate and financial proof
Required in spouse-based routes, plus the economic evidence your category calls for: pension letters, bank references or investment records.
How much does it cost?
From $20 for the first page, up to 250 words, and $0.08 per additional word, plus 7% ITBMS tax. A typical set (birth certificate, background check and marriage certificate) usually lands between $50 and $135 with tax, depending on length. German originals are $25 for the first page and $0.10 per additional word. Several documents in the same language in one order pay for the first page only once. We quote from your PDFs before you pay.
Send your whole file together. Documents in the same language pay for the first page only once; the rest is per word. Three 150-word English documents cost $38.52 together, not $64.20. You save $25.68.
How long does it take?
Standard delivery takes up to 3 business days per document. Residency files are normally assembled over weeks with an immigration attorney, so Standard is usually enough and costs less. If your filing date moves up, Express delivers in 1 business day (+50%), and Same-day (+100%) applies 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.
How does it work?
- 1Confirm with your attorney or Immigration which category applies and exactly which documents it requires.
- 2Apostille each foreign document in its country of origin, or have it legalised through consular channels.
- 3Send the apostilled PDFs on WhatsApp or through the online quoter, in English.
- 4Pay with the exact quote; a MIRE-registered Certified Public Translator signs and seals each translation.
- 5Receive the signed PDFs by WhatsApp or email at no cost, and the printed originals in Panama City ($5 + ITBMS per order), ready to file with Immigration.
Frequently asked questions
Do all residency routes require the same documents?
Is permanent residency granted immediately?
My documents are already in Spanish. Do I still need a translation?
Do you give immigration advice?
Ready to get started?
Send your documents on WhatsApp and get the exact quote in under a minute — in English.