Information For Travelers

American Citizens Service Unit

Nov 2009

Hours of Operation:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 8:00 am - 12:00 noon and 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.

U.S. Address: U.S. Embassy Panama American Citizens Services Unit 9100 Panama City Pl Washington, D.C.  20521-9100

Panama Address: Seccion Consular Embajada de los Estados Unidos Apartado 0816-02561      Zona 5 Panama, Republica de Panama

 

For email inquiries, answered within 3 working days:  Panama-ACS@state.gov
For automated information:  207-7030
For general information and forms: http://panama.usembassy.gov

 

RECENT UPDATES:

Effective December 31, 2009, military retirees and employees of Department of Defense contractors will no longer receive mail services at the Diplomatic Post Office (DPO) in Panama City, Panama.

Background:
For two years, the Department of State (DOS) and Department of Defense (DOD) have been working to convert APO and FPO facilities to DPO, thereby shifting responsibility for mail from DOD to DOS.  Panama’s APO facility transitioned to a DPO in August 2008.  In order to help offset the costs of providing mail service to military retirees, the DOS requested funding from DOD to support the retirees, as DOS has never provided mail services to its own retirees overseas.  However, the DOD, by law, cannot pay DOS for delivery of military retiree mail.  Thus, DOS recently announced that it will discontinue mail service to military retirees and employees of DOD contractors.

As of December 31, affected individuals will be required to use the Panamanian mail service or a commercial mail facility such as Mailboxes, Etc. or MiamiExpress.com.

To ensure that your mail is properly forwarded, please complete a change-of-address form at the DPO as soon as possible.  Online change-of-address forms do not work for DPO addresses, so please come to the DPO in person to fill out a form.  You also need to notify your correspondents (family, friends, banks, credit card companies, magazine subscriptions, etc.) of your new mailing address.

TRICARE beneficiaries:
TRICARE beneficiaries will no longer be able to receive medications at the Panama City DPO as of December 31, 2009.  TRICARE Mail Order Pharmacy (TMOP) will continue to process prescriptions through December 1, 2009 to allow delivery prior to December 31.  After this time, TRICARE beneficiaries will need to acquire prescription medications locally and apply to TRICARE for reimbursement.  Click here for information from TRICARE that explains how to submit pharmacy claims.

Proposed Law 71 on Property Rights in Panama

Have you had problems with your right of possession, land titling, or CATASTRO?  Do you want to influence the process how you buy rights of possession and title land in Panama?  Now is the time for your voice to be heard by the Government of Panama!

The Government of Panama wants to provide you information and receive feedback from you on Proposed Law 71 – Possessory Rights and Land Titling in Coastal Lands and Islands. All expatriates including Americans are invited on Thursday, October 29 from 9 to 12 a.m. in the Salon Bolivar of the Hotel Continental to listen to the following Government officials:

·   Minister of Economy and Finance, Alberto Vallarino
·   Vice-Minister of Economy and Finance, Dulcidio de la Guardia
·   A representative from Catastro

The U.S. Embassy in Panama encourages you to take advantage of this important opportunity to influence legislation that affects your property rights in Panama.