Public Services

Notaries

August 2008

Sworn statements and acknowledgment of signatures:

The consular officer acts as a Notary for documents to be used in the U.S. If you need to sign a document in the presence of a Notary Public you may visit the Consular Section, any business day between 8:00 and 12:00. Please bring identification. The fee is $30 for the first document and $20 for each additional document notarized at the same time related to the same transaction. If a person is signing as a legal representative of a company (president, treasurer, etc), you must present the corporation documents. When having a will notarized, you will need to provide witnesses.

Authentication of true copies:

The consular officer can verify that a copy of a document is a valid reproduction of an original. The authentication fee is $30 for the first copy and $20 for each additional copy provided at the same time. Both copy and original need to be presented.

Authentication of civil documents:

Both the United States of America and the Republic of Panama are signatories of the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961, abolishing the requirement of legalization of public documents. The Convention became effective in Panama in November 1991.

Under the terms of the Convention, the requirement that U.S. consular officers authenticate Panamanian civil documents for use in the United States was abolished. Further, U.S. consular officers in Panama are specifically prohibited from continuing to authenticate Panamanian civil documents after the Convention came into force. In place of U.S. consular authentication, the Government of Panama places an "apostille" stamp on the Panamanian civil document.

If you encounter difficulties with officials in the United States accepting a Panamanian civil document with the "apostille" stamp, please write to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State, Washington, D.C. 20520. The telefax number is (202) 647-6201.

Government Offices in Panama

Listing of offices where you can obtain an apostille on documents.

Supreme Court

Signatures of the courts, judges, secretary of the courts

• Telephone: 262-9833
  
• Fee: gratis
  
• Hours of operation: 8:00 to 12:00 and 2:00 to 5:00
  
• Location: Supreme Court 1st Floor, Secretary General Office

Minstry of Foreign Relations

Authenticates the signatures of all the ministries in Panama except Ministry of Government and Justice (including Public Ministry - Attorney General, Fiscales, etc.)

• Telephone: 511-4045/46
  
• Fee: $2.00 and one (1) peace stamp
  
• Hours of Operations: 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
  
• Location: Plaza Edison, Via Ricardo J. Alfaro (Tumba Muerto), Ground Floor (by Tumba Muerto side)

Minstry of Government and Justice

Signatures of notaries, public translators, and Police

• Telephone: 262-3016
  
• Fee for regular bond paper: $6.00 in stamps and a 20 cent stamp of Peace and Security
  
• Fee for seal paper: $2.00 in stamps and a 20 cent stamp of Peace and Security
  
• Hours of Operations: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  
• Location: Ministry of Government and Justice Calle 7ta Central, Accounting Department 2nd floor.