U.S. Embassy in Panama

Types of Notarial Services We Can Provide:

Certification of True Copies

A certified true copy is a copy of a document that has been verified to be exactly like the original. A consular officer can certify some federal documents for use in applying for social security cards or other benefits. We cannot make true copies of public documents such as birth, death, marriage, or divorce records. You need to request these from the office that keeps the records in the state or area where they were made. You can get true copies of Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, Naturalization Certificates, or documents from the former Panama Canal Zone by contacting the agency that holds them.

Retirement Benefits Certification

If you are retired and need to prove your monthly income to get a retirement visa in Panama, bring the documents that show your income and where it comes from (original and a copy) and your current passport or ID card. A consular officer will give you an affidavit to sign in front of them that you can use with the Panamanian government.

The fee for each affidavit is $50.00.

Statement of Consent for the Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor

You do not need an appointment for this service. It is free and available from Monday to Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. If you are applying for a U.S. passport for a child under 16, and only one or no parent can come to the Consular Section for the passport appointment, the absent parent(s) can provide a notarized Statement of Consent (Form DS-3053) along with a copy of their valid photo ID with signature. Do not sign the form before coming.

U.S. Savings Bonds

Check the Treasury Direct website for detailed instructions. We cannot cash your savings bonds – we only notarize your signature. This is a free service. Do not sign the document before your appointment. Bring FS Form 1522 and FS Form 3500 (if needed) filled out but not signed.

Acknowledgement

An “acknowledgement of execution” is used for legal agreements, business documents, deeds, powers of attorney, financial, or real estate documents such as a grant deed, warranty deed, bill of sale, closing affidavit, assignment of lease, disbursement instructions, wills, etc.

Important Instructions:

• If you are signing for a company, bring the company’s social contract that proves you can legally sign for it. Bring your documents fully completed, with no missing pages, ready for notarization.
• The consular officer cannot prepare documents, provide legal forms, give legal advice, or take legal responsibility for the contents of documents notarized. The Embassy cannot put your documents together for you or give legal advice on how to prepare them.
• If your documents are not ready for signature, you may need to make a new appointment.
• Do not sign the document before your appointment.
• If a will or any document needs witnesses, bring your own witnesses. People signing or witnessing must bring a current passport or ID to prove their identity. Consular staff cannot be witnesses.

Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN)

ITINs are given by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to nonresident or resident aliens who do not have and cannot get a Social Security Number. You can download Form W-7 from the IRS website. For an ITIN, we can certify the following documents as true copies: passport (bio page only), national identity card, or birth certificate. Bring the original and one copy of each document, along with your ITIN application. The IRS will accept certifications by a U.S. consular officer.

Obtaining a Panamanian Drivers License

Short-Term Visitors (Tourists)

• Visitors may drive in Panama with a valid U.S. driver’s license for up to 90 days after entry.

Long-Term Visitors (Over 90 Days)

• To drive after the 90 days, you must obtain a Panamanian driver’s license, even if you are not a resident.
• You can do this by validating your U.S. license through the U.S. Embassy in Panama and the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, followed by submission to Sertracen, the Panamanian licensing authority.

Step-by-Step Process

Step 1: Complete the Sertracen License Certification Form

1. Access the form online via Sertracen’s website.
2. Fill in your personal details and upload clear, upright photos of the front and back of your U.S. driver’s license.
3. After completing the form, click “Enviar Formulario” (Submit Form).
4. You will receive a confirmation email with a PDF copy of your certification form.
5. Print the form in color but do not sign it.
6. Please review this sample form to ensure your form matches Sertracen’s requirements.

Step 2: Schedule a Notarial Appointment

• Book a Notarial Service appointment with the U.S. Embassy in Panama.

Step 3: Attend Your Appointment

• Arrive on time. If you are more than 15 minutes late, services cannot be guaranteed.
• Bring the following:
  • Your colored-printed unsigned Sertracen form
  • Your valid U.S. driver’s license
• Pay the $50.00 notarial fee at your appointment.
• You will sign the form in front of the consular officer.

Important:

If the form is unclear, not printed in color or if your driver’s license images are not upright or correctly uploaded, or the form is filled out incorrectly, you must book a new Notarial Service appointment.

After Embassy Validation

1. Review the Driver’s License Validation Handout for further steps after the notary service.
2. Alternatively, you can take the Panamanian driving test, available in English through Sertracen.