Apostille a police record in Panama
We request your background certificate from the DIJ and get it apostilled while it is still valid. You receive it ready for your visa, residency or job abroad.
- Authority
- DIJ of the National Police (Ministry of Security) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- How it is filed
- Mixed: record online or at the DIJ; apostille online
- Typical timeframe
- Varies: the record can be same day or take about 3 business days
- Fee from
- From US$50 per document, plus official fees and the cost of the certificate
Who it is for
- Visa and residency applicantsMany consulates ask for an apostilled criminal background check from every country where you have lived.
- Professionals hired abroadYou must show a clean record for a job, a professional license or an adoption.
- Foreigners who used to live in PanamaYou have left and need your Panamanian record without coming back. See apostille from abroad.
Problems we solve
- You downloaded the record online and do not know if it can be apostilled.
- The record expired before your consulate appointment.
- You hold a foreign passport and cannot use the online platform.
- You live outside Panama and need the record from when you lived here.
- The DIJ platform is down and your appointment is coming up.
Who issues the police record
The récord policivo is the Personal Background Certificate (Certificado de Antecedentes Personales). It is issued by the Judicial Investigation Directorate (DIJ) of the National Police, as reported by TVN. It shows whether a person has a criminal record.
For the apostille, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs requires the original signed by a DIJ official, according to its fee schedule. Copies of the record are not apostilled.
How to request it: online or at the DIJ
Panamanians with a cédula can request it online. According to Panamá Digital, foreigners with a passport must apply in person at the DIJ.
In person, it is requested at DIJ headquarters or the nearest sub-station, with your ID. If someone else goes for you, they need an authorization letter signed by you, as reported by Telemetro.
The online version was created for employment purposes. Before the apostille, we confirm whether the Ministry accepts the version you have or whether it is better to request it at the counter.
Validity: 30 days, apostille included
The police record is valid for 30 days from issue, as reported by La Estrella de Panamá. The apostille does not extend that period.
Each consulate also sets how old a record it will accept. So we request it once you have an appointment or shipping date, and apostille it right away.
Most common uses of an apostilled police record
The apostille is valid in Hague Convention countries. For countries outside the Convention, consular legalization applies, as explained in document apostille in Panama.
- Work, study or residency visas.
- Permanent residency or citizenship in another country.
- Employment contracts, professional licenses and adoptions.
- If the destination does not use Spanish, ask whether it requires a translation. We can arrange it if needed.
Requirements
- Panamanians: a valid cédula. Online requests require a Panamanian cédula. Official source
- Foreigners: passport with Panama entry stamps, or permanent resident card. In person at the DIJ. Official source
- An authorization letter signed by you if someone else handles it. From abroad, your signature on that letter is validated before a notary in Panama. Official source
- The original record signed by a DIJ official, for the apostille. Official source
Steps and timeframes
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We plan the dates
We handle itWe check your appointment or shipping date so the record arrives while still valid.
1 business day
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You sign the authorization
You handle itWe send you the form. If you are outside Panama, you sign it and send it with a copy of your ID, and we validate it before a notary here.
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We request the record from the DIJ
We handle itOnline if it applies to your case, or at the counter with your authorization.
-
The DIJ issues the certificate
The authority handles itTiming depends on the channel and on whether the DIJ system is available.
Same day to about 3 business days
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We get it apostilled
We handle itWe file the original with the Ministry and pay the fees. When possible, we do it the day we receive it.
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We deliver the apostilled record
We handle itAs a PDF by email or a paper original by courier, depending on what your consulate wants.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| DIJ background certificate | According to the DIJ's current fee |
| Ministry of Foreign Affairs apostille Official source | B/.2.00 |
| Stamp fee: police record (original only) Official source | B/.7.00 |
| Tramita Todo fee | From US$50 per document, plus official fees and the cost of the certificate |
The balboa (B/.) is at par with the US dollar. Fees can change: we confirm them when we review your case. Courier, notary and translation are quoted separately.
What our service includes
- Date planning so the record arrives while valid.
- Requesting the record from the DIJ.
- Apostille request and payment at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Delivery of the apostilled record as a PDF or paper original.
- Updates in writing by WhatsApp or email.
What it does not include
- DIJ and Ministry fees.
- Legal defense or clearing of criminal records.
- Certified translation and international courier.
- The visa or residency application in the other country.
Who handles your case
- Handling procedures before Panamanian authorities since 2008.
- Certified public accountants on our team.
- Our own office in Obarrio, Panama City.
- We also serve clients who live outside Panama.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to apostille a Panama police record?
According to the MIRE fee schedule, the apostille costs B/.2.00 and the police record stamp fee is B/.7.00. Only the original is apostilled. Add the DIJ certificate fee and our fee, from US$50 per document.
How long is a Panama police record valid?
The police record is valid for 30 days from issue, according to published reports on the DIJ service. The apostille does not extend it. Your consulate may also want a more recent one. We request it close to your filing date.
Can the record I downloaded online be apostilled?
It depends. The online version was created for employment purposes, and the Ministry requires the original signed by a DIJ official. Before paying for the apostille, we confirm whether your version works or should be requested at the counter.
I am a foreigner who lived in Panama. Can I get the record?
Yes. Foreigners with a passport request it in person at the DIJ. If you are no longer in Panama, a representative can request it with your notarized authorization and a passport copy showing your entry stamps.
How long does the whole process take?
The DIJ can issue it the same day or in about 3 business days, depending on the channel. The electronic apostille can be issued the same day. The DIJ sometimes suspends the service for maintenance, as in August 2026, so start with time to spare.
Can you do it if I am outside Panama?
Yes. You sign the authorization letter and send it to us with a copy of your ID. We validate it before a notary here, request the record, apostille it and send it to you. See apostille from abroad.