Panama apostille from abroad
You live outside Panama and need a Panamanian document apostilled. We request it for you, get it apostilled at MIRE and send it to your country, with no need to travel.
- Authority
- MIRE (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), plus the agency that issues the document
- How it is filed
- Remote: everything is coordinated by WhatsApp and email
- Typical timeframe
- Variable: depends on the document, the power of attorney if needed, and shipping
- Fee from
- From US$75 per document, plus international shipping
Who it is for
- Panamanians living abroadYou need your birth certificate, degree or police record apostilled for a procedure where you live.
- Foreigners who lived or studied in PanamaYou need a Panamanian document, such as a degree or police record, to be valid in your country.
- Companies and property owners in PanamaYou need Public Registry certificates or notarial documents apostilled for use abroad.
Problems we solve
- You do not have the original document and cannot request it in person.
- The issuing agency asks for a power of attorney to release the document to someone else.
- You do not know if your country accepts electronic apostilles or requires paper.
- You have a visa, job or school deadline and cannot wait.
- A relative took the document to MIRE and it was rejected.
How we do it without you traveling
It all starts with a scan or photo of the document. With it, we check whether the signature can be apostilled or needs a prior step, based on MIRE's signature registry rules.
If you do not have the document, we request it from the issuing agency. Some agencies only release documents to the holder or an attorney-in-fact. In that case, we draft a power of attorney for you to sign in your country.
- Power of attorney signed abroad: you sign it before a notary in your country and apostille it there, if your country is party to the Hague Convention.
- Power of attorney at a Panamanian consulate: the other option. MIRE accepts documents authenticated by Panamanian consulates, according to its fee schedule.
Electronic apostille and paper documents
Since May 27, 2025, MIRE issues electronic apostilles with a QR code, according to Panama's report to the HCCH. They are verified on MIRE's validation page.
If the authority in your country accepts the electronic format, we email it to you and you save on courier. If it requires paper, we arrange international shipping.
The same report notes that some countries cannot access the verification system. If an electronic apostille is rejected, MIRE issues a formal certification note on request.
International courier shipping
We ship the apostilled document by international courier with a tracking number. We give you the exact cost for your country before shipping.
Before sealing the envelope, we send you a scan of the apostilled document so you can check it.
The reverse case: foreign documents for use in Panama
If you have a document from another country and need it in Panama, the path is different. The apostille is issued in the country of origin, not in Panama, as the Ministry of Health information sheet explains.
If the country of origin is not party to the Convention, the document is legalized at the Panamanian consulate there. If it is not in Spanish, it needs a translation by an authorized public translator.
For Panamanian documents, see also document apostille in Panama.
Requirements
- A clear scan or photo of the document, or the details to request it from the agency. Official source
- Document signed by an official with a signature registered at MIRE, or with its prior authentication. Official source
- Power of attorney, if the agency only releases the document to the holder: apostilled in your country or authenticated by a Panamanian consulate. Official source
- Destination country and whether it accepts electronic apostilles. Official source
- Full address and phone number for courier delivery.
Steps and timeframes
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You message us on WhatsApp
You handle itSend the scan of the document, the destination country and what you need it for.
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We review and quote
We handle itWe tell you if a power of attorney, prior authentication or translation is needed, and the total cost with shipping.
1 business day
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You sign the power of attorney, if needed
You handle itWe send you the text. You sign it before a notary and apostille it in your country, or sign it at a Panamanian consulate.
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We request the document in Panama
We handle itWe request it from the issuing agency and handle any prior authentication.
Depends on the agency
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MIRE apostilles the document
The authority handles itWe file the request on Panamá Conecta and pay the fee and stamps online.
Variable
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We send you the document
We handle itFirst a scan for your review. Then the electronic file, or the original by courier with a tracking number.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Apostille or certification fee (MIRE) Official source | B/.2.00 per document |
| MIRE stamps Official source | From exempt to B/.8.00, by document |
| Issuing the document (agency fee) | Per each agency's rates |
| International courier shipping | Depends on the destination country |
| Tramita Todo fee | From US$75 per document, plus international shipping |
The balboa (B/.) is on par with the US dollar. You pay the notary and apostille for the power of attorney in your country. We give you the total cost before we start.
What our service includes
- Review of the document and the destination country.
- Drafting the power of attorney, if needed.
- Requesting the document from the agency in Panama.
- Prior authentication, apostille and payment of fees in Panama.
- Control scan and electronic or courier delivery.
What it does not include
- Notary, apostille or consulate costs for the power of attorney in your country.
- International courier cost (quoted upfront).
- Certified translation into the destination language.
- Legalization at the destination country's consulate, if it is not a Convention party.
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
Can I apostille a Panamanian document without traveling to Panama?
Yes. We request the document, get it apostilled at MIRE and send it to your country. If the agency only releases the document to the holder, you sign a power of attorney where you live. Everything is coordinated by WhatsApp and email.
How much does a Panama apostille from abroad cost?
Our fee starts at US$75 per document, plus international shipping. On top of that come the MIRE fee (B/.2.00) and the document's stamps, from exempt to B/.8.00. We give you the total before we start.
Will an electronic apostille work in my country?
It depends on the receiving authority. Since May 2025, MIRE issues electronic apostilles that can be verified online. If it is rejected because they cannot access the verification system, MIRE issues a formal certification note on request. If paper is required, we ship the original by courier.
Do I need to give a power of attorney?
Only if the issuing agency requires the holder to request the document. You sign it before a notary in your country and apostille it there, or sign it at a Panamanian consulate. We send you the text ready to sign.
Can you apostille a document from my country in Panama?
No. The apostille is issued by the country that issued the document. If you need it in Panama, apostille it in your country of origin. If it is not in Spanish, it needs a translation by an authorized public translator in Panama.