Public Registry certificates in Panama
We request your land or company certificate from Panama's Public Registry, check that it shows what you need and, if you will use it abroad, get it apostilled.
- Authority
- Public Registry of Panama (and MIRE, if apostilled)
- How it is filed
- Online (Virtual Window) for electronic folios; in person for older records
- Typical timeframe
- Variable: the Public Registry emails you when the certificate is ready
- Fee from
- From US$25 per certificate, plus the Public Registry fee
Who it is for
- Land owners and buyersYou need to know who the registered owner is and whether the land has mortgages, seizures or other liens.
- Registered companiesA bank, agency or client asks for a good standing certificate with directors and legal representative.
- People and companies abroadYou need the certificate apostilled to use it in another country.
Problems we solve
- You do not know which certificate to request and the bank rejected the one you brought.
- Your land or company is in old volumes or microfilm and does not show up online.
- Your company certificate came with a note of unpaid annual fee (tasa única).
- You need the certificate apostilled for a foreign bank or authority.
- The certificate exceeded the pages paid and is on hold.
Key terms
The Registro Público (Public Registry) records land, companies and the acts that affect them. Each land parcel (finca) or company has a folio, its registration number. A certificate states what is registered on that folio.
The tasa única is the annual fee every Panamanian company pays to stay in good standing.
Which Public Registry certificates we request
These are the certificates we are asked for most often:
- Property certificate: registered owner, land details and registry history.
- Lien certificate: mortgages, seizures, attachments and other restrictions registered on the land.
- Company certificate (legal entity): good standing, directors, officers, registered agent and legal representative on record.
- Certificate of no property: states that a person has no property registered in their name.
Online or in person
The Public Registry has a Virtual Window to request certificates. According to its certificate request guide, you pay by Visa or MasterCard, or with Yappy. The certificate arrives by email with a download link.
The same guide shows that the online search only returns electronic folios. If your land or company does not appear, for example because it is still in old volumes or microfilm, it is requested at the counter. We do it for you.
If the certificate has more pages than those paid, the Public Registry asks for the extra pages to be paid before delivery.
Companies with an unpaid annual fee
According to the Public Registry's Qualification Manual, an unpaid tasa única prevents certifications on the company, with some exceptions.
In those cases, the certificate is issued in a different format that shows the arrears. A bank or foreign authority may reject it. We warn you before requesting it.
Apostilled certificates for use abroad
If you will present the certificate in another country, it needs a MIRE apostille. According to MIRE's fee schedule, that is B/.2.00 per request, plus B/.2.00 in stamps for the original or B/.6.00 for a copy.
We request the certificate and apostille it in one order. See document apostille in Panama. If you live abroad, we ship it as described in Panama apostille from abroad.
If you need the certificate to sell or buy land, see also property title transfer.
Requirements
- Folio number (land or company) or, if you do not have it, the owner's or company's name. Official source
- The type of certificate required by the receiving party. Official source
- Email address for electronic delivery. Official source
- Company current on its tasa única, for a certificate with no arrears note. Official source
- Destination country, if the certificate will be apostilled. Official source
Steps and timeframes
-
You tell us what you need
You handle itLand number or company name, and what the certificate is for.
-
We review the folio
We handle itWe confirm the folio exists, whether it is electronic, and whether any note affects the certificate.
1 business day
-
We request the certificate
We handle itThrough the Virtual Window or at the counter, depending on the folio. We pay the fee and any extra pages.
-
The Public Registry issues it
The authority handles itThe Public Registry emails when the certificate is ready to download or pick up.
Variable
-
Apostille, if needed
We handle itWe submit it to MIRE for the apostille if you will use it outside Panama.
Variable
-
We deliver the certificate
We handle itWe send you the PDF and explain what it says. If you need it on paper, we deliver or ship it.
Costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Certificate fee and extra pages (Public Registry) Official source | Per current Public Registry rates |
| MIRE apostille, if needed Official source | B/.2.00 per request, plus B/.2.00 (original) or B/.6.00 (copy) in stamps |
| Tramita Todo fee | From US$25 per certificate, plus the Public Registry fee |
The balboa (B/.) is on par with the US dollar. We confirm the exact Public Registry fee when we review the folio. Apostille and shipping are quoted separately.
What our service includes
- Prior review of the land or company folio.
- Request through the Virtual Window or at the counter.
- Payment of the fee and extra pages.
- Reading the certificate: we explain what it says.
- Apostille and shipping, if you order them.
What it does not include
- Public Registry and MIRE fees (listed upfront).
- Paying the company's overdue tasa única.
- Correcting registration errors, which is a separate procedure.
- Releasing mortgages or seizures shown on the certificate.
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 do I get a Panama Public Registry certificate online?
Through the Public Registry's Virtual Window, with a registered user account. You pay by Visa, MasterCard or Yappy and the certificate arrives by email. It only shows electronic folios: if yours does not appear, it is requested at the counter.
How much does a Public Registry certificate cost?
The fee depends on the certificate type and the number of pages. We confirm it when we review the folio. Our fee starts at US$25 per certificate, plus the Public Registry fee.
How do I know if land in Panama has liens?
With a Public Registry certificate that includes registered liens: mortgages, seizures or attachments. It is the first thing we check before a property title transfer.
Why does my company certificate show arrears?
According to the Public Registry's Qualification Manual, if the company has not paid its tasa única, the certification is issued in a different format showing the arrears. Once the company is current, a new certificate can be requested.
Can a Public Registry certificate be apostilled?
Yes. MIRE apostilles Public Registry certificates for B/.2.00 plus B/.2.00 in stamps for the original. We request the certificate and apostille it in one order, also if you live outside Panama.