How to Get a Panamanian Driver's License (As an American)

In the United States, driver’s licenses are issued at the state or territory level, meaning there are 50+ different systems, each with its own requirements, regulations, and procedures. In contrast, Panama has a single nationally regulated licensing system under the authority of the Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT) through the contractor Servicios de Tránsito Centroamericanos, S.A. (Sertracen). This fundamental difference creates bureaucratic challenges for Americans seeking to obtain a Panamanian driver’s license. 

Because U.S. licenses are issued at the state level, there is no single federal authority that can verify and authenticate them in a way that Panama recognizes. This means that Americans must first have their license "authenticated" by the U.S. Embassy in Panama.

The first place to start is at the Sertracen website. Sertracen is basically the Panamanian equivalent of the DMV. Fill out the form here: https://www.sertracen.com.pa/certificacion-de-licencia/, upload photos of your driver's license, and generate this certificate. Print this certificate and bring it to your appointment at the U.S. Embassy. 

To schedule this appointment, go to the U.S. Embassy in Panama's website: https://pa.usembassy.gov/. Select "Notarials" in the Menu. Find the "Schedule a Notarial Appointment" section near the bottom of the page and select the "Appointment Scheduler" button. Select "Make an Appointment" then "Request notarial and other services not listed above". From there you enter your information and choose your appointment date and time. The website can be slow, so be patient. You need to print the confirmation page and bring it with you to your appointment.

The U.S. Embassy in Panama is like a mix of a military base, airport, and DMV. Parking is limited and consists of a gravel lot outside of the gate near the road. There are multiple security checkpoints. Security will make you store your phones and other items in a locker and you will be unable to bring them inside with you. Once inside, the wait can take hours - even with an appointment. Make sure to bring your passport, American driver's license, confirmation page, and a form of payment.

The Vice Consul will inspect your American driver's license and have you swear or affirm that it is indeed genuine. They will then certify the certificate that you provided them. This will be sealed and signed by the Vice Consul. This service costs $50 and can be paid for with either cash or card.

The next step is when things get difficult. You have to have this affadavit authenticated by Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Minrex). They have the Vice Consul's seal and signature on file and will verify that it is genuine. You have to scan the certificate (you cannot use a scan app on your phone, as the file size will be too large) and upload it into their system. You can do this at the following website: https://mire.gob.pa/ministerio/autenticaciones-y-legalizaciones/. Click on "Formulario de Solicitud" and follow the instructions, which are in Spanish. The affadavit will be reviewed and you will be emailed an appointment date and time. You have to take the original document to this appointment, which is at the Minrex office in Plaza Aventura in El Dorado, Betania. Before this appointment, you must pay the fee and the tax to the Panamanian government for this service. This is, in total, $4 for one affadavit.

There are two ways to pay this fee and tax. The first, which I do not recommend, is to go to any Banco Nacional branch and pay the $4 directly to Panamanian treasury. This takes a surprising amount of time and involves a surprising amount of paperwork. Instead, I receommend going to the convenience store M/S Alejandria, which is a few locations down from the Minrex office in Plaza Aventura. The owner speaks English. She will give you the paperwork you need for $5. It's better to pay her $5 than it is to go to the bank and save a buck.

Inside the Minrex office, you will be shuffled from line to line and from window to window until you leave with your American affadavit stamped and authenticated by the Panamanian government.

At this point, you can proceed with scheduling an appointment with Sertracen at this website: https://www.licencia.com.pa/entry. Enter your passport or cédula number and select "Requiero homologar mi licencia extranjera". From there, you will be asked to create an account, verify your email address, and schedule your appointment.

Before your Sertracen appointment, you will need to get a blood test or "tipaje de sangre". If you are 70 or older, you will also need a certificate of good health or "certificado de buena salud". You can get this at almost any clinic and many Sertracen locations have clinics nearby for this purpose. Each clinic charges a different amount for these tests, but they tend to be around $20 for the blood test and $50 for the certificate of good health.

At Sertracen, you will have to take a vision and hearing test, both of which are simple and conducted on a tablet. After you've passed your tests and had your photo taken, you will be aksed to pay $40. There are discounts for retirees, but the amount of the discount depends on your age. For retirees of any age the price is $36. For those 70 and older it's $16. These discounts can only be granted by the manager and can sometimes take time to process, so you'll have to weigh whether a discount of four bucks is worth it. After paying, your license will be printed and you'll be free to drive in Panama!

This process can be difficult and time-intensive, especially for people on a tight schedule. Don't worry! Jenny is here to help you hit the road as quickly and painlessly as possible! You only have to meet Jenny at the Embassy and then show up for your blood test and Sertracen appointment, which will be on the same day. Simple and easy!