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

THIS PROCESS CHANGED ON NOVEMBER 24TH, 2025!

THIS IS THE UPDATED PROCESS!

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 affidavit 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.

IF YOU HAVE A PANAMANIAN "E-CEDULA" FROM THE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL:

Last November, the process was streamlined and made easier for Panamanians and permanent residents who possess what is commonly called an "e-cédula" (read more about Panamanian ID cards HERE). If you have an e-cédula, then you need to create an account on Panama Connecta: https://panamaconecta.gob.pa/. Log into the platform and search for or select "Apostilla Electrónica, Autenticación y Legalizaciones". From here you can create a solicitud, upload your scanned document, submit, pay, and schedule your appointment. (You have to scan the certificate with an actual scanner. You can't use a "scan" app on your phone, as the file size will be too large). For more details, watch our video HERE.

Your solicitud on Panama Conecta will change status from enviada or submitted to por pagar or pay. Click on the button to pay, which you can do with a credit or debit card. Download and print your receipt, as you will need it later. Once you've paid, you can schedule an appointment by clicking agendar cita. Wait a moment for the calendar to load (it can be slow) then choose the day and time that you'd like to go to the Autenticación y Legalizaciones office in Plaza Aventura, across from the El Dorado mall.

At the office, you'll wait in line for a number. All you need to do is show your receipt and the affidavit. Take a seat. When your number is called, hand everything to the employee in the window. Your certificate is now available on Panama Conecta and can be accessed through that platform. Print and staple that certificate to your affidavit.

IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A PANAMANIAN E-CEDULA FROM THE ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL:

Before going to the Autenticación y Legalizaciones office in Plaza Aventura, across from the El Dorado mall, you must pay the fee and the tax to the Panamanian government for this service. This is, in total, $4 for one affidavit.

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 recommend 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.

Take the document showing that you paid, your affidavit, your current passport, a copy of your current passport and, if you have it, your residency card from Immigration and a copy of that residency card. 

Inside the Minrex office, you'll have to wait in line to have your documents reviewed. You'll then be given an appointment for the next available opening. Minrex recommends arriving as early as possible, as they're usually out of appointments by 1 P.M. 

At your appointment, check in and get a number. Take a seat. When your number is called, hand everything to the employee in the window. The employee will print a certificate for you, which you will need to staple to the back of your affidavit.

THE PROCESS CONTINUES THE SAME FOR EVERYONE:

If you're a woman who is 55 years and over or a man who is 60 years and over then you do not need to schedule an appointment to get your license. If you're in Panama on a pensionado visa, no matter your age, then you do not need to schedule an appointment to get your license.

If you are not 55 or 60 or on a pensionado visa, then you will need to schedule 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 under the agendar cita option. You will be prompted to enter your name, license number, immigration status, and class of driver's license. Please ensure that you select the correct classes. Everyone needs to select A, as that is for riding bicycles. B is for motorcycles. Everyone needs to select C, as that is for cars. D is for buses and vans under eight metric tons.

Before your Sertracen appointment, you will need to get a blood type 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 the blood type test at any clinic in Panama. The certificate of good health is not available everywhere. 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 type 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. You can ask to take this test in English. After you've passed your tests and had your photo taken, you will be asked 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!