Address Update with Immigration in Panama

All foreigners with approved provisional or permanent residency in Panama must update their address if they have changed their address since applying for their residency, or if they do not reside permanently in the country but have valid residency.

The law establishes a period of 30 calendar days from the moment of the change of residence or entry into the country (if not residing permanently in Panama). If this period is exceeded, a fine of B/.100.00 must be paid at the time of submitting the update request.

The sanctions are progressive:

• First offense: Fine of B/.100.00.
• Second offense (recidivism): Cancellation of immigration status.
• Third offense: Deportation from the national territory.

In addition, those who do not update their address will not be able to complete other immigration procedures, such as card renewals or residence extensions.

For rented residences, you must present:

• Copy of the Residence card (temporary or permanent valid).
• Copy of the passport (data page and registration stamp).
• Notarized lease agreement.
• Copy of the landlord's ID.
• Utility bill (Water, electricity, telephone, or internet) in original or notarized copy.
• If the receipt is not in your name, you must present a simple letter signed by the landlord confirming your residence, along with a copy of the landlord's ID.

If you reside in your own property, you must present:

• Copy of the valid Residence card.
• Copy of the passport (data page and registration stamp).
• Copia de la escritura pública notariada de la propiedad.
• Recibo de servicios públicos (luz, agua o teléfono) en original o copia notariada a su nombre.

Yes. If you have a valid residence but are temporarily staying in a hotel during your visits to Panama, you must present proof of residence within 30 days of your entry. In this case, you must present:

• Copy of the Residence card.
• Copy of the Passport.
• Copy of the hotel reservation (no screenshots; it must be an official document clearly showing the hotel's address and the guest's name).

The procedure must be carried out in person at any office or regional branch of the National Migration Service. The process is as follows:

• Gather all the required documents according to your case.
• Go to Immigration with the complete and organized documents.
• Request the corresponding ticket at the window (it is only given if you have all the complete documentation).
• Wait for your turn to submit the application to the corrections officer at the Immigration Registry.

Alternatively, you can carry out the procedure through a lawyer with a specific notarized power of attorney for this purpose; LEGALYS is your solution.

No. The address update is an individual process. Each family member (holder and dependents) must submit their own application with the corresponding documentation. This means that if a family of four moves, four independent updates must be processed.

If you have questions about the address registered in the system, you can:

1. Consult with your attorney or legal advisor who represented you during the immigration process; they probably have a copy of your file with the declared address.
2. To attend in person to National Migration Service with your valid identification document so that an agent can verify in the system what the last registered address is.

To date, the National Migration Service has not provided official costs for the procedure itself. The only amount officially established is the fine of B/.100.00 that must be paid if more than 30 days have passed since the change of address without notifying it.