Police Records for Panama Visa Immigration

Often we are asked what is the required documents for Panama immigration visa especially police record. Police record or criminal background check is required from all applicants who wish to obtain residency in Panama. However there are numerous way to submit this police record as described below.

To apply for a Panamanian Residence, you must submit a police record from your country of origin or from the country you have been living in for the last two (2) years.

The police record must be valid at the time of submission and to be apostilled

Here’s general police record requirement

  1. Police record cannot be older than three (3) months from the issuance date.
  2. Six (6) months in case the police records is not dated since the date of issuance.
  3. The police record must be authenticated via Apostille Agency or through the Panamanian Consulate.
  4. Police record must be translated to Spanish by a certified translater in Panama.
  5. If you submitted a Police Record from a country where you are a resident but not a citizen, an authenticated copy of the residence card must be submitted.
  6. If you have been living in Panama for the past two years, you need to submit a ” Record Policivo ” issued by the Directorate of Investigations and Prosecutions (DIJ)

FBI Report is Required for US Citizens

If you are a US citizen, you must submit an FBI background report. US citizens can apply for their FBI report at any local police station as well as places that are authorized to run FBI background check. Checklist for requesting a criminal background check at fbi

https://www.fbi.gov/file-repos…

Once you receive your FBI report, you can send them to the Panama Consulate to have it apostilled. The cost of apostilling each document is $30. and you need to get a money order made out to the “Panama Consulate”.

RCMP Report is Required for Canadian Citizens

If you are a Canadian citizen, visit the RCMP website providing all of the information on obtaining a full criminal history report at http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/cr-cj/fing-empr2-eng.htm

The RCMP processing time could take up to 4 weeks, and the fee payment must be made by certified cheque or money order to the Receiver General for Canada. Once you receive your RCMP report, you can send them to the Panama Consulate to have it apostilled. The cost of apostilling each document is $30. and you need to get a money order made out to the “Panama Consulate”.

If you are from United Kingdom

The Association of Chief Police Officers in the United Kingdom can prepare a criminal history report covering the entire UK. You can visit their website for more information at http://www.acro.police.uk/police_certificates.aspx

The processing time is ten working days. However, you can check their Premium Servies for a faster process.

The applications can be processed with the following documents:

  1. Completed application form;
  2. Two proofs of current address dated within the last six months showing your name and address.
  3. Copy of Passport including photo and personal information pages;
  4. One-color passport photo;
  5. Payment.

You can authenticate the Police Records by Apostille Agency or by Panamanian Consulate in England.

If you are from Spain

Register with the Ministry of Justice electronically on their website:

Download the application form and take it to:

  • 1. The Regional Offices of the Ministry of Justice.
  • 2. Civil Registers throughout Spain.
  • 3. The Central Office of Citizen Services if you are in Madrid

Proof of your identity ( driver’s license, residency card, Passport, or EU identity document) will be required.

https://www.exteriores.gob.es/…ámites/Certificado-de-Antecedentes-Penales.aspx

IMPORTANT TAKEAWAY FOR POLICE RECORD

A) Panama immigration office only accept police records that are valid and in most cases, no more than 3 months old from its issuance date, depending on the applicant’s specific nationality.

B) Police/criminal report, must be issued in the same country as the applicant’s Passport. If not, the applicant would need to prove that they are residents of the country where the documents were issued.

CONSULT WITH OUR TRUSTED IMMIGRATION ATTORNEYS

Panama legal center attorneys

EMAIL: customer@panamalegalcenter.com

WHATSAPP: +(507) 6404-0388

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