Panama Civil Registration

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Panama

Civil Registration

Ordering Certificates from Panama

However, birth, marriage, and death certificates can be requested from overseas by sending a written request and payment ($9) to cover postage and handling.

Send request to:

Tribunal Electoral de Panama, Registro Civil

Apartado 0816-01504

Panama, Republica de Panama

Telephone: (507) 504-6253

The following information should be included (as much as possible):

• Birth record - Complete name, date of birth, place of birth, name of parents and national ID (cedula)
• Marriage record - Complete name of the bride and groom, date of marriage, place, and the national IDs of the bride and groom
• Death record - Complete name of the deceased, place of death and general information about the person's birth

Ordering Certificates from the U.S. Department of State

According to the U.S. Department of State,:

Copy of Panama Canal Birth or Death Certificate

Only Those Listed Below May Obtain a Copy of These Records:

• The individual whose birth is recorded on the document
• A legal guardian of the individual whose birth is recorded on the document
• An authorized government agency or
• A person with written authorization

All Consular Vital Records cost $50 per document.

To Request Copies of a Panama Canal Zone Birth Certificate You Must Submit:

1. A notarized written (or typed) request that includes all of the following information:

• Full name of the child at birth
• Any adoptive names of child
• Date and place of birth
• Full name of parents
• Return address and telephone number

2. A copy of requester’s valid identification

3. A $50.00 check or money order for each copy requested.

• Make payable to "Department of State"
• Include a complete mailing address on the check.
• The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail.

4. Mail to:

Department of State
Passports Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir.
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

PLEASE NOTE: REQUESTS THAT ARE NOT NOTARIZED OR DO NOT INCLUDE A COPY OF REQUESTER’S VALID ID WILL BE DELAYED.

To Request Copies of a Panama Canal Zone Death Certificate You Must Submit:

1. A notarized written (or typed) request that includes all of the following information:

• Full name of deceased
• Date and place of death
• Signature of requester
• Return address and telephone number

2. A copy of requester’s valid identification

3. A $50.00 check or money order for each copy requested.

• Make payable to "Department of State"
• The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail.

4. Mail to:

Department of State
Passports Vital Records Section
44132 Mercure Cir. 
PO Box 1213
Sterling, VA 20166-1213

PLEASE NOTE: REQUESTS THAT ARE NOT NOTARIZED OR DO NOT INCLUDE A COPY OF REQUESTER’S VALID ID WILL BE DELAYED.

Overnight Delivery

Send your request to our office using overnight delivery for quicker service. To have your records returned to you using overnight delivery, include an additional $15.45 with your request or a pre-paid envelope for the delivery service provider of your choice.

To check the status of your Panama Canal Zone document request, call 202-485-8300.

Historical Background

Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths began in 1914. Civil registration in Panama officially began on April 15, 1914. At that time, the mayors of districts and villages recorded daily the births, marriages, and deaths occurring within their jurisdiction. In 1974, the Direccion Nacional del Registro Civil (National Civil Registry) was created under the Tribunal Electoral and was charged to record all births, marriages, deaths, naturalizations and other judicial acts related to a person's civil state. As a result, Civil Registry offices were created within each provincial capital.