Legalization of Documents
• Any official document to be authenticated by the Consulate must be an original document or certified copy with original seal and signature.
• In case of original private documents, the signature must be endorsed by a Notary Public. Make sure the signature is legible. If it is not, please write out the full name of signatory.
• The Consular Fee is $30.00 per document, payable by money order made out to the Consulate of Panama.
• For Diplomas: When a diploma has been issued within the last 6 months there is no cost for the authentication if you are a Panamanian citizen. Documents older than that are $30.00. The same applies to transcripts.
• High School Transcripts: There is no charge for Panamanian students as long as the applicant is currently a student and/or the transcripts were issued within the last 6 months. All other documents will incur a $30.00 fee.
The legalization process is completed when the Authentication Department of Panama’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs authenticates the signature of the Panamanian Consular official. The legalization process can be avoided by obtaining an Apostille seal.
Through Law 6 of June 25, 1990, Panama ratified the Hague Convention of October 5, 1961 that abolishes the requirement for the legalization of foreign public documents. As a result, a foreign public document authenticated by Apostille does not require the final legalization of a Panamanian Consular official. In the case of a foreign public document endorsed by Apostille and that has been authenticated by a Panamanian Consul, will not be legalized by the Panamanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
