Your documents, in the right order
Only one document has a validity set by law: the health certificate, issued in Panama within three months before you file.
Everything else depends on practice at Immigration, so the safest order is pension letter first, then criminal record, then apostilles and translations, and the health certificate last.
First
Request your certified pension letter
For US Social Security, the certified letter and its federal apostille take the longest: the State Department publishes up to five weeks for an apostille by mail. In practice, Immigration accepts a pension letter that is a few months old.
Practice; U.S. Department of State, Office of Authentications
Second
Request your criminal record certificate
The law sets no validity for it. In practice, Immigration counts about six months from the date of the apostille, not from your fingerprints. Time it so the apostille is recent: an FBI result takes up to 15 days by mail, and its apostille up to five weeks.
Practice; FBI CJIS; U.S. Department of State
As each document arrives
Apostille, then translate
Each foreign document is apostilled in the country that issued it. The Spanish translation is done afterwards, in Panama, by an authorized public translator.
Decree-Law 3 of 2008, article 28
Within 3 months before filing
Health certificate, last of all
It must be issued in Panama by a licensed physician within the three months before you file. Get it once everything else is ready.
Decree-Law 3 of 2008, article 28(3)
Filing day
Passport copy certified by a Panamanian notary
The full passport copy is compared with the original by a notary in Panama. A photo of your passport is enough for us to draft your power of attorney, but not to file.
Decree-Law 3 of 2008, article 28(1)
“Practice” means how Immigration usually works today, not a written rule. We confirm the current practice before you request each document.
Planning your retirement in Panama?
Book a free 15-minute call. We will check your pension and tell you exactly what you need.