On July 25, 2025, Panama’s National Immigration Service released an official statement announcing the strict enforcement of Article 313 of Executive Decree No. 320 of 2008, which refers to address updates required from foreigners who already have legal residency in Panama.
Although this rule was already in effect, the announcement confirms that penalties will now be enforced for non compliance. These include a fine of B/. 100.00 for failing to report a change of address. Repeated violations could lead to the cancellation of your residency status or even deportation after a third omission.
Who Does This Apply To?
This rule applies to all foreigners who have an approved residency in Panama, whether through a migration ID card or a permanent resident ID. If you have moved since receiving your residency, you are required to notify Immigration within 30 days of the change.
If you do not comply, a fine of B/. 100.00 will apply. This payment becomes mandatory at the time of updating your information if more than 30 days have passed since your address change. For instance, if you moved a year ago and never reported it, you must now pay the fine when submitting your update request.
Not Sure What Address You Last Registered?
- Consult your lawyer or legal advisor: If you had legal representation, your lawyer may have a copy of your file and can confirm the address.
- Visit Immigration in person: You can go to any Immigration office and request this information. An officer can look up your current registered address.
Special Cases: Retirees and Residents Abroad
As more days pass, specific exceptions have been clarified:
- Retirees who applied individually: If you didn’t submit a lease contract, your address is blank in the system. No fine applies in this case.
- Retirees who applied as a couple or family: If one applicant (e.g., the spouse) submitted a lease, a registered address exists. If you’ve moved and haven’t updated it, the fine will apply.
- Residents currently living abroad: If your registered address is still valid in Panama, you don’t need to do anything. However, if you return and live at a different address, you must report the change within 30 days to avoid penalties.
How to Get the Requirements to Update Your Address
On July 28 and 29, there was an unusual influx of residents at Immigration offices. Many were unsure if they needed to do the update and sought guidance. Long lines formed, and many couldn’t complete their process due to uncertainty about the required documents.
Printed leaflets with the list of required documents were handed out at Immigration, but this information is not yet available online. Therefore, we’ve included an image of one of these documents in this blog to help those who haven’t visited the office yet.
This is still a developing situation. As of now, no additional circulars or official updates have been issued beyond the July 25 announcement. We recommend staying alert and relying on official sources for updates especially concerning deadlines and exceptions by residency status.
Requirements to Update Your Address
According to the printed guides distributed at Immigration offices, here’s what you’ll need:
- “X” ticket for corrections in the Foreign Registry (issued only if you bring all documents).
- Proof of address: Notarized lease agreement.
- Utility bill (electricity, water, cable, or internet) in the applicant’s name.
- If the bill is not under your name, you must submit a signed letter from the property owner along with a copy of their ID confirming that you live at the address.
As of now, there’s no fee for this process. The only charge applies if you’re fined for failing to update your address on time.
How Is the Process Done?
The update must be done in person at one of the Immigration offices. The “X” ticket required to access the corrections area is not issued in advance nor separately requested.
It is only provided once you arrive with all your documents correctly organized. If something is missing, you will not be given a turn.
Due to high demand, daily ticket numbers are limited. We recommend arriving early or considering legal representation to avoid delays or rejections due to missing paperwork.
We Can Represent You Legally
If you want to complete this process without long waits or language barriers, our firm offers full legal representation before Panama’s National Immigration Service. We’ll review your documents, prepare your file, and submit your request according to current laws.