Panama: Government Reporting Requirement Enforced; Strict Penalties May Apply
October 30, 2025
Update - October 30, 2025: The National Immigration Service has introduced a grace period until December 31, 2025, allowing foreign nationals to report changes to their address or personal data without incurring a penalty. Updates must be submitted to the National Immigration Service’s Foreign Registry Department, accompanied by supporting documents such as notarized public deeds or lease agreements, responsibility letters, judicial certificates, utility bills, and copies of Panamanian identity cards, as applicable. Foreign nationals are advised to consult their immigration professionals for individualized guidance.
August 6, 2025: Panama’s National Immigration Service (SNM) has begun strictly enforcing the requirement for temporary and permanent residence holders to report any change in address or personal data to the Foreign Registry within 30 calendar days; previously, this rule was seldom enforced. The rule is now being applied more broadly - though unevenly - across immigration offices. The rule is being applied retroactively, and it therefore affects anyone who has changed their address or personal data at any point since first registering with SNM upon arrival in Panama. Penalties may include a USD 100 fine for a first offense, residence cancellation for a second, and deportation for a third. As enforcement varies by office and case, and the policy continues to evolve, foreign nationals should consult their immigration professionals for individualized guidance. Advocacy groups are engaging with SNM to request clearer procedures and a possible grace period. Further related policy changes may follow in the coming days.
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