Panama Living

Note: This information is outdated. We will be posting new information when we can obtain the new instructions.

The following is the original wording and a translation of the Spanish document which is available from the ATTT office outlining the requirements to obtain a Panama driver's license if you are a resident foreigner.

Spanish	English
1. Pasaporte	1. Passport
2. Carnet o tarjeta de migracion vigente	2. Valid identification card from Immigration
3. Tipaje de sangre	3. Blood type Note: You cannot just tell them your blood type, but must be typed by a laboratory. The test should cost between $8.00 and $15.00. Tell the lab it's for a driver's license.
4. Presentar prueba escrita sobre el manual de manejo y el reglamento de transito.	4. Pass written exam on driver's manual and traffic regulations. (Note: This applies only if you do not have a current recognized driver's license from another country.)
5. El valor dependera de la validez del documento, si es menos de 3 mesessera de B/5.50 y B/0.25 Pas y Salvo y es mas de 3 meses su valor sera de B/20.00 y B/0.25 Paz y Salvo.	5. The cost depends on the validity (expiration date) of the (immigration) document. If less than 3 months it will be $5.50 and $.25 Paz y Salvo (Tax certificate) and if more than 3 months the cost will be $20.00 and$.25 Paz y Salvo (Tax certificate) Note: If you have a temporary carnet issued by Immigration for 90 days, you will pay $5.75 and your license will be valid only for 90 days. If you have an indefinite expiration Carnet de Pensionado Jubildo, your license will cost $20.25 and will be valid for 4 years. If you have only a tourist visa, you cannot get a Panama driver's license.
6. Observacion: Si la persona tiene la licencia de su pais debera presentarla y la misma sera convalidada y no presentara las pruebas escritas ni practicas.	6. Observation: If the person has a license from his home country, it must be presented and the same will be validated and no written or practical test will be needed. Note: This is a bad translation because the original Spanish is bad. What they are trying to say is, if you have a valid driver's license from your home state or country you will not have to take a written or driving test.

To get to the driver's license office, take Tumba Muerto toward the airport and exit just before the Pedregal overpass at Macdonalds. ATTT will be in the mall directly in front of the stop light. If you take a taxi tell him you want to go to Transito in Pedregal. Office hours are 7:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday through Friday.

Notes: Make copies of your passport, home state/country driver's license and immigration carnet. You can have the blood test done across the street from ATTT, but I recommend having it done a day or so earlier, in case you encounter crowds at the license center.

Caveat: While we have made every possible effort to ensure that this information is correct, this is Panama where anything is possible and today's solid information may be tomorrow's useless trivia.