Republic of Panama
Amateur Radio License Procedures
To Obtain New and Renewal Licenses

The Republic of Panama and the United States have reciprocal licensing agreements to enable citizens of one country to obtain the amateur radio license of the other country while residing in the host country. This agreement permits citizens of the United States to obtain a Panama Amateur Radio License, without examination, upon submission of documents and fees. Panama issues three classes of amateur licenses which are shown with their U.S. equivilent licenses as follows:

• CLASS A -- Equates to U.S. Advanced and Extra Classes
• CLASS B -- Equates to U.S. Technician and General Classes
• CLASS C -- Equates to U.S. Novice Class

Note: Panama used to issue licenses for CB operation. Amateur Operation on CB radio is now illegal! I would not even suggest bringing a CB into this country.

To Obtain a New Panama License based on your U.S. License

Two documents are required to obtain your Panamean License. You will need several legal size blank papers and a total of twelve (12) one dollar government stamps (timbres) and three (3) twenty cent stamps. These government stamps (timbres) are obtainable at any branch of the Panama National Bank (Banco Nacional) and should be attached to each request as described below. No examination is required.

1. Police Check -- Type up one legal size, double spaced paper using the attached sample as provided for submission to the Policia Technica Judicial (PTJ). The PTJ paper requests a police check. The police check request should have five (5) one dollar ($1.00) stamps and one (1) twenty cent ($0.20) stamp glued to the upper right corner of the paper. Submit the PTJ request to their offices on Tavernilla Street in Balboa near the Balboa branch of Citibank. You should return when advised to reclaim the completed documentation.
   
   
2. Amateur License Request -- Type another legal sized, double spaced page as shown on the attached sample to request a new Reciprocal Panamean License based upon the class of your U.S. license. The amateur license request to the Ministry of Communications should be typed on the front, and the remaining information pertaining to a lawyer can be continued from the front to the back side of the paper. The license request should have four (4) one dollar ($1.00) stamps and a twenty cent ($0.20) stamp glued to the upper right corner. Attached with a paper clip, but not glued, should be three one dollar ($1.00) stamps and one twenty cent ($0.20) stamp. The same number of stamps is required for each class of license.
   
   
3. Summission of the license request requires that you have the following items:
   • Completed police check certification
   • Two ID card size color photos (You can get this done at any Arrocha store for about $5.00)
   • A copy of your U.S. Amateur License
   • A certified spanish translation of your U.S. license with the translator's seal
   • A copy of either your biligual ID card, PCC ID card, birth certificate, or passport, as appropriate

   The documentation requiring a lawyer's signature will be provided free of charge through PCARA by one of the panamean amatuers who is a lawyer and has volunteered his services. Once all of the documentation listed above is ready, it should be delivered to the Communication's Office on the second floor of the Ministry of Communications. The Ministry of Communications is located at the rear of the same building that houses the national theater.

   When you submit your documents, be sure to leave your name and telephone number so that you may be contacted when your license is ready. Once you are advised your license is ready, you must return to the Communications Office to sign your license and then proceed to the Cashier's Office (CAJA) on the third floor of the ministry to pay the twenty dollar ($20.00) fee for your license. Return to the second floor with your receipt to retrieve your license.

To Obtain a Renewal License

The same process to obtain a new license is required to renew an expired license, with the exception that a copy and translation of your U.S. license is not required, and a different format for the request letter for the Ministry of Communications is required. Photocopies of the old reciprocal panamean license and the previous "resolucion" must accompany the application. No examination is required.

To Obtain a Republic of Panama Temporary or Provisional License

Applications for Republic of Panama Provisional Licenses must be made in person at the communications department of the Ministry of Government and Justice, located at the rear of the National Theater building in Panama City. The fee is $5.00, payable at the time of application. Provisional licenses are usually issued for one month and are not renewable. Call signs carry the original call of the applicant followed by the HP1 suffix; i.e., KF4MIR/HP1.

Documentation required includes:

• A copy of the amateur license held
• Dates of arrival and expected departure from Panama
• Two ID size photos in color (Can be obtained from any Arrocha store for about $5.00)
• A copy of your passport
• A copy of equipment specifications for equipment to be used

To Obtain a Republic of Panama License Without a U.S. License

You will be required to pay a $2.00 fee to take the written and code exams. A Republic of Panama license issued to a U.S. Citizen is valid in Panama and many Latin American Countries, but cannot be used to obtain a U.S. amateur license and is not valid for use in the United States. A Pananean citizen may use his Panamean Amateur License in the United States.

The exams are normally given the last Wednesday of every month in the MInistry of Government and Justice Building. The exam consists of two parts. The first is 25 characters of Morse Code sent at a speed of 5 WPM consisting of letters and numbers. The second is a 50-question, written, multiple-choice/essay exam in Spanish of English. The exam is comparable to the FCC Technician Exam and includes Panama Amateur Radio Regulations. Processing time for examinations is about two weeks. This test is good for Class B and Class C licenses. A Class A license can currently only be obtained through a reciprocal license application. A "Manual Para Radioficionados" (Amateur Radio Manual) is available at the Communications Department Office (Direccion Nacional de Medios de Communicacion Social) in Panama City for a fee of $5.00. All amatuers are required to comply with the regulations.

Author's notes:

• It takes much patience to get a reciprocal license. Wait times for the license vary from right away to years in duration. It took me over 6 months to get mine and I have heard of people taking as much as two years. There are also those who take no time at all. It all seems to depend upon Sra Rosi, who has the ink pen.
• After you turn in your copy of the application, you will get a stamped (Government officials here love stamps)copy of your application letter. It is your reciept. Once you have applied for your license, you are good to operate. As is explained in the membership information, PCARA will let you join as a full member with that reciept.
• Most people who are only transiting the area that I have talked to have never applied for a provisional license. Supposedly, you are good for thirty days without applying for a reciprocal. Although Panama claims to have enforcement, it is virtually non-existent as far as I know. Just ensure that you operate in accordance with all rules and regulations, and that you operate only on authorized amatuer bands. Once again, CB (11 meter) operation (any mode) is now illegal in Panama!
• What you need to apply for the license is laid out above. However, it seems as if it changes from time to time. When I had to apply for mine, I had to add to the packet a notary to the copy of my bilingual card. No one else I have talked to has had to do this. This was an extra twenty clams and it took me a while to find a panamean notary. I guess they thought I was going to forge a government card...Sra Rosi again? Perhaps. The best advice is to contact one of the members of the club who has been here for a while and have him/her help you out. It will save you much time and headache in the future.
• If you know of a change to this procedure, please email HP1XBG and me know....in that way I can post it here for others to learn from.

The information on this page is of an informational nature only. It is provided here as an aid to help you get your license. Neither the PCARA or the author of this page accepts any responsibility or liability regarding the validity or accuracy of this information.