Driving license in Panama: complete 2026 guide
You land in Panama with your US, UK, EU, Canadian or Australian driving license. You rent a car from Hertz, drive for 3 months, all good. On day 91, your license is theoretically invalid to drive locally — and a police check can cost you USD 100 in fines + vehicle impoundment. The ATTT (Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre) procedure to get your Panamanian license is documented nowhere in a complete way in English. Here’s the full guide, with the traps specific to North American and European drivers.
Table of contents
- The 4 statuses that change your rights
- Foreign license validity: 90 days, no more
- The ATTT conversion — exact procedure
- The Bomberos medical exam
- 2026 fines and points
- Theft, loss, seizure of the license
- FAQ
1. The 4 statuses that change your rights
The right to drive in Panama depends on your immigration status, not your tenure in the country. Four cases:
1. Tourist (180-day visa stamp). Foreign license valid 90 days from entry into the country. Must be accompanied by an International Driving Permit (IDP) or an official Spanish translation. Beyond 90 days, driving is illegal even if your tourist stay is still valid.
2. Provisional resident (provisional cédula FN, Pensionado pending). Foreign license still valid as long as you don’t have the permanent cédula, but conversion advised as soon as you get the provisional cédula to avoid ambiguities. Not legally mandatory.
3. Permanent resident (permanent cédula). Conversion mandatory. You must obtain your Panamanian license within 90 days of permanent cédula issuance, otherwise a fine is possible.
4. Naturalized Panamanian (Panamanian passport). Panamanian license only; the foreign license becomes a souvenir.
Most expats in Panama are in status 2 (provisional resident). It’s the murkiest status — and where the most mistakes are made.
2. Foreign license validity: 90 days, no more
Article 144 of Decreto Ejecutivo 640 de 2006 is clear: a foreign license is valid to drive in Panama for 90 consecutive days from entry into the country. Beyond that, driving with this license is a violation (Category I fine, USD 100).
Counter: it resets at each new entry. If you leave Panama on day 85 (for a weekend in Cartagena) and return on day 87, the counter resets to zero. That’s the “border run” practice used by digital nomads.
Documents to carry at all times when driving with your foreign license:
- Original license (not a copy)
- International Driving Permit (IDP) — issued by AAA in the US (USD 20, 1-year validity), DVLA in the UK, CAA in Canada
- Passport or cédula
- Entry stamp < 90 days
Without an IDP: a stop can go wrong. Panamanian police theoretically accept the foreign license alone (1968 Vienna Convention) but in practice, many officers ask for the IDP. Budget ~USD 80 if you get it translated locally by a sworn translator to avoid the round-trip home.
3. The ATTT conversion — exact procedure
The Autoridad del Tránsito y Transporte Terrestre (ATTT) is the public body managing driving licenses in Panama. Main office in Panama City (Albrook, Plaza Comercial).
License exchange procedure (Foreign → Panamanian):
| Document | Source | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Original foreign license | — | — |
| Foreign license translated into Spanish (public translator) | Sworn translator PA | USD 30–50 |
| Apostille of the foreign license | Home country (US: Secretary of State, UK: FCDO) | USD 8–50 |
| Bomberos health certificate | Cuerpo de Bomberos PA | USD 20 |
| Panamanian cédula (or passport + valid visa) | — | — |
| Proof of address in Panama | IDAAN/ENSA receipt | — |
| Computerized theory exam | ATTT | USD 20 |
| Issuance fees | ATTT | USD 40 |
| Total Panama side | ~USD 110 | |
| Total home country side (apostille + shipping) | ~USD 30–60 |
Overall timeline: 4 to 8 weeks from the start of document collection to handing over of the Panamanian license. The apostille from your home country is the longest item.
Theory exam: 30 questions in Spanish, 80% pass rate required. Mainly covers the Panamanian highway code (different from the US/EU on a few points: yellow flashing lights, intersection priority, blood alcohol 0.8 g/L vs 0.08% in the US, 0.5 g/L in most EU countries). Plan 1–2 hours of review on online MCQs (atttipanama.com).
No practical exam for license conversions from Vienna Convention countries (US, Canada, UK, all EU, Australia, etc. included).
4. The Bomberos medical exam
The Cuerpo de Bomberos (equivalent of fire department + civil safety) issues a driving fitness medical certificate, mandatory for the Panamanian license.
Content:
- Vision exam (acuity, field, color blindness)
- Hearing exam (whisper at 3 m)
- Blood pressure measurement
- Basic reflex tests
- Health questionnaire (epilepsy, diabetes, corrected vision)
Location: main fire station (in Panama City: Calle 1, Plaza 5 de Mayo). No appointment, first come first served. Plan 1–2 hours on-site. Cost: USD 20 payable cash only.
Validity: 30 days. Take the exam right before the ATTT submission to avoid having to redo it.
If vision issue: the “driving with correction permitted” prescription is allowed on the certificate. Remember to wear your glasses/contacts during the test.
5. 2026 fines and points
The Panamanian system uses negative points accumulated over a 12-month rolling window. Beyond 30 points, the license is suspended for 6–12 months.
Main violations and 2026 costs:
| Violation | Fine USD | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Speeding 10–20 km/h | 50–100 | 3 |
| Speeding 20–40 km/h | 100–200 | 6 |
| Speeding > 40 km/h | 200–500 + license withdrawal | 12 |
| Driving without seatbelt | 100 | 3 |
| Phone while driving | 100 | 4 |
| Disturbing parking | 50–150 | 1–3 |
| Running a red light | 200 | 6 |
| Blood alcohol 0.5–0.8 g/L | 500 | 12 |
| Blood alcohol > 0.8 g/L | 1,000 + withdrawal + court | 30 |
| Driving without valid license (foreigner > 90 d) | 100–200 | — |
| Refusing a check | 200 + impoundment | 8 |
Payment: fines can be paid at Banco Nacional (present ticket + cédula), via the Panapass app, or directly at ATTT. 30% discount if paid within 15 days.
Drunk driving: taken very seriously. The controlling officer can impound your vehicle on the spot, take you to the station, 24-hour custody, and criminal court. Simpler: no alcohol if you’re driving.
6. Theft, loss, or seizure of the license
In case of theft or loss:
- Immediate report to the National Police (PN) — mandatory filing within 24 hours, free
- ATTT notification to block the license number
- Duplicate request at ATTT — fees USD 30 + photos + cédula + police report
- Timeline: 5–10 business days for the duplicate
In case of seizure after serious violation: the license is kept by the police, you get a comprobante (receipt) that allows you to drive home but expires 48 hours later. Recovery at court after fine payment + court appearance if necessary.
Practical tips:
- Photocopy your license + cédula and store online (Notion, Google Drive)
- Keep a paper copy in your car (glove compartment)
- If you travel, the IDP + your home license + your PA license if you have it = useful redundancy
7. FAQ
Do I really need to exchange my license if I have the provisional cédula? Not legally mandatory. The majority practice among Pensionados is to wait for the permanent cédula before converting. But having a Panamanian license simplifies stops (the officer doesn’t ask for the passport + IDP + cédula separately).
What’s the total all-in cost? ~USD 140–180 on the Panama side (Bomberos + translation + ATTT + photos + duplicate if needed), plus ~USD 30–60 for the apostille on the home country side. Budget overall ~USD 200 equivalent.
How long is a Panamanian license valid? 4 years for provisional residents, 6–10 years for permanent residents and naturalized citizens depending on age. Renewal at ATTT with a new Bomberos exam each time.
Is the Panamanian license recognized abroad? Yes for driving in any 1968 Vienna Convention country during 1 year after settling. Beyond, you’ll need to convert it locally (or retake the test in countries that don’t recognize Panama for automatic reciprocity).
What if I’m fined without my license on me? Category I fine (~USD 50) for failure to present. You have 5 days to present your license at the station indicated on the ticket, otherwise the fine is increased and the vehicle can be marked “to verify” in the ATTT database.
Is license theft common? The license is not a priority target (thieves prefer passport, cédula, cards). Thefts mainly happen in tourist areas (Casco Viejo, Cinta Costera at night). Always keep your license in your main wallet.
Going further: Open a bank account in Panama — natural next step after settling. Friendly Nations Visa — the residence path that triggers driving conversion.
Memo #13 — Driving license Panama ($24) covers the 4 statuses in detail, the step-by-step ATTT conversion with the 8 apostilled documents, the Bomberos exam, the 30+ priced 2026 violations, and the complete procedure for loss/theft/seizure.