Panama Civil Registration

Online Collections

 * 1800-1950: at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only; Also at Ancestry ($); Also at MyHeritage ($)
 * 1840-1930: at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index only; Also at Ancestry ($); Also at MyHeritage ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Births and Baptisms at Findmypast; index & images ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Banns and Marriages at Findmypast; index & images ($)
 * British Armed Forces and Overseas Deaths and Burials at Findmypast; index & images ($)

Ordering Certificates from Panama
Birth, marriage, and death certificates can be requested from overseas by sending a written request and payment ($9) to cover postage and handling. Send request to:
 * Tribunal Electoral de Panama, Registro Civil
 * Apartado 0816-01504
 * Panama, Republica de Panama


 * Telephone: (507) 504-6253

The following information should be included (as much as possible):
 * Birth record - Complete name, date of birth, place of birth, name of parents and national ID (cedula)
 * Marriage record - Complete name of the bride and groom, date of marriage, place, and the national IDs of the bride and groom
 * Death record - Complete name of the deceased, place of death and general information about the person's birth

Ordering Certificates from the U.S. Department of State
U.S. Department of State Passports Vital Records Section 44132 Mercure Cir. PO Box 1213 Sterling, VA 20166-1213

Copy of Panama Canal Birth or Death Certificate
Only Those Listed Below May Obtain a Copy of These Records: All Consular Vital Records cost $50 per document.
 * The individual whose birth is recorded on the document
 * A legal guardian of the individual whose birth is recorded on the document
 * An authorized government agency or
 * A person with written authorization

To Request Copies of a Panama Canal Zone Birth Certificate You Must Submit:
1. A notarized written (or typed) request that includes all of the following information: 2. A copy of requester’s valid identification
 * Full name of the child at birth
 * Any adoptive names of child
 * Date and place of birth
 * Full name of parents
 * Return address and telephone number

3. A $50.00 check or money order for each copy requested.
 * Make payable to "Department of State"
 * Include a complete mailing address on the check.
 * The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail.

PLEASE NOTE: REQUESTS THAT ARE NOT NOTARIZED OR DO NOT INCLUDE A COPY OF REQUESTER’S VALID ID WILL BE DELAYED.

To Request Copies of a Panama Canal Zone Death Certificate You Must Submit:
1. A notarized written (or typed) request that includes all of the following information: 2. A copy of requester’s valid identification
 * Full name of deceased
 * Date and place of death
 * Signature of requester
 * Return address and telephone number

3. A $50.00 check or money order for each copy requested. 4. Mail to:
 * Make payable to "Department of State"
 * The Department will assume no responsibility for cash lost in the mail.

Department of State Passports Vital Records Section 44132 Mercure Cir. PO Box 1213 Sterling, VA 20166-1213 PLEASE NOTE: REQUESTS THAT ARE NOT NOTARIZED OR DO NOT INCLUDE A COPY OF REQUESTER’S VALID ID WILL BE DELAYED.

Overnight Delivery

Send your request to our office using overnight delivery for quicker service. To have your records returned to you using overnight delivery, include an additional $15.45 with your request or a pre-paid envelope for the delivery service provider of your choice.

To check the status of your Panama Canal Zone document request, call 202-485-8300.

Historical Background
Civil registration of births, marriages, and deaths began in 1914. Civil registration in Panama officially began on April 15, 1914. At that time, the mayors of districts and villages recorded daily the births, marriages, and deaths occurring within their jurisdiction. In 1974, the Direccion Nacional del Registro Civil (National Civil Registry) was created under the Tribunal Electoral and was charged to record all births, marriages, deaths, naturalizations and other judicial acts related to a person's civil state. As a result, Civil Registry offices were created within each provincial capital.