Anybody can apply for a Panamanian boat registration, regardless of nationality.

We are required to have the following documents:

When registering provisionally/Radio license:

• A copy of the power of attorney (POA) that has been legally ratified and designates the person who will represent the boat owner during the registration process.
• A duplicate of the bill of sale (BOS), which attests to the yacht's transfer of legal title.
• A replica of the owner's legalized Letter of Certification attesting to the pleasure yacht's exclusive use for recreational reasons.
• A copy of Builder's certificate/Radio license:

When registering for the original registration:

• Original Apostilled Power of Attorney (POA): This is a legal contract that appoints someone to act in the owner's place during the yacht's registration process.
• Original Apostilled Bill of Sale (BOS): This is the official record demonstrating the yacht's legal transfer of ownership.
• Original, legalized Letter of Certification from Owner for Pleasure Yacht: This is a statement attesting to the yacht's use solely for recreational and not business purposes.
• Original Apostilled Construction Cert Deletion from Former Registry: This document demonstrates that the boat has been removed from its former registry and is no longer registered abroad.
• The list of all the radio equipment on board the yacht, together with each item's brand, model, and serial number, is contained in the paper below.

Yes, the documents must be in English or Spanish. If the documents are not in the required language, we will handle the sworn translation.

The time it takes to get the boat registered in Panama can vary, but on average it takes around 1-2 working days.

Yes, we will provide you the provisional registration and the radio operator license initially, they are good for 6 months. In the meantime, we will apply for the original papers, and we don’t charge extra for that.

If all necessary paperwork is duly provided, the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) may usually approve a provisional registration for a yacht in 24 working hours. During the whole registration procedure, a provisional registration enables the boat to sail under the Panamanian flag.

A patent and radio License issued in security paper with the engraved stamp of the PMA and coat of arms of the Rep of Panama.

For recreational yachts, registration in Panama is normally good for 2 years, while for commercially registered yachts, it is typically valid for 5 years before needing to be renewed. Like the initial registration process, the renewal process entails presenting updated documentation and paying the application fee. Remember that there could be fines and penalties if you don't renew your registration on time.

Inspections are not generally required for private boats in Panama, however, commercial boats over 500 gross tonnages are required to have insurance and an assessment survey. The Panama Maritime Authority (PMD) is the agency responsible for enforcing these requirements and ensuring the safety of commercial vessels operating in Panama's waters. It is good to know that PMD may occasionally request an assessment survey for older boats, regardless of their age, to ensure they meet the safety standards.

When requesting an original registration, the registry must receive the power of attorney, bill of sale, and deletion. They must also be authenticated original documents.

After registering a yacht in Panama, the flag that should be flown on the yacht is the flag of Panama. This is in accordance with international maritime laws and regulations, which stipulate that a vessel should fly the flag of the country in which it is registered.

We cannot register a jet ski with Panama flag. But we can submit a registration application for it along with the main boat.

We can assist you with the MMSI license.

All forms of payment are accepted.

The most widely recognized ones are the International Certificate of Competency (ICC) and the International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC). Since the ICC is accepted by the UN and widely utilized in Europe and the Mediterranean, you should be eligible for any charter.

The vessel's legal representative in Panama may ask to have it removed from the Panamanian registration if all due taxes and fees are paid. The owner may submit the request for whatever reason they choose, including the transfer of the vessel to another registry. The deregistration procedure would need to be started by the legal representative giving the Panama Maritime Authority (PMA) the required paperwork, such as proof of transfer or sale.