After obtaining a migration status, whether temporary or permanent, foreigners have two options for obtaining a Panamanian driver’s license:

If you have a driver’s license from your home country or a third country and want to homologate it, you would opt for a homologation (or exchange) procedure.

There are several ways to validate your driver’s license, depending on the origin of the license you want to authenticate, with some routes easier than others. Consult Panama Contact Services for more details.
Often, it is faster and less costly to retake the driving test in Panama. For homologation (Exchange), documents not written in Spanish must be translated and stamped by an authorized interpreter in Panama. Administrative requirements include presenting originals and copies of licenses, passports, certifications, and medical tests.

If you do not have a license or do not wish to homologate (exchange) another license, you must follow the standard process from the beginning, which means first going through a driving school certified by “Sertracen”. Panama Contact Services guides you through partner schools to prepare for this exam.

It’s necessary to understand either Spanish or English to take the exam. In Panama, the license is issued for a period of four years. However, for foreigners with temporary or provisional status, the validity of the license coincides with their residence card. Only those with permanent resident status benefit from the full four-year validity.