Conditions to apply:

1. You are outside your country of nationality or habitual residence;
2. Due to a well-founded fear of persecution
3. The reason for the persecution you fear is one, or more, of the following:
4. Your race;
5. Your religion;
6. Your nationality;
7. Your political opinion;
8. For belonging to a certain social group;
9. Because of their gender.

The National Office for the Attention of Refugees (ONPAR): Is the Panamanian government office responsible for refugees in Panama.

The National Commission for the Protection of Refugees (CONARE): A group of government officials who make the final decision on whether a person or family is a refugee in Panama.

• If you are at the border, in a Migratory Reception Station, or in a Migratory shelter, you must inform the first authority that receives you (SENAFRONT, SNM, NATIONAL POLICE, SENAN, Ombudsman's Office, etc.), that you want to apply for refugee status.

                                                                                                                                                  These institutions will have 24 hours to notify ONPAR of your request and from this moment on you cannot be returned to the country where you come from. An ONPAR official will come to the place where you are to complete in writing your request for recognition of refugee status.

• If you are at the Panama Airport, you must inform the SNM Migration officer who will receive you that you want to apply for refugee status.
•  If you have already entered Panamanian territory, you should call the ONPAR Office (Atención Ciudadana 3- 1-1 or 512 7228 / 512-7229, 512-7230) to make an appointment for the presentation of your application.

How do I apply for refuge in Panama?

1) Written request: The written request for refugee status may be made personally or through a legal representative, an NGO, or the UNHCR, before the National Office for the Attention of Refugees (ONPAR) or the primary receiving authority, the officials of the National Migration Service or the police, who will inform ONPAR within 24 hours. 

2) Form: When you go to the ONPAR on the day assigned for your appointment for the presentation of your application for refugee status, you will fill out a form explaining why you left your country and why you cannot return.If your family members accompany you, it is important to include them in the form. All information you share is essential

3) Certificate: ONPAR will give you a certificate as an applicant for refugee status with your photograph, your name, the names of all the members of your family and the date of the interview (you must attend on the date indicated).Only one document per family is given, and it is convenient that you make copies so that all your family members can have a copy, since it identifies you and your family members as applicants for refugee status in Panama.

It is important that you have this document with you at all times. If any Immigration or Police officer asks you about your immigration status in the country, you must show the certificate as an applicant for refugee status. They will be able to verify its validity with the QR code on the document, which will redirect to the page of the Ministry of Government when it passes through a reader.

Remember that once you have submitted your application, you must not leave the country as you will be considered to have waived the process.

4) Interviews: The ONPAR will give you the date of the interview, you must appear on the day and time indicated in the document.

ONPAR will interview you in person to verify the information you provided in the online form. It is very important that you answer the questions truthfully. If you have documents that you brought from your country about your case, you can bring them to the interview, if you don't have them, don't worry - you can continue your application without any problem.

It is important that you follow up on your application, as ONPAR may require more information or clarification. If you change your cell phone number or address, it is important that you inform ONPAR.

5) Admissibility: After this interview, ONPAR will review your case and decide whether or not to admit your application.

Important: The legislation does not establish a time to give a decision and during this time it also does not grant work permits to the person requesting refugee status.

Application admitted: 

If your application is admitted for processing, ONPAR will issue a Resolution informing you of its decision.

ONPAR will give you a note, together with the Resolution of Admission for you to go to the SNM. The SNM will issue you a card, which identifies you as an admitted applicant for refugee status. The document must be renewed every six (6) months. All members of your family will receive a document regardless of their age.

You will also be able to apply for a work permit as an admitted refugee applicant, valid for one year.

For this purpose, we advise you to contact the Norwegian Refugee Council for advice on what documents you need to provide and how to apply.  You can find the contact details of the Norwegian Council at the end of this document.

Application not admitted:

At this stage, ONPAR may also decide not to admit your application, which means that your case will not go to CONARE. If you do not agree, you can ask ONPAR for a review of your case, known as an appeal for reconsideration.

Important: you only have 5 working days (working days are Monday through Friday, excluding weekends and holidays) following the notification to file an appeal for reconsideration.

The Norwegian Refugee Council can provide you with guidance, legal assistance and can help you with the preparation of the reconsideration letter, so that you can present it to ONPAR; however, it is important that you contact them immediately, you can contact the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) by phone (507) 6589 5016 or email julissa.espino@nrc.no.

6) Evaluation before CONARE:

As indicated above, "Admitted for Processing" cases are submitted to CONARE. CONARE will evaluate your case and report its decision, known as a Resolution.

POSITIVE Resolution: You have been recognized as a refugee.

The process does not end here, you must go to the ONPAR to be notified and they will issue you a note to go to the SNM and start your documentation process. All your family members such as parents, spouse and minor children, older children up to twenty-five (25) years of age who demonstrate that they continue to be economically dependent, in addition to continuing to study included in the application, will be recognized as refugees and documented.

The SNM will give you a temporary residence card as a refugee, valid for one year and can be renewed for the same period of time. You can also apply for a work permit as a refugee, valid for one year, renewable at the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development. You can contact the Norwegian Refugee Council to apply for a refugee work permit.

NEGATIVE Resolution: If you disagree, you can ask CONARE for a review of the case through Recurso de Reconsideración. If the same has a negative response, you can file an Appeal before the Minister of Government.

Important: The period for the presentation of the reconsideration and appeal is five (5) working days from the moment you are notified of the Resolution.  You may contact the Norwegian Refugee Council to file these appeals, but do so immediately upon notification, do not wait until the last day.

If you do not wish to file appeals, you may seek another immigration category or voluntarily return to your country.

Please note: 

• All decisions are adopted in accordance with what is established by the legislation in force in the Republic of Panama.
• The entire refugee status recognition procedure is completely FREE.
• You can request free legal orientation and presentation at the office of UNHCR or the Norwegian Refugee Council.
•  If you are a minor and you are alone, an officer of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Family (SENNIAF) will accompany you in the process.
•  If needed, you can request a translator or interpreter.
•  If you are going to be returned to your country of origin, urgently ask to contact the organizations listed in this document.
• The information you receive on social networks or from third parties may not be true. Always verify information directly from OFFICIAL SOURCES.

Requirements to apply for a work permit before the Ministry of Labor:

1. Power of attorney and request through legal representation by a lawyer.
2. 4 passport size photos.
3. Migratory Status issued by the National Migration Service.
4. Photocopy of the refugee or permanent resident card issued by the National Immigration Service and authenticated photocopy of the permanent resident card issued by the Electoral Tribunal.
5. Photocopy of the resolution that certifies the refugee condition.
6. Tax stamps. Executive Decree No. 17 of May 5, 1999 For the processing of work permits, recognized refugees or permanent residents may contact ONPAR, CEALP, Asylum Access or the Norwegian Refugee Council for more information.
7. Application form to apply for a refugee work permit: download form.

Some organizations offer employment and entrepreneurship counseling and job training information to refugees and applicants: Instituto Técnico Don Bosco, Universidad del Trabajo, MITRADEL, AMPYME, INADEH, among others.

Validity      

The applicants admitted under the denomination of refugees through the National Office for the Attention of Refugees, or that have presented their refugee application in Panama and that is in process, while they remain in this situation, may not be rejected at the border nor may they be sanctioned as illegal or irregular form, while the Panamanian State decides on the granting of a permanent solution in its territory as refugees.

More information of the forms here or directly in the page of the National Office for the Attention of Refugees.

Telephone: 512-7229/7230