May 9, 2025
Limitless Team
Request a residence in Panama Or a residence in Italy may seem like a complicated process, especially when it comes to international legal documents. One of the most common — and at the same time the most misunderstood — procedures is the use of power of attorney. When do you need one? What should it contain? And how can you ensure that it is legally valid both in Panama and in Italy?
For many Italian citizens, the power of attorney (also called Power of attorney) may be an indispensable step in certain migratory procedures. Whether because you cannot be present in person to carry out immigration procedures or because you decide to appoint a lawyer or family member on your behalf, this document is of key importance in the procedures before Panama migration or even before the Italian consular and migration authorities.
The problem is that an error in the format, language, or type of notary can delay the process for weeks or even cause it to be rejected completely. Many applicants—and even some lawyers—aren't sure what legal translations Are they mandatory or what Spanish and Italian power of attorney format accepts Migration.
In this article we offer a clear and up-to-date guide for the year 2025: you will understand in which cases an Italian needs a power of attorney for procedures in Panama, what requirements he must meet to be valid in Migration, and how to avoid avoidable errors from the start.
Whether you are a Italian citizen applying for Panamanian visa, a family member helping from abroad or part of a legal team that manages immigration cases, this information will save you time and potential frustration. Let's start step by step by understanding when this document becomes necessary.
When does an Italian need a power of attorney in Panama?
In the context of migratory processes in Panama, a Italian citizen It might require a Power of Attorney When you cannot be physically present to carry out procedures related to your Panamanian visa Or request your residence in Panama and also the National Migration Service requires that the procedures must be carried out by a suitable lawyer who has a power of attorney. This document allows another person—known as a legal proxy—to act on your behalf before public authorities, including the National Migration Service of Panama.
The most common scenarios where an Italian will need a power of attorney include:
- When you want to appoint a Panamanian lawyer as Legal representative To submit your request for Visa for Italians.
- When carrying out procedures at Panamanian consulates if you are abroad.
- When it is necessary to register a marriage, children or change of immigration status from another country.
- To authorize the opening of bank accounts, property purchases or signing contracts linked to your legal status.
In any case where the applicant must sign legally binding documents and is not in the country, a Legal Power of Attorney Panama signed before a notary — either in Italy or in Panama.
It is also important to note that, for the purposes of Panama migration, this power must be granted with specific language and fulfill certain formalities that we will explain later. Also, if power is issued in Italy, the Validity of foreign powers of attorney in Panama, so they must be duly apostilled and translated.
An important detail: even if you are physically in Panama, it may be convenient to grant a Simple power for a lawyer or manager to carry out certain procedures on your behalf, especially when the processes last for months.
In short, a power of attorney is needed when essential functions are delegated to another person during the migration process. This strategic decision can help you save time and simplify the management of your immigration status in Panama.
Requirements that a valid power of attorney must meet in Migration
Un Valid Power of Attorney in Migration Panama Must meet a series of legal and administrative requirements to be accepted as a supporting document in requests for Visa Or Residency. It's not enough to draft a power of attorney informally—it must meet standards of legitimacy both in substance and form.
Essential requirements you must meet
Whether the power of attorney is issued in Panama or in Italy, the following elements are indispensable:
- Must be granted before a notary public: The power of attorney must be signed before a Panamanian notary or an Italian notary (depending on where it is issued). If it is signed in Italy, it will also require legalization or apostille according to the Hague Convention.
- Contain complete data from both parties: Full names, passport or ID numbers, address and nationality of both the grantor (the Italian citizen) and the legal representative in Panama.
- Clearly specify the powers granted: It must detail what actions the proxy can perform: applying for a visa, signing migration documents, representing at appointments, etc.
- Be written in Spanish or in bilingual format: If the document comes from Italy and is in Italian, it must be required Legal translation into Spanish by a translator authorized by the Ministry of Government of Panama.
- Be legalized or apostilled: A power of attorney issued in another country must be apostilled according to the treatment of international migration documents.
In Panama, the power of attorney is almost always presented as part of the file that accompanies the application for residence or visa. The power of attorney can be an individual notarized document or form part of a Legal file Wider.
Temporary validity and recommendations
Usually, the Power of Attorney for Immigration Procedures it does not need to have an explicit expiration date, but some institutions prefer it to be valid for no longer than 3 months, especially if it was issued from abroad. It is also recommended that you indicate if the proxy can replace the power — that is, delegate it to another person — or if the power of attorney is exclusive.
Taking these aspects into account, the request is prevented from being returned due to lack of valid documentation. Understanding these requirements also helps you to correctly choose the type of power: if a Simple power Will it be enough, or if you need one Before an International Notary.
In the next section, we will see how to write it correctly in both languages, ensuring its functionality and legal acceptance both in Panama and in Italy.
How to draw up a bilingual power of attorney (Spanish - Italian)
When an Italian citizen wishes to grant a Power of Attorney For immigration procedures in Panama Or Italy, the language of the document is of paramount importance. In many cases, a document written only in Italian will not be accepted by Panamanian immigration authorities. Likewise, Panama requires that documents submitted to Migration be in Spanish, even if they were issued abroad.
Therefore, the most recommended thing is Draw Up a Power of Attorney in Bilingual Format, that is, a version where each clause is presented both in Spanish as in Italian, line by line. This makes it easier for the parties to understand and avoids legal confusion or translation errors that could invalidate the document.
Basic structure of a bilingual power of attorney
Although the content varies depending on the procedure, this is the general structure that a valid power of attorney must follow for residency or visa purposes:
- Headed with the phrase “General Power/Attorney General”
- Details of the grantor (full name, nationality, passport or ID)
- Designation of the agent with their full details
- Precise description of the purpose of the power (for example, “to manage migratory procedures in the National Directorate of Migration of Panama”)
- Power duration, if applicable
- Signature of the Grantor and the Notary
Each paragraph can be presented first in Spanish and then in Italian. For example:
“I, Giovanni Rossi, of Italian nationality, with passport number YZ1234567, grant power of attorney Ana Pérez, Panamanian, number 8-123-4567, to represent me before the National Migration Service of Panama.”
“I, Giovanni Rossi, of Italian nationality, with passport number YZ1234567, grant power of attorney to Ana Pérez, Panamanian, number 8-123-4567, to represent me before the National Migration Service of Panama.”
The importance of legal consistency in both languages
Una Legal translation it's not just a literal translation. You must ensure that the legal terms used in the power of attorney are interpreted in the same way in both jurisdictions. Some words may have different equivalents in the Panamanian and Italian legal system, such as “proxy”, “attorney” or “legal representative”. An error in this interpretation may cause the Legal Power of Attorney Panama be rejected before Migration.
For this reason, the best results are obtained when the document is Written directly in a bilingual version By a lawyer or translator with experience in Migratory documents. In addition, drafting it from the start in both languages avoids the need to pay for a subsequent sworn translation, if the power of attorney was initially processed in a single language.
Once the document is finished and duly signed before a notary, the next step will be to ensure that the format is validated by Panama Migration or by the competent consulate, as we see in the next section.
Accepted format and official translations: what Migration requires
In addition to correctly drafting a Bilingual Power of Attorney, it is essential that the format of the document meets the formal standards requested by Panama migration Or Migration Italy, depending on the destination of the procedure. Filing a faulty document may delay the process of Residency or create the need to restart legalization or translation from scratch.
What power of attorney format does Migration Panama accept?
For migratory procedures in Panama, the National Migration Service requires that the Power of Attorney It has the following characteristics:
- To be Legalized Before a Notary Public from the country of origin (Italy or Panama)
- Count on The Hague Apostille If it was issued outside of Panama
- If it was written in Italian, it must be accompanied by Official translation into Spanish done by an authorized translator in Panama
- They preferably contain a bilingual format from the start to facilitate document validation
If the document is written in Italy and will be used in Panama, it must first go to the Panamanian consult/embassy in Italy and then be sent to Panama. Upon arrival in Panama, you must translate into Spanish with a translator approved by the Ministry of Government.
And in the case of procedures in Italy?
When a person grants a power of attorney to represent their migratory interest in Italy, similar rules apply:
Documents originated in Panama must be notarized in Panama, apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then officially translated into Italian. In Italy, they are only accepted Sworn translations Or made by a Translator legally registered in the Italian court.
Legal translation vs. simple translation
One of the most common mistakes is to think that any translator can make the official version of the power of attorney. But one is not enough Common translation. To be valid before a migration authority, the translation must meet the following requirements:
- Be carried out by a sworn translator recognized by the receiving country
- Clearly state that this is an “official translation” attached to the original document
- Contain the signature, seal and data of the legal translator
In Panama, these translators are registered on the Official List of the Ministry of Government. In Italy, they must be registered in the Board of Sworn Translators or work through the appropriate Court of Justice.
For added security, many people choose to directly draft a Spanish and Italian power of attorney From the start. this Minimizes translation costs and avoids interpretation errors Later.
Understanding these technical aspects can make the difference between a smooth process and weeks of lost validations. Next, we'll look at the Most common mistakes you should avoid When Presenting Powers of Attorney in International Proceedings.
Common Mistakes When Filing International Powers of Attorney
One of the main causes of delay in the processes of residence in Panama Or residence in Italy For foreign citizens it is the wrong presentation of a Power of Attorney. Although this document has great legal value, its use in international contexts—such as migratory procedures between Panama and Italy—requires respect for specific rules of form and substance. Here are the most common errors that could lead to rejections or delays and how to avoid them from the start.
1. Power is not legalized or apostilled
When a Legal Power of Attorney Panama Or Legal Power Italy It is issued in another country, it must have consular legalization or an apostille from The Hague to be recognized. Many requests are rejected simply because the document was submitted without this essential step.
Advice: Make sure to apostille the document in the country where it was issued, before submitting it to Migration.
2. Incomplete or ambiguous wording
General phrases such as “authorize any procedure” may not be accepted in proceedings before Panama migration by Italian authorities. The text of the power of attorney must detail the powers granted to the proxy, such as: signing immigration forms, submitting documents, or attending consular appointments.
Also avoid excluding key information such as the full name and passport number of both the principal and the proxy.
3. Failure to clearly state the jurisdiction and purpose
For International Migratory Procedures, it is vital that the power indicates which authority it is addressing (for example, “National Migration Service of the Republic of Panama” or “Ministry of the Interior” in Italy), and what its specific objective is (visa, residence procedure, family reunification, etc.).
A common mistake is to use a generic power of attorney that does not indicate the migratory object of the same, which can be a reason for rejection.
4. Errors in legal translation
If the document is not originally written in the official language of the receiving country, you will need a Legal translation. Using uncertified, automatic, or incomplete translations can invalidate the entire document before Migration.
- Panama accepts translations made by legal translators authorized by the Ministry of Education or official lists.
- Italy requires certified translation according to consular or notarial regulations.
Recommendation: Never translate a power of attorney with online tools. Make sure to do so with an official translator recognized by both immigration authorities.
5. Wrong power type
In migratory procedures, there is a key difference between a Simple power And a Power of Attorney Before an International Notary. Many Italian citizens make the mistake of drafting a power of attorney without a notary, thinking that it is sufficient for complex immigration procedures. However, authorities usually require that the document be notarized, apostilled and legally translated.
Check if the procedure in question requires a formal power of attorney or if a simple power of attorney signed with witnesses and a copy of the passport can be accepted.
6. Don't upgrade the power in time
Some powers of attorney are limited in duration (3 months, one year). Migration could reject a Power of Attorney for having expired or for having been issued before the formal procedure began. Always check the date of issue and the validity established in the document.
Avoiding these errors not only improves your chances of approval, but it also reduces time, costs and potential frustrations. If you have questions, consult with a legal team familiar with migratory documents between Panama and Italy can make a difference.
✍🏼 Take note...
The correct use of the power of attorney it is essential for those who manage a Visa for Italians or do they want to get residence in Panama or in Italy. As we have seen, Italian citizens may need this document in scenarios where they cannot present themselves in person or when they delegate their legal representation to a third party. However, for the power of attorney to be valid, it is necessary to meet the requirements required by migration: clear wording, accepted format, legalization with an apostille and official translation.
No less important is knowing and avoiding common mistakes: from drafting the document with ambiguities, to omitting apostilles or using unauthorized translations. Every detail counts when it comes to international immigration procedures.
Whether you are preparing these documents from Italy or employing an immigration lawyer in Panama, following these guidelines will increase the chances of success in the process.
Are you preparing your Panamanian or Italian visa application and do you need a valid and well-drafted power of attorney? At Limitless Legal we have experience in bilingual drafting of powers of attorney for international migration procedures, as well as in managing official translations and legalizations. Write to us and we will guide you step by step, from the draft to its validation by the immigration authorities.