On this page, you will find:
To find organisations working for LGBTQI+ rights, visit our Panama LGBTQI+ Resources page.
For Panama country of origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents visit our Panama COI page.
Refugee protection
Click here to see the numbers and origins of refugees hosted by Panama.
The following sections contain information on the most important international treaties and agreements of which Panama is signatory, as well as national legislation relevant to the protection of refugees.
Panama is a party to both the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees and to its 1967 Protocol. It has also accepted the UN Statelessness Conventions.
Panama’s refugee protection is based on the country’s Decreto Ejecutivo No. 5 del 16 de Enero de 2018 (DE05/2018), which modified the refugee status determination system established by the previous legislation and created an institutional framework that regulates the procedure for the recognition of refugee status and designates the competent authorities for conducting the analysis of asylum applications. The national refugee protection framework unfortunately does not include the expanded refugee definition as per the Cartagena Declaration. The refugee status determination procedure administered by the National Office for the Attention of Refugees of Panama (ONPAR).
Legal aid organisations
Website
Address: Edificio 712 Calle Roberto F. Chiari, Balboa Ciudad de Panamá, Panamá.
Tel: (507) 512-7228 and 512-7229
Email: consultasonpar@mingob.gob.pa
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m
ONPAR is the state office, attached to the Ministry of Government, where the application for recognition of refugee status must be submitted. They are responsible for receiving, admitting and processing all applications for refugee status, as well as other administrative procedures related to the process, such as the renewal of identity documents. More detailed information on their functions can be found in Executive Decree No. 5 of 16 January 2018.
Website
Address: Torre Banco Delta, Floor 3, office 301. On the corner between Calle Elvira Méndez and Via España.
Tel: (507) 6589-4993, 6020-1876, 6589-4875, 6020-2610, 6020-2772, 6020-2786, 6674-8783, 6589-5016
Email: co.nrc@nrc.no and co.mivozcuenta@nrc.no
Opening Hours: Monday -Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is an international, independent, humanitarian, non-profit organization, established in 1946. It is the only Norwegian organization specialized in international work with displaced and refugee populations. They offer free information, orientation and legal advice services to asylum seekers and refugees in Panama. They also provide legal resources to ensure that people who have international protection needs can access Panamanian territory and that they are not returned to their countries of origin and also to enforce and exercise basic rights (health, education, work and housing).
Website
Address: 171 Building, Gonzalo Crance Street, City of Knowledge, Panama, Republic of Panama
Tel.: (507) 304-9696
Email: panpaprc@unhcr.org
Office hours: Monday -Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
At UNHCR’s Offices you can receive guidance about your rights and duties as a refugee, how to start the procedure for recognition of refugee status. In response to your specific needs, they will make referrals to partners so that you receive the support need, be it legal, psychosocial, food assistance and/or temporary accommodation, if you have nowhere to stay.
Organisations providing other support to refugees
Website
Address: Parque Lefevre, Calle 92 and Ave 3 Sur, (Known as Calle 8va Parque Lefevre), in front of Gringo De La Guardia Gymnasium, House No. 11, Panama.
Tel: (507) 203-7600 and 224-0970
Email: pmh.panama@gmail.com
Opening Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Comprehensive Support Center (CAI) – Hogar Luisa is a reception center of the Catholic Church for refugees and migrants. They provide humanitarian assistance, temporary accommodation, and comprehensive support (social, psychological, legal and pastoral)
Website
Address: Jorge Bolivar Alemán Street, Albrook, Building 453, Panama City
Tel: (507) 315-0292
Email: programaderefugio@cruzroja.org.pa
Opening hours: Monday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Panamanian Red Cross works as a partner of UNHCR in a Livelihoods and Local Integration Program for Refugees in Panama. It offers assistance to cover the following basic needs and services: food, health, accommodation / housing, schooling, cash transfers for the purchase of essential items such as personal hygiene and cleaning kits, kitchen supplies, mats, stove and cooking surfaces, and baby items.
Website
Address: Calle Elvira Méndez with Av. Ricardo Arango, Vallarino Building, Floor 1. Banking Area. City of Panama.
Tel: (507) 391-2295 and 391-2296
Email: info.panama@theret.org
Opening hours: Monday -Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
RET International in Panama works for the local integration of young people and their families who are as asylum seekers or refugees in the country. They develop projects focused on humanitarian assistance in health, food and housing; psychosocial care; assistance and accompaniment to start or strengthen independent productive activities; assistance and strengthening to improve employability profile; legal advice and representation during the refugee status application process; and guidance and assistance for the admission of children and adolescents to the school system.
Panama LGBTQI+ Resources
Find organisations working for refugee LGBTQI+ rights in Panama.
Panama COI
Find Panama Country of Origin information (COI) experts, reports, commentaries, and relevant documents.
We are always looking to expand the resources on our platform. If you know about relevant resources, or you are aware of organisations and/or individuals to include in our directories, please get in touch.
Last updated June 2023