immigration

New IDs for resident aliens

A new law will require digital fingerprinting and an updated identification for resident alients.

Resident aliens will have one year to replace their Panamanian cedula, marked with the letter “E,” with a new identification document, according to an immigration law going into effect this August.

The Tribunal Electoral (TE) has said that the procedure will carry a cost, but that the exact amount had not yet been decided. Tayra Barsallo, deputy director of the Dirección de Migración, said she didn’t know if the new identification will involve an additional cost.

The updated identification document will have a different design than the current Panamanian cedula, explained Barsallo, allowing authorities to differentiate between foreigners with permanent residence and those whose temporary residence has expired.

“That means that whoever doesn’t intend to respond to the Tribunal Electoral’s mandate to establish a new identity document can start proceedings to cancel their residency,” said Barsallo.

The new law also calls for creating an office within the Dirección de Migración responsible for registering foreigners, including the issuing of photo IDs and digital fingerprinting that will accompany the new personal identification number, she added.

The same number will be registered at the Caja de Seguro Social and the Ministerios de Trabajo y de Economía y Finanzas.