Panama – Seafarers’ Certificates

C26025| 15 April 2026

Notice to: Ship Owners / Managers / Operators

The Panama Maritime Authority has revised Merchant Marine Circular MMC-331, which details the original forms of certificates and technical documentation for seafarers approved by the Panama Maritime Authority.

From April 1, 2026, Certificates of Competency and Endorsements of Certificates of Competency are issued in electronic form and are no longer issued on security paper.

The original forms of certificates and technical documentation for seafarers issued in security paper forms up to March 31st, 2026, remain valid until their expiration date. Examples of the original form for Certificate of Competency and Endorsement of Certificate of Competency are given in Annexes 9 & 10 of the circular.

Points to Note:

The Circular lists the specifications of the electronic form of the following certificates and technical documentation, and includes examples as Annexes 1-7:
• Processing Certificate of License
• Processing Certificate of Endorsement
• Certificate of Proficiency
• Endorsement of Certificate of Proficiency
• Course Endorsement
• Certificate of Competency
• Endorsement of Certificate of Competency.

Seaman’s Books (example in Annex 8) will continue to be issued in security paper form.

Any certificate and technical documentation for seafarers required either by the 1978 Convention, as amended, or by national regulations must be kept available in its original form on board the ship on which the holder is serving, whether in paper form or electronic form, depending on the date of issue. If an electronic form is used, the minimum required data must be accessible to initiate a verification procedure.

Certificates and technical documentation for seafarers can be verified by:
• QR Code
• Online Consultation on the PMA website using the following links:
• Link 1 for certificates with nomenclature “CT, CTB, CTC”; and
• Link 2 for certificates and technical documentation for seafarers issued in security paper form and in electronic form, through the Seafarers’ Automated Application System (SAA).
• Email to:
• verification@amp.gob.pa
• certification@amp.gob.pa

Act now

Ship Owners/Managers/Operators are to take note of the contents of Circular No. MMC 331, be guided accordingly, and ensure that certificates in electronic form are managed through the Safety Management System, per section 11 of the International Safety Management Code (ISM Code).