Drivers License Alert
Sep 6th, 2007 by Don Ray
I just received the following email which is related to the new digital driver’s license. If this is true, then foreigners are being put through a tremendous hassle and expense.
Don
I just got back from the traffic authority office at Chiriqui Mall. I asked about my new driver’s license since after August 30 they are now available in Chiriqui. I showed them my driver’s license and told them I was a foreigner. I was told that all foreigners in Panama needed to pick up their licenses in Panama City at Auto Depot. Have you heard anything about this or confirm this information? Surely, this has been brought up by someone else and maybe even got a difference response.Thanks Norma
Hi Don Ray - here’s a few questions for Chatter readers: have any of you recently received your Residency Card as issued by Immigration? If so, was the photo on it taken digitally? Or, was the ‘old’ Polaroid system still in use? Same goes with Driver’s Licenses - digital or Polaroid?
If the Polaroid system is still in use by both Immigration & ATT, then the government will have no database of digital photos of foreign residents to draw from to produce driver’s licenses. Could this possibly be the reason for the lack of valid info reaching the foreign community?
Any thoughts?
Hi Linda. My photo is the old form on both. I assume you are correct, but I do not understand why new digital photos can not be taken at the Chiriqui location and not require a trip to Panama City.
I just called Immigration to ask about the pictures they take for Residency cards. I was told it is still the Polaroid system and will be for the foreseeable future.
I am assuming that new digital photos will have to be taken. I just don’t understand why a trip to PC is required. It would seem that all Provinces should be capable of taking the new photos.
I want give this to you.
You can copy the picture,which belongs to this, from my site and put it to your side bar, if you want.
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I heard an announcement at the Tuesday meeting in Boquete that you can get your driver’s license updated at Chiriqui Mall. I can’t imagine that it would be otherwise.
If you read the original writeup, the writer had just returned from the CM. While, what you say makes since, that may have nothing to do with what is implemented.
I think the problem is the digital photo and when the CM will be able to make that type of photo. Until I hear from a pensionado that has actually exchanged his old driver’s license for the new digital format, I think everything is merely rumor. If I feel up to it next week. Since my current lisense expires in October, I may just wait and do both at one time.
HI Don: Received the following e-mail from Diane Fessenden. She had a different experience. Hope Dianes experience is the standard one.
QUOTE
Patrick,
This morning, I went into the Chiriqui Mall to inquire about my “new drivers license”. They were very nice and as always, very helpful. It seems the problem with the licenses for all foreigners is that the central licensing department has no permenent record of an address for each and every foreigner.
They have come up with a solution, which does not require all us to travel to Panama City for our new licenses.
Present yourself, with 2 different types of ID, to the “licensing authorities” at the Chiriqui Mall. As I mentioned before, they are trying to help us out here. They will copy the pertinent information from your drivers license onto a list. This list is then delivered to the central licensing department in Panama City. The license will be sent to the office in the Chiriqui Mall. The gentleman assisting me, said my new license should be in his office within a week (from the day I was there), BUT to plan on 2 weeks. At any rate, all of the “old type” licenses for the foreigners will be valid for some time to come because of this mixup.
If you wish to put this information on Boquete.Org please feel free to do so.
take care
diane fessenden
UNQUOTE
Patrick
Hi Patrick. Yes, the email does sound promising. Maybe i can make it over there next week.
I went to Chiriqui Mall today. The procedure was this today: make a copy of your driver’s license and your cedula (onto one page). Bypass the long line of unfortunate Panamanians who are waiting to exchange their licenses and walk into the main office. Give your paper to Olga. She will tell you to return in one month for your new license. That’s it. I think that in the period between the time Diane Fessenden went and today, they have come to a more realistic time frame for picking up your new license. And, by the way, I think the Panamanians who were standing in line today did walk away with a new license in their pockets, so there was a reward for their wait.
I hope that you can use the pensionado card instead of a cedula unless you are considering the pensionado card as a cedula.