A checklist that walks a new Panama charter business through the licence chain in the order the agencies expect it, from the company to the first sale. Start it before you buy a boat or talk to a broker. Have your product idea, your lawyer's name and any boat's AMP papers to hand.
Fill in the fields below, then print the worksheet or download your entries as a text file. Entries stay on this page until you leave unless you download them. Don’t enter passport, card or medical details; keep copies of those separately.
How to fill it in
Work top to bottom. The order is the point: the AMP wants the company, the ATP wants the aviso de operación and the AMP papers, and the insurer wants the certified capacity. Write the office, the date and the reference number on each line. A line with no number is not done.
Which office each part relates to
- MICI and DGI (lines 2–4). The aviso de operación is issued online on Panamá Emprende once the company exists. The RUC and ITBMS registration sit with the DGI. The bank account is often the slow part, so start it early.
- AMP (lines 5–8, 10). The AMP licenses three separate things: the boat, the business and the people. A boat on a pleasure patente cannot carry paying guests. The AMP's published services list transporte de pasajeros at B/.200 a year per boat under 30 passengers (B/.300 for 30 or more) and arrendamiento de yates at B/.1,500 a year per company. Ask the Departamento de Concesiones which licence fits your product, and confirm current fees on +507 501-5000.
- ATP (line 9). Edificio BICSA Financial Center, floor 29, Avenida Balboa; +507 526-7000, weekdays 8:00–16:00. File after the aviso and the AMP papers are in hand.
- MITRADEL and CSS (line 11). A USCG licence is not a Panamanian licence, and a foreign captain on your payroll needs a work permit within the caps.
Panama tips
- Don't buy the boat first. A boat that cannot pass the passenger inspection or be registered for commercial use is an expensive private yacht. Check it with vessel eligibility.
- Plan in months. No agency publishes an end-to-end timeline. Ask each office for its current processing time and write it next to the line.
- Insurance amounts. The AMP fixes the bond and policy amounts in the resolution that grants your licence. Get quotes early but buy the final policy once you know the figure.
- Capacity. Build the booking form so it cannot sell more seats than the certificate allows. The AMP announced sanctions for overloading at Carnaval 2026.
The full licence table is in the charter licence document list.
Read the companion guide
Before using this resource, read How to start a boat charter business in Panama.
Use it alongside these guides
How to start a boat charter business in Panama
Starting a boat charter in Panama: pick model and coast, then company, aviso de operación, AMP boat, ATP registration, captain, insurance, marina, ITBMS.
Every licence and permit a Panama charter needs
A Panama charter needs an aviso de operación, ATP registration, AMP vessel papers and operating licence, licensed crew, insurance and activity permits.
Charter operating models in Panama compared
Day charter, scheduled tours, overnight, bareboat, management programme or booking agent: what each model means in Panama and which licences it needs.
Charter costs and pricing in Panama City
What a Panama charter costs to run: boat, AMP and ATP fees, insurance, marina, regulated fuel, crew with CSS and décimo, commissions and ITBMS.
Charter licence finder: what your Panama operation needs
Pick your charter type and get the ordered list of Panama licences and permits: MICI, AMP, ATP, Gente de Mar, ARAP, MiAmbiente, Guna Yala and insurance.