Tell the planner what you want to do, how long the boat is and how many people you will carry. It names the AMP Gente de Mar grades likely to apply and the steps to get one. Confirm the result with AMP Gente de Mar before you book a course.
How the planner picks a grade
The grades come from the AMP's Dirección General de Gente de Mar page, opened on 7 November 2026. The planner matches them to your boat's length overall (eslora):
| Licence | Scope listed by the AMP |
|---|---|
| Marinero | Crew aboard |
| Operador de lanchas de 2da. clase | Under 12 m |
| Operador de lanchas de 1ra. clase | Cargo and/or passenger transport, 12 to 20 m |
| Patrón de nave de placer 3ra. / 2da. / 1ra. clase | Under 8 m / 8 to 20 m / over 20 m |
| Patrón de cabotaje | Up to 100 or 500 TAB |
| Oficial de yate, capitán de yate | Capitán de yate up to 200 TAB, up to 500 TAB, or unlimited |
The yacht titles and cabotaje grades go by gross tonnage (TAB), not length, so for big boats the planner names the options without picking one. The AMP does not say which grade every tourist boat needs, and the passenger number does not change the grade. It flags paid trips, because those need charter paperwork and, for foreigners, a MITRADEL work permit.
The steps follow the AMP requirement sheets summarised in becoming a boat captain in Panama: courses at an AMP-recognised centre, sea time for the higher grades, a medical from a Panamanian doctor, and an application with fiscal stamps. The sheets list no separate AMP exam. The planner quotes no licence fee, because fees vary by grade and by nationality. Confirm the current fee and requirements with AMP Gente de Mar.
Holding a foreign licence? Read using a foreign captain's licence in Panama. The full list of grades, including fishing and engine licences, is in Panama captain licence types.
Connected guides
How to become a boat captain in Panama (AMP licences)
To captain a boat in Panama you need an AMP Gente de Mar licence for its size and service. The ladder, courses, sea time, medical and how to apply.
Panama captain licence types and limits (AMP grades)
Every AMP Gente de Mar licence grade and its limit: operador de lanchas, patrón de nave de placer, patrón de cabotaje, capitán de yate and STCW titles.
Using a USCG, RYA or foreign licence in Panama
A USCG, RYA or other foreign licence does not let you work in Panama's national waters. What the AMP recognises (I/10, yacht titles) and what it doesn't.
Licence to drive your own boat in Panama (AMP)
Driving your own boat in Panama needs an AMP licence: patrón de nave de placer 3ra. (<8 m), 2da. (8–20 m) or 1ra. (>20 m). Requirements and steps.
Captain and crew requirements for paid trips in Panama
Every captain and crew member on a paid trip in Panama needs an AMP licence for the role. Foreigners also need a MITRADEL permit within the 10% cap.
Captain courses and schools in Panama (AMP-recognised)
Captain courses in Panama must come from an AMP-recognised training centre. The AMP list, which course each licence needs, and how to check a school.
Official resources
Use the relevant Panamanian authority for current requirements and fees. These resources are the next place to check; a practical recommendation is not an agency determination.
- AMP: Dirección General de Gente de Mar, national-waters and yacht licences (opened 7 Nov 2026) ↗
- AMP: Report of Recognized Training Centers ↗
- AMP: gira de emisión de licencias de marino de aguas nacionales ↗
- AMP: Resolución J.D. 089-2020, yacht chartering service ↗