PANAMA CITY ROOTS. TWO OCEANS.   A guide by Fernando Yemail & Feeling Yachty
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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.

Choose the kind of charter you plan to run and tick any extras. You get the licences and permits in the order operators usually tackle them, with the issuing agency and a link to the guide for each.

Also tick any that apply

Your result

Fill in the fields, then press the button.

How the list is built

Every paid boat trip in Panama sits on the same base chain: a company with an aviso de operación (MICI), AMP vessel papers for commercial service, an AMP operating licence from the Dirección General de Puertos e Industrias Marítimas Auxiliares (DGPIMA), ATP registration as marine tourist transport under Decreto Ejecutivo 82 of 2008, licensed captain and crew from AMP Gente de Mar, and civil liability insurance. The tool then adds what your product and route bring with them.

  • Bareboat and foreign-flagged yachts move into the yacht-chartering regime of AMP Resolution J.D. 089-2020 and Decreto Ejecutivo 4 of 2025: an operating licence for arrendamiento de yates and a charter navigation permit for the yacht.
  • Scheduled tours are passenger transport (transporte de pasajeros), with seats capped by the boat's certificate.
  • Fishing adds ARAP licences. Executive Decrees 9 and 10 of June 2026 take effect on 10 December 2026.
  • Whales, Coiba and other parks add MiAmbiente. Resolution DM-0144-2022 sets 250 m, 4 knots and 30 minutes.
  • San Blas adds the Guna authorities and their fees.

On 7 November 2026 the AMP's DGPIMA page listed both transporte de pasajeros and arrendamiento de yates among its operating licences, each valid for up to 10 years. Which one fits a private whole-boat day charter is a question for the AMP's Departamento de Concesiones. The tool says so rather than guessing.

The tool does not quote fees. The AMP cruising permit, Guna Yala and Coiba fees have no published official schedule, so confirm each fee with the agency. The full table is in charter licences and permits in Panama, and the printable version is the charter licence document list.

Connected guides

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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.

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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.

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ATP tourism operator registration for boat tours

Boat tour operators register with the ATP as marine tourist transport under Decreto Ejecutivo 82 of 2008. The requirements, documents, steps and renewals.

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AMP commercial vessel licensing for passenger boats

A Panama charter boat needs AMP interior-service registration, a commercial patente, inspection and certificate of fitness, plus an AMP operating licence.

Template

Charter licence and permit document list (Panama)

Printable list of every licence a Panama charter holds, by agency: MICI, DGI, ATP, AMP, Gente de Mar, ARAP, MiAmbiente, Guna Yala, ACP, with renewal dates.

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Charter startup checklist (Panama)

Printable Panama charter startup checklist in licence order: company, aviso de operación, AMP boat and operating licence, ATP, captain, insurance, ITBMS.

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.

Fernando Yemail is the owner of Feeling Yachty and is not a lawyer. Yachty Guide provides general educational information and practical recommendations, not legal, tax, insurance or individualized professional advice. Panamanian rules depend on the vessel, flag, activity and location and can change. Confirm current requirements with the relevant authority (AMP, ACP, SENAN, ATP, ARAP, MiAmbiente, Migración or Aduanas) and consult a qualified professional in Panama about your situation. Full disclaimer.