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Used Car History in Panama: Debts, Plate Status and Claims

Oct

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Used Car History in Panama: Debts, Plate Status and Claims

In short: A used car's history in Panama does not come from a single report: it is built from several checks. The Panama City Mayor's Office lets owners look up plate status and vehicle obligations, the law requires the previous municipality's clearance for second-hand cars, and the transfer asks for the current-year inspection certificate. According to the ASSA Market website, the "Buen historial" badge means the car has no reported claims in its last 5 years insured with ASSA. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide What makes up a car's history Panama City Mayor's Office lookups What the…

Apartments in Costa del Este: Waterfront Towers and How to Choose

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Apartments in Costa del Este: Waterfront Towers and How to Choose

In short: Costa del Este is a planned district of Panama City, in the Juan Díaz corregimiento, with waterfront towers and access via the Corredor Sur. According to the Grupo Los Pueblos (GLP) website, two of its projects sit in that corridor: Ipanema Waterfront Residences, under construction, with 1 to 3 bedroom apartments in two towers of 20 and 23 floors, and Altamarina Ocean Front, in pre-sale. When choosing, it helps to compare construction status, the real commute and what the contract says about floor area and handover. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide What Costa del Este…

Receding Gums: Causes and When a Graft Is Needed

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Health & Wellness

Receding Gums: Causes and When a Graft Is Needed

In short: Gum recession is the pulling back of the tissue that covers the tooth root: the root is exposed and the tooth looks longer. Associated factors include age, hygiene, brushing technique and force, bite interferences and each person's anatomy. Not every recession needs surgery. When it is treated, a gum graft is one of the procedures that cover exposed roots and, according to the periodontics page of Dental Life Panamá, the periodontist decides after the diagnosis. Contents of this guide What gum recession is Causes and associated factors When treatment is needed What a gum graft is and what…

Beneficial Owner in Panama: What Is Declared and Who Files It

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Beneficial Owner in Panama: What Is Declared and Who Files It

In short: The beneficial owner of a Panamanian company is the natural person who, directly or indirectly, owns it, controls it or exercises significant influence over it. The company does not file that data: its resident agent, a lawyer or law firm, records it in a private system run by the Superintendency of Non-Financial Subjects (SSNF). According to the consolidated text of Law 129 of 2020, registration is due within fifteen business days of the company's registration, and access is limited to competent authorities. Law text reviewed in October 2026. Contents of this guide What the register is and who…

Installing Air Conditioning in a Business in Panama: Seven Stages

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Installing Air Conditioning in a Business in Panama: Seven Stages

In short: installing air conditioning in a commercial space in Panama is a seven-stage project and not just buying a unit. According to the Climatiza website, the stages run from the site survey and thermal load calculation to the technical proposal, execution, commissioning, documented handover and follow-up. The two that weigh most, according to the company, are the load calculation and the handover with drawings and a maintenance plan. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide The short answer The seven stages, one by one What kind of project it is What a technical proposal should include Installation errors…

Setting Up a Technology Company in a Panama Free Zone: Steps

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Setting Up a Technology Company in a Panama Free Zone: Steps

In short: a technology company sets up in a Panama free zone with an established company license, which the National Free Zones Commission approves within a maximum of ninety days under Law 32 of 2011. The path runs through choosing the activity category, holding the zone promoter's certification, filing the application through a lawyer with the study and documents required by Executive Decree 62 of 2017, and then meeting the investment and employment deadlines. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide Which category fits a technology company The steps, in order Who does what After the license Foreign staff…

Smart City in Panama: What It Is and Ten Criteria to Evaluate One

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Smart City in Panama: What It Is and Ten Criteria to Evaluate One

In short: A smart city is an urban model that plans infrastructure, mobility, green space, services and technology together; technology is a tool and not the only criterion. In Panama, Green Valley presents itself as the country's first smart city, with 200 hectares in Panamá Norte and lots for developers. This guide proposes ten criteria for telling such a project apart from a conventional development. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide What a smart city is Ten criteria to evaluate one How Green Valley applies them on its website What changes for a developer How to use the…

Humidity in Panama: Protecting Stored Furniture, Clothes, Papers

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Real Estate & Construction

Humidity in Panama: Protecting Stored Furniture, Clothes, Papers

In short: humidity is one of the main causes of deterioration in stored furniture, clothes and documents, and it is managed through the relative humidity of the space. The EPA guide on mold recommends keeping it below 60%, ideally between 30 and 50%, and the US National Park Service puts it between 45 and 55% for collections and always below 65%. A climate-controlled unit with humidity control, like the one Supreme Storage describes, aims to maintain those conditions. Contents of this guide Why humidity damages stored items Which humidity range is recommended What gets damaged first How to prepare what…

Travel Insurance: Cancellation, Interruption and Delay Coverage

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Travel Insurance: Cancellation, Interruption and Delay Coverage

In short: A travel insurer and an airline do not pay for the same things. The airline answers for transport, under whatever law applies to the flight. The insurance answers for the events and limits its policy sets. According to the ASSA Travel website, its plans include trip cancellation, trip interruption and trip delay from 12 hours, with different limits in Silver, Gold, Platinum and Europe. Plan data read in October 2026. Contents of this guide Who pays for what The published limits by plan Four scenarios and who answers What the airline owes in Europe What to check before…

Panama Earthquake: What Happened, Help and How to Donate

Oct

By Deilys Romero

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Panama Earthquake: What Happened, Help and How to Donate

In short: updated October 13, 2026. The earthquake of Friday, October 9 struck at 12:56 p.m. Panama time, and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured it at magnitude 7.7; other official sources and media use 7.5. According to the SINAPROC tally as of October 12, 7,480 people are affected across nine provinces, and the United Nations records no deaths. This guide covers what happened, where to ask for help, which health facilities changed their services and how to donate only through verified channels. Contents of this guide What happened: magnitude, time and place Official tally of damage and affected people…

In-House or Outsourced Payroll in Panama: Which Fits Which Company

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Business, Economy

In-House or Outsourced Payroll in Panama: Which Fits Which Company

In short: in-house payroll suits companies with few employees, stable processes and someone trained in labor law; outsourced payroll suits those with several pay modalities, work peaks or a risk of errors with the social security fund (CSS) and the tax authority (DGI). In both cases the company remains the employer and must review what is filed. One legal distinction matters: outsourcing payroll calculation is not the same as outsourcing staff, and Panama's Labor Code regulates the latter with joint liability. Updated in October 2026. Contents of this guide Two different things: outsourcing payroll and outsourcing staff In-house versus outsourced…

Panama Social Security Fund: Payments, Contributions, Appointments

Oct

By Daniela Bohórquez

Guides, Professional Services & Technology

Panama Social Security Fund: Payments, Contributions, Appointments

In short: updated on 13 October 2026. The surge of interest in the Social Security Fund has a verifiable cause: the earthquake of Friday 9 October damaged the institution's facilities, and the CSS announced a 90-day plan to keep medical care and pension payments going. According to Telemetro, the next payments to retirees and pensioners are Monday 19 October by bank transfer (ACH) and Tuesday 20 October by cheque. Contributions are checked in Mi Caja Digital, and appointments now depend on which facilities remain open. Contents of this guide What changed: the earthquake and the 90-day plan Payments to retirees…