# The naturalization exam

Article 10 asks you to prove Spanish and basic knowledge of Panama’s geography, history and political organization. The Electoral Tribunal administers the exam under its Decree 13 of August 1, 2025.

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- Spanish language
- Panamanian geography
- Panamanian history
- Panama’s political organization

### Nationals of Spain and Latin America, by reciprocity

Exempt if they prove, with an authenticated certificate, that their country exempts Panamanians from the same requirement.

### People who studied these subjects in Panama

Exempt if they studied them in Panamanian schools, colleges or universities, official or private, with authenticated credits or diplomas.

### People with disabilities

They take an exam adapted to their needs, prepared by the Electoral Tribunal’s equal opportunities office, with a certificate from a qualified physician.

[National Immigration Service, requirements for the Carta de Naturaleza (naturalization certificate)](https://www.migracion.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/REQUISITOS-DE-NATURALIZACION-ACTUALIZADO.pdf) · [Electoral Tribunal Decree 13 of August 1, 2025 (knowledge exam)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BOLETIN-DEL-TRIBUNAL-ELECTORAL-N.%C2%B0-5872-B.pdf) · [National Immigration Service, requirements for the Carta de Naturaleza (naturalization certificate), item 14; Electoral Tribunal Decree 13 of August 1, 2025 (knowledge exam), article 1 (Electoral Tribunal Bulletin 5872-B), which rewrites article 3 of Electoral Tribunal Decree 23 of September 1, 2021 (exam procedure)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BOLETIN-4899peq.pdf)

## How the exam works

### Pass mark: 71 out of 100

If you pass, the Electoral Tribunal issues a resolution that records it, and that resolution goes into your naturalization file.

Source: [Electoral Tribunal Decree 23 of 2021, article 4](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BOLETIN-4899peq.pdf)

### Three attempts

You may take the exam up to three times. After a third failed attempt, your file is returned to the National Immigration Service.

Source: [Electoral Tribunal Decree 23 of 2021, article 5](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BOLETIN-4899peq.pdf)

### Six months to sit it

You have six months from the day your file reaches the magistrate’s office. After that, the Tribunal publishes a notice and gives you 30 more days; if you still do not appear, the file goes back to Immigration.

Source: [Electoral Tribunal Decree 23 of 2021, article 2](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BOLETIN-4899peq.pdf)

### A free official study guide

The Electoral Tribunal publishes a free study guide in Spanish, the 2025 edition, with 70 questions and their answers on political organization, geography, history and national symbols.

Source: [Electoral Tribunal, Temario de estudio (2025)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/publicaciones/temario-de-estudio/)

To book, you call the Electoral Tribunal’s General Secretariat to find which office has your file, then agree a date and time with that office. The Tribunal’s 2023 guide lists a B/. 60 payment, with the original receipt handed in on exam day; that guide predates the 2025 decree, so we confirm the current amount before you pay.

[Electoral Tribunal, Guía para el trámite de examen de naturalización (October 2023)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Guia-para-tramite-de-examen-naturalizacion-tribunal-electoral.doc)

The rules do not say whether the exam is written or oral, how many questions it has or how long it lasts. We tell you what to expect from current practice when you book.

## Official sources

- [Electoral Tribunal Decree 13 of August 1, 2025 (knowledge exam)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/BOLETIN-DEL-TRIBUNAL-ELECTORAL-N.%C2%B0-5872-B.pdf)
- [Electoral Tribunal Decree 23 of September 1, 2021 (exam procedure)](https://www.tribunal-electoral.gob.pa/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/BOLETIN-4899peq.pdf)

Last verified: October 26, 2026

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