Before paying for an immigration procedure, check that the person offering it is a licensed lawyer (“abogado idóneo”): you can do it in the Judicial Branch’s licensed-lawyers lookup, using their full name. In 2026, Panamanian authorities have detained people accused of posing as lawyers to charge for procedures they never carried out. This guide explains what has happened, which signs should alert you, and how to verify a lawyer step by step.
In short
- Verify the license before you pay, on the Judicial Branch’s official website.
- The reported cases follow a pattern: advance payments, promises to speed things up, and silence afterward.
- If a procedure “is not moving,” confirm its status directly with the National Migration Service.
- If you already paid and suspect a scam, file a report.
What is happening: reported cases
All of these cases are alleged: the people mentioned are subject to proceedings and are presumed innocent until a judge decides.
- June 2026, aggravated fraud and unlawful practice of the profession. A guarantees judge validated the arrest of a 33-year-old man, carried out on June 17, 2026, and ordered pretrial detention. According to the investigation, he offered immigration services, asked for advance payments and stopped communicating with the victims. He has four open cases and the losses exceed US$7,000 (TVN, Panamá América).
- June 2026, recruiting through social media. The National Police and the Judicial Investigation Directorate arrested a 36-year-old Panamanian in Calidonia who, according to the report, presented himself as a licensed immigration lawyer and promoted his services on social media. Sixteen passports of different nationalities were seized in his apartment (Panamá América).
- An earlier case in Villas de Don Bosco. A 52-year-old man was arrested in a raid. According to the investigation, he offered foreigners to speed up immigration procedures, and two cases with losses above US$12,000 are under investigation (TVN).
- The National Migration Service’s own warning. Its Field Action Migration Unit received complaints about people posing as lawyers or interns. The fraud included forged receipts for fine payments and the excuse that the delay was Migration’s fault, when in fact the documents had never even been filed. Migration asked people to confirm that anyone they hire is a licensed lawyer (La Estrella, April 2022).
Warning signs
According to these reports, be wary if:
- They ask for advance payments and then stop answering.
- They promote the service only on social media and cannot show you their license.
- They ask you to leave your passports and then cut off communication.
- They give you a receipt for a fine that you cannot verify with Migration.
- They tell you the procedure is not moving because “Migration is holding it up,” but Migration has no record of your application.
How to verify that a lawyer is licensed, step by step
The lookup is an official Judicial Branch page. Before you start, have the lawyer’s full name at hand, as it appears on their contract, card or advertising.
Open the official licensed-lawyers lookup
What to do on the page:
- Open the button above. You will see the Judicial Branch’s “Consulta Pública” (public lookup) page. You do not need a username or password: do not use the “Ingrese Aquí” (log in) box.
- Click the “Abogados” (lawyers) icon (marked with number 1 in the first image).
- A blue page titled “Abogados Idóneos” (licensed lawyers) opens. Check the box “Datos del Abogado” (lawyer data; number 1 in the second image). The other box, “Datos de la idoneidad,” is another way to search; to look up a person, use the first one.
- Type the lawyer’s full name in the fields that appear.
- Look at the letters and numbers in the black image (“Código de Seguridad,” the security code) and type them in the box “Introduzca el código anterior” (number 2). If you cannot read them, press “Regenerar” to get a new code.
- Press the “Consultar” button (number 3).
- Read the result: the person’s name should appear as a licensed lawyer.
What does the result mean?
- Their name appears: they are a licensed lawyer. Check that it is the same person who is offering you the service.
- It does not appear: do not conclude right away that it is fake. Ask for their licensed-lawyer ID card and call the Judicial Branch at 212-7300 or 212-7400, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.
- They say they are a lawyer and cannot show anything: that is a warning sign. Do not pay.
Official links to keep at hand
- Licensed lawyers lookup: to verify a lawyer.
- Direct access to “Abogados Idóneos”: goes straight to the search, without the portal.
- Judicial Branch page on lawyer licenses and signatures: has the forms, the Code of Ethics and the lawyer fee schedule.
- National Migration Service: to confirm the status of an immigration procedure.
- Public Prosecutor’s Office: to report a scam.
You can also check on the same site whether a law firm is active.
What to do before paying
- Verify the license of whoever offers you the service, using their full name.
- Confirm with Migration the status of your procedure if you are told there is a delay. A procedure that “is not moving” should be verifiable with the National Migration Service.
- Keep proof of everything you paid and of your conversations.
- Be wary of promises to speed up a process without an explanation of which procedure it is and what it requires.
If you were already a victim
Authorities report these cases as aggravated fraud and unlawful practice of the profession. If you paid and suspect a scam, file a report with the National Police or the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and bring receipts, conversations and the details of whoever charged you.
Frequently asked questions
Can anyone charge to process my residency?
The reported cases are charged as unlawful practice of the profession, meaning that anyone offering lawyer services must be licensed. Verify it before paying.
Does the lookup work with just a name?
The official lookup lets you search by the lawyer’s details. Enter their full name and, if there are many results, compare them with the information on their contract or card.
What if I cannot find the lawyer in the lookup?
Do not assume the worst or the best: ask for their licensed-lawyer ID card and confirm by phone with the Judicial Branch.
What to do now
If you have doubts about whether your immigration procedure is on track, or you want to hire with confidence, message me directly on my phone and we will review your case. And check me too: search my name, Alicia Fasta, in the Judicial Branch’s licensed lawyers lookup.
This article is informational and does not replace advice from an attorney.
Message me on WhatsAppSources: the Judicial Branch’s official license lookup page and reports from TVN, Panamá América and La Estrella, consulted on November 4, 2026. The news items describe alleged cases; the figures are those reported by the media.
