Complete Guide: How to Register Your Company in Panama with Corpus - 100% Online to the Global Business
Introduction: Create Your Company in Panama in 72 Hours, From Anywhere in the World
Panama is consolidating itself as a top-tier destination for company formation, thanks to its attractive territorial tax system, robust legal stability, and the ease it offers for international operations. With CORPUS, we have drastically simplified this process, allowing you to register your company in just.
72 hours and 100% online, regardless of your geographical location.
This essential guide provides you with a detailed, step-by-step walkthrough of our digital platform, demonstrating why CORPUS is your best ally for establishing a solid legal foundation in Panama, free from bureaucracy and with unparalleled legal support..
Why choose Corpus to establish your company in Panama?
Choosing CORPUS means opting for efficiency, security, and convenience for your global expansion:
- Completely Digital and Remote Process: Establish your company from anywhere in the world, without the need to travel to Panama.
- Total Transparency: No fine print or hidden costs. You know exactly what you will pay from the start..
- Comprehensive Legal Support and Guaranteed Compliance: Our expert team accompanies you in every phase, ensuring compliance with all local regulatory requirements.
- 24/7 Management with your Client Portal: Access all your company's documents, check compliance status, and manage your services from an intuitive control panel.
- Integrated Expansion Options: From opening bank accounts and trademark registration to virtual tax domicile and accounting services, everything at your fingertips to boost your growth.
Your Company in 8 Steps with CORPUS: The 100% Online Process
Corpus has designed an intuitive and fully digital process for you to register your Corporation quickly and securely, from anywhere in the world.
To get started, go to our website, section "Sociedad Anónima" or in the footer of our website, press the button"Registrar mi empresa". This will take you directly to the Corpus portal to start your onboarding.
Step 1: Initial Registration and Provision of Primary Contact Information
Upon entering the portal, the first step is to Register a new account. We will ask you for your First and Last Name, your contact email, and to create a password for access to the platform.
- Contact Person: The person who creates the account is our "Contact Person." They will be our registered client and will manage the creation of the company and related services. This person may or may not be part of the company to be established; they are simply responsible for the creation of the entity.
- Verification: You will need to provide a valid email, which will be verified digitally. Once the email is verified, we will ask you for a contact phone number that will also be verified via SMS.
- Additional Information: We will request a physical contact address (you must provide your real address) and an identification document (passport or ID card from your country).
- Importance: We require all this information for the mandatory verification of our clients and those from whom we receive payments. At Corpus Global, as a law firm, the handling of your data is protected by Law 81 of March 26, 2019.
Once registered, select "Start a new business" in the upper right corner of the portal.
Strategic Recommendation for a Smooth Process!
To expedite the information supply process, have the following ready before starting:
- Company Name: Verify the ideal name for your business. Use our name search tool or have 3 verified options ready. If you have already completed the verification, the registration will be faster.
- Shipping Address: Have on hand the shipping address (for courier service) where you want to receive the physical documents of your company once registered.
- Type of Structure: Determine whether you are establishing an Offshore company (for operations outside of Panama) or a Local company (for operations in Panama). If you have questions, review our guide "Corporate Structure" or schedule a call with our team.
- Company Address: If you do not hire our Virtual Business Address service, you must have a scanned utility bill with the address you will select in Panama. This bill must have an issue date no older than 30 days and reflect this address exactly at the time of registration. Inconsistencies may delay the issuance of the company's RUC.
- Shareholder, Director, and Officer Information: Have on hand the identity documents (passports, ID cards) properly scanned (legible, not expired), their contact addresses, phone numbers, personal emails, and Tax ID number of the country where they are taxed.
- Accounting Officer: If you prefer to designate your own Panamanian accounting officer (must have qualifications and CPA license), have their information ready: ID card, CPA license (scanned, not expired), contact address, email, and phone number.
- Power of Attorney Clause (Optional): If you wish to include a power of attorney clause in the company's bylaws, have the Attorney-in-Fact's identification document (Passport, ID card if Panamanian or Permanent Resident), their physical address, email, and phone number ready.
- Checklist: Download our Checklist to verify that you are fully prepared for registration.
Reanudamos el Proceso de Constitución de la Empresa en el Portal:
- Document Shipping Address: Determines the shipping address for your company's physical documents. Our integration with DHL allows you to calculate the cost of international shipping. Shipments within Panama are free.
- Type of Structure: Select whether it will be a Local or Offshore Company.
- Company Names: Define 3 possible names for your company, including their corresponding corporate suffixes. If you have any doubts, check the guide "Cómo elegir el nombre de mi empresa". Our team will validate the available name and notify you as soon as possible.
- Industry and Social Purpose: Define the Industry in which your company will operate and provide a detailed description of its Commercial Purpose. If you have any questions, consult our guide."Definiendo el Objeto Comercial de tu empresa".
- Company Address: Choose the Dirección Virtual Empresarial you are supplied with Corpus or select your own address and upload the service receipt if applicable.
- Registered Capital: Select the Authorized Capital of your company.
- Loading Data for Key Roles: Now is the time to upload the information of shareholders and ultimate beneficiaries, Directors, and Officers (President, Secretary, and Treasurer), along with their corresponding identity documents and the information explained above. This information is mandatory in Panama for the registration of a company and is required by any resident agent. At Corpus, we have digitally simplified the way to request it.
- Resident Agent: Select Corpus Global as your Resident Agent. At this time, Corpus Global is the only option available through our platform.
- Accounting Officer: Choose the accounting officer services offered by Corpus Global or upload the details of your trusted Panamanian accountant.
- Attorney-in-fact (Optional): If you are going to grant a power of attorney within the Social Pact, in this step you must upload the attorney-in-fact's information and their identification documents.
Once you have uploaded all this data, we will proceed to validate the content of your Social Pact with a summary. You will need to validate and accept that you agree with the provided data.
The registration process will be halted at this stage while our team carries out the tasks of Due Diligence and Transparency.
Step 2: Legal Validation and Compliance (Internal Due Diligence)
Our compliance legal team will conduct a thorough review of the information provided
- Identity Verification: We validate the identity of all parties involved (shareholders, directors, ultimate beneficiary).
- International Lists: We verify compliance with international lists (such as OFAC, UN) and assess the risk profile.
- Name Availability Validation: We confirm the availability of the name chosen for your company.
Once the validation is complete, we will notify you that your information is ready to proceed.
Step 3: Selection of Additional Services and Online Payment
Once the information is validated, you can continue the registration process by selecting additional services if you need them, such as:
- Issuance of the Social Pact in Spanish and English.
- Appendix of the Social Pact.
- Operations Notice.
- Among other value-added services.
Finally, make the payment securely online with a Credit or Debit Card from any country. For users with payment methods in Panama, they can do so via ACH and Yappy. Our system guarantees transparency in costs, with no hidden fees..
Step 4: Drafting and Generation of Legal Documentation
We will proceed to register your commercial company and digitally generate all the documents that make up your Constitution KIT:
- Social Pact.
- Minutes of Share Issuance.
- Stock Certificate.
- Public Registration Certificate.
- If you choose a local company, we also prepare the Notice of Operations.
Step 5: Due Diligence Supplement (Operational Profile)
As we proceed with the establishment of your company, a series of questions related to the commercial profile that the company will develop will be displayed on the client portal (for example, whether it will be transactional or simply for holding assets).
- Mandatory: It is crucial to complete this information, as it is an integral part of the mandatory due diligence we must conclude.
- Digital Signature: Once completed, a digital declaration document regarding the exposed content will be generated, which must be signed by the person designated as the PRESIDENT of the company. This document will be sent to the email of the Legal Representative of the company for their corresponding signature.
IMPORTANT
Not completing the signature of this due diligence and transparency form halts the sending and delivery of the company once registered.
Step 6: Company Registration Notification and RUC Processing
- Once the company is registered, we will inform you immediately that it has been established and we will enable all the documents in your client portal.
- We prepare the Constitution KIT and proceed with the shipment of the physical documentation.
- At the same time, we process your Unique Taxpayer Registry (RUC) with the General Directorate of Revenue (DGI). As it is a 100% digital document, the RUC will be sent to you by email and uploaded to your client portal once it is approved..
Step 7: Complete Activation of Your Customized Client Portal
Your access to your private space in the Corpus Client Portal will be fully active. This intuitive control panel will allow you to:
- Access and download all your company's documents 24/7.
- Check the legal compliance status of your company.
- Review the transaction and management history.
- Manage your annual renewals easily.
Step 8: Final Compliance and Digital Formalization of Actions
As part of the final steps, once you receive the company's documents (physical or digital), you will need to physically sign the Stock Certificates, scan them, and upload them to your client platform, as well as the Stock Issuance Minutes.
Access to Additional Services to Boost Your Global Growth
From the same Customer Portal, you can easily hire a range of complementary services designed to boost the growth and efficiency of your global business:
- Contact for opening an international bank account.
- Sworn translation and apostille of documents.
- Virtual Tax Address.
- Accounting services and tax returns.
- Trademark registration.
- International tax advisory.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will my company pay taxes in Panama?
No, as long as your income comes from an activity carried out outside of Panamanian territory and the payment does as well, this is due to the territorial tax system. - Do I need to be physically in Panama to register my company?
No. The entire process is completely digital and you can manage it from anywhere in the world. In Panama, the figure of subscribers is used, which are the people who carry out the incorporation of the company on your behalf.. - Is it legal to operate from my country with a Panamanian company?
Yes, it is legal. However, you must ensure that you comply with the tax and regulatory laws of your country of residence. We strongly recommend seeking international tax advice if you believe you need to take additional actions, such as reporting to the tax authorities in your country or similar actions. - What does the Resident Agent service include?
The Resident Agent is a legal requirement in Panama. It includes the receipt of notifications from the State, the guarantee of annual compliance, and guidance for any legal requests.
With Corpus, you don't just create a company; you build a solid and efficient legal foundation to grow globally. Start today! Your Panamanian Corporation ready in 72 hours, from anywhere in the world.
