Panama Nominee Director Services
for Panamanian Companies
Secure a professional nominee director for your Panama company to address board governance requirements, maintain owner anonymity in alignment with Panamanian law, and keep your entity in full regulatory compliance.
Panama Nominee Director Service Benefits
See how a professional nominee director protects your privacy, strengthens governance, and supports your Panamanian company's operations
Personal Privacy Safeguard
Your identity stays protected from public corporate registries while you maintain uninterrupted control over your Panama company's affairs.
Reliable Governance Oversight
Experienced directors manage board procedures, ensure compliance with Panamanian corporate law, and uphold sound governance practices.
Corporate Paperwork Management
Statutory filings, board resolutions, and annual compliance documentation are efficiently coordinated by your nominee director.
Americas Trade Hub Access
A Panama-based directorship enhances your company's capacity to operate across Latin American and international markets.
Simplified Bank Account Access
Meet Panamanian banking requirements for local directors, facilitating the setup and management of corporate financial accounts.
Panama Nominee Director Legality & Corporate Governance
Panama's corporate legislation provides a well-defined legal basis for nominee director arrangements, supporting privacy-conscious governance structures for Panamanian companies.
Panama's Legal Framework for Nominee Directors
Widely Accepted Under Panamanian Law
Panama's corporate law expressly accommodates nominee directors, and the practice is commonly employed by both domestic and international business structures.
No Residency Requirement for Directors
Panamanian law does not require directors to reside in Panama, although local nominee directors provide advantages for banking and administrative matters.
Board Composition Flexibility
Panama companies require a board of directors, and nominee directors can serve in any of the required positions to meet governance standards.
Directors' Legal Obligations
Nominee directors in Panama are subject to the same legal obligations as any other director, including duties of care and loyalty to the company.
What Public Records Reveal Without a Nominee
Director Names in the Public Registry
Without nominee directors, the beneficial owner's identity will appear in the Panama Public Registry as a director of the company.
Registro Público Access
Director information registered with the Registro Público de Panamá is accessible to the public and can be obtained through official search services.
Corporate Filing Disclosures
Director details are included in the company's articles and subsequent filings, creating a publicly searchable record of directorship.
International Regulatory Cooperation
Panama participates in international information exchange initiatives, and director data may be disclosed to foreign regulatory and tax authorities.
What a Nominee Director Does
Serves as the named director in the Panama Public Registry, ensuring the beneficial owner's personal details remain off public corporate records.
Signs corporate resolutions, attends to statutory filings, and processes official documents as instructed by the beneficial owner.
Ensures the company adheres to its governance requirements and maintains good standing under Panamanian corporate law.
Provides a layer of separation between the beneficial owner's identity and the company's publicly registered director information.
Operates solely under the authority delegated by the beneficial owner, who keeps full economic ownership and ultimate corporate control.
Is subject to a clear indemnity agreement that defines liability limits and the scope of the nominee's responsibilities.
What a Nominee Director Does Not Do
Does not participate in the company's business planning, commercial negotiations, or strategic decision-making.
Has no responsibility for the company's debts, financial commitments, or exposure to commercial losses.
Does not advise on or influence tax planning, residency structuring, or the company's fiscal obligations.
Will not act on any corporate matter without explicit, written authorization from the beneficial owner.
Is entirely uninvolved in the company's operational management, workforce, or customer-facing functions.
Will not execute any instruction that involves illegal activity, financial misconduct, or ethical violations.
Appoint the Ideal Nominee Director for Your Panama Company
Panama nominee directors are available as natural person appointments or corporate body designations — choose the structure that aligns with your company's governance and privacy goals.
Situations Where a Panama Nominee Director Adds Value
Review the business contexts where appointing a nominee director supports your Panama company's structure and commercial objectives.
Owners Seeking Registry Separation
Business owners who prefer a formal separation between their identity and Panama's public corporate registry while directing all company affairs.
Non-Resident Company Owners
Entrepreneurs based outside Panama who require in-country directorship for their company's banking, legal, and administrative needs.
Trading & Asset Holding Companies
Panama companies structured for import-export operations, real estate holdings, or investment portfolios under supervised directorial governance.
Americas-Focused Corporate Groups
Businesses with operations spanning Latin America and the Caribbean that need coordinated directorship for their Panama hub entity.
Upfront Annual Pricing — No Surprises
Compare Panama nominee director options: a corporate body for efficient, institutional governance or a natural person for individualized professional directorship.
Corporate Entity
Nominee Director Service by a Corporate Body
A corporate entity serving as nominee director for your Panama company — a cost-effective structure offering institutional oversight and formalized governance.
Natural Person
Nominee Director Service by a Natural Person
A Panama-based individual appointed as your company's nominee director — an experienced professional providing personal directorship with direct accountability.
Comparing Individual and Corporate Nominee Directors in Panama
Evaluate the differences between a natural person nominee and a corporate nominee director for your Panama company to make an informed governance decision.
Natural Person Nominee
Corporate Body Nominee
What It Is
Public Record Shows
Privacy Level
Documents Provided
Liability Structure
Signing Authority
Perception
When to Choose Natural Person
Best suited for:
- Panama companies planning to engage with banks that require personal identification of directors
- Compliance processes where institutions need to verify the identity of a natural person serving as director
- Commercial relationships where counterparties expect a personally accountable director
- Single-entity structures with clear-cut governance and limited operational complexity
When to Choose Corporate Body
Best suited for:
- Confidentiality-driven structures where external KYC of the director is a secondary priority
- Holding company arrangements overseeing multiple subsidiaries under centralized direction
- Real estate holdings, intellectual property vehicles, or long-term asset management structures
- Institutional or syndicated investment vehicles demanding formal governance frameworks
Panama Nominee Director — Appointed in 4 Simple Steps
A clear roadmap from consultation to an active nominee directorship for your Panama company.
Evaluation & Director Recommendation
Your Panama company's governance needs, privacy requirements, and operational priorities are assessed to recommend the optimal nominee director type.
Compliance Review & Document Drafting
All due diligence procedures are completed and the required appointment documentation for your Panama company is drafted and finalized.
Official Appointment & Public Registry Filing
The nominee director is formally appointed and the necessary registration is completed with the Panama Public Registry (Registro Público).
Active Governance & Statutory Compliance
The nominee director fulfills board responsibilities, signs corporate documents, and ensures adherence to Panama's corporate governance requirements.
Why Choose Expanship for Appointing a Panama Nominee Director
Engage qualified Panama-based directors through Expanship's clear, end-to-end appointment process — tailored for Panama companies.
Panama-Based Qualified Directors
Experienced natural persons and corporate entities established in Panama, ready to serve as nominee directors for your company.
Assured Ownership Confidentiality
Careful privacy practices protect your beneficial ownership information while maintaining full compliance with Panama's regulatory framework.
Panama Corporate Law Expertise
Solid command of Panama's corporate statutes ensures accurate director appointments, Public Registry filings, and ongoing governance.
Accessible & Timely Support
Fast response for corporate resolutions, notarized document execution, and all coordination needs involving your nominee director.
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed answers about nominee director services for Panama companies, including Public Registry procedures, governance structures, and appointment logistics.
There are several motivations, including safeguarding the beneficial owner's privacy, satisfying the requirement for a minimum number of directors, and presenting a professional governance structure to banks and business partners. Panama's corporate framework makes nominee arrangements straightforward and widely accepted.
Panama permits both individuals and legal entities to act as directors. A company must have a minimum of three directors, and they may be of any nationality. The choice between individual and corporate nominees depends on the desired level of continuity, discretion, and administrative simplicity.
The key distinction lies in authority and purpose. A nominee director takes direction from the beneficial owner and serves as their representative on the board. An independent director operates without such instruction, providing unbiased governance oversight. In Panama, independent directors are less commonly required but may be relevant for regulated entities.
No, Panama does not require directors to be residents of the country. Directors may reside anywhere in the world and hold any citizenship. This flexibility is a defining feature of Panama's corporate regime and makes it straightforward to appoint nominee directors from any location.
Panama companies must appoint a President, Secretary, and Treasurer in addition to their board of directors. A nominee director may also serve in one or more of these officer roles, consolidating governance functions. Alternatively, separate nominees can fill each position. The articles of incorporation and corporate bylaws govern how these roles interact.
After all documentation is received and due diligence procedures are concluded, the nominee director appointment is typically formalized within 2 to 3 business days. This includes drafting board resolutions and, if necessary, updating records at the Panama Public Registry.
Yes, a nominee director can be replaced at any time by passing a board or shareholder resolution in accordance with the company's bylaws and the nominee director agreement. The outgoing director's resignation is formalized and any Public Registry entries are updated to reflect the change.
Get Guidance on Panama Nominee Director Appointments
Have questions about appointing a nominee director for your Panama company, pricing, or the registration process? We're here to help.
