Certificate and Electronic Signat
Certificate and Electronic Signature
What is an electronic certificate?
It is an electronic document issued by an electronic signature certification service provider, which links the verification data of an electronic signature to a signatory and confirms their identity (Law 51, July 22, 2008, Art. 2, paragraph 2).
The Electronic Signature Directorate of the Public Registry of Panama is the entity responsible for issuing the certificate and ensuring that the identity of the recipient is verified using documentary evidence, fingerprints, and other mechanisms.
How do I obtain the certificate for the Electronic Signature?
The electronic signature certificate that companies can use to sign and transmit electronic invoices in Panama is issued by the Public Registry through the National Electronic Signature Directorate.
What is an Electronic Signature?
It is the electronic equivalent of a handwritten signature, whereby a person accepts the content of an electronic message through a valid electronic medium.
According to Panamanian law, it is a set of sounds, symbols, or data linked to an electronic document that has been adopted or used by a person with the specific intention of identifying themselves and accepting or adhering to the content of a document (Law 51, July 22, 2008, Art. 2, numeral 20).
Does the invoice require an electronic signature?
Yes, an electronic invoice in Panama is a purely digital electronic document that records and supports transactions involving goods and/or services. It is issued electronically, giving tax validity to commercial transactions, and is signed electronically, validated by the General Revenue Directorate, and has legal force.
The electronic signature gives the electronic invoice authenticity and non-repudiation of its content and, in accordance with Panamanian law, will have probative force.
