Compliance · Panama

Voice Call Compliance in Panama

A practical overview of the rules that affect voice call messaging and marketing in Panama, with a checklist before you launch.

Key Rules for Voice Calls in Panama

Telemarketing must respect consent and objections under Law 81 of 2019 and consumer protection rules.

Automated and prerecorded calls are tightly regulated in the US (TCPA and the National Do Not Call Registry) and Canada (CRTC Unsolicited Telecommunications Rules), and other countries in the region have their own registers and rules.

Data Protection

Law 81 of 2019 and its regulations are supervised by the National Authority for Transparency and Access to Information (ANTAI).

Keep a record of how each contact was collected, what they agreed to and when, and make it easy for them to withdraw consent.

Practical Checklist

Check whether the call is promotional or a service call, as the rules differ.
Use permitted calling numbers and caller ID, and never hide or spoof the calling number.
Screen numbers against any national do-not-call register before promotional campaigns.
Call only within permitted hours in the recipient's time zone and keep recorded messages short.
Offer an easy way to stop further calls and record call consent where required.

Contact data

Format numbers in international E.164 format with the +507 country code, remove duplicates and invalid numbers, and keep consent records linked to each number.

Timing and Language

Panama follows the America/Panama time zone (UTC-05:00 in October 2026). The usual working week is Monday to Friday. Schedule voice call campaigns for the recipient's local daytime hours, avoid public holidays and religious observances that matter to your audience, and convert send times from IST before scheduling.

In Panama City, customers commonly use Spanish, with English. Messages in the customer's preferred language usually perform better, but check how local-language text affects character counts (for SMS) and template approval (for WhatsApp).

Digital Habits and Channels in Panama

Panama has high mobile use, and WhatsApp is the main channel for customer communication. Law 81 of 2019 on personal data protection requires consent.

Panama uses the US dollar alongside the balboa, and Yappy is a popular mobile payment app. Carnival, the November patriotic holidays and Christmas are key periods, and many businesses serve international clients linked to the canal and logistics.

Panama's economy is built on services: the Panama Canal, the Colón Free Zone, international banking, logistics and Copa Airlines' hub at Tocumen airport, which connects the Americas. The US dollar circulates alongside the balboa, so prices are in dollars. The sales tax (ITBMS) is 7%. Law 81 of 2019 on personal data protection came into force in 2021 and requires consent for marketing. Many regional headquarters of multinational companies are based in Panama City.

Regulators, Registers and Practical Rules in Panama

Panama's telecoms regulator is ASEP (Autoridad Nacional de los Servicios Públicos), and Law 81 of 2019 on personal data protection, with its regulations from 2021, is supervised by ANTAI. The law requires consent for processing, allows people to object to marketing and sets rules for international transfers. Consumer protection is handled by ACODECO. Más Móvil, Tigo and Claro are the main mobile operators.

Spanish is used for most messaging, with English useful for the international business community, the Canal sector and tourism. The US dollar circulates alongside the balboa, so prices are usually shown in dollars. Yappy and bank transfers are common for payments. Carnival and the November national holidays are busy periods, and many offices slow down during them.

General guidance, not legal advice. Check current rules with the regulator or a local adviser before launch.

Advertising Alongside Messaging

Advertising must follow consumer protection law administered by ACODECO.

This guide is general information, not legal advice, and reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Rules change, so we check current requirements for Panama before every launch.

Planning voice call campaigns for Panama?

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Voice Call in Panama: FAQs

Do I need consent to send marketing voice call messages in Panama?

In most cases, yes, or at least an existing customer relationship and a clear opt-out. Telemarketing must respect consent and objections under Law 81 of 2019 and consumer protection rules.

Are automated voice calls allowed in Panama?

Automated and prerecorded calls are usually more tightly regulated than live calls. Check consent, calling hours and any national do-not-call register before a campaign.

Can DND Teams run voice call campaigns to Panama?

Yes. We are based in Bhopal, India, and run campaigns for international markets remotely, after checking the current rules, sender requirements and coverage for Panama.

Is this legal advice?

No. This guide is general information to help you plan. Regulations change and their application depends on your business, so take local legal advice for significant campaigns.