Canal Zone Vital Records Office
Website

CERTIFIED COPIES OF CANAL ZONE
BIRTH AND DEATH RECORDS.

Please send request to:

Passport Vital Records
1111 19th Street N.W., Suite 510
Washington, DC 20522-1705
(202) 955-0307


The request should be notarized with a copy of the requestor’s picture identification attached and include the following information:

· Full name at birth/death
· Date of birth/death, (please list city in Panama)
· Signature of subject or guardian
· Address and telephone
· Include parents names and birth information for birth requests
· Indicate number of documents desired
· The fee is $30 for first copy and $20 for each additional
· Make checks or money orders payable to Department of State
· Remittance must be payable in U.S. dollars through a U.S. bank
· Cash is not accepted through the mail
MARRIAGE RECORDS

The National Archives only has marriage certificates through 1979.

Accession Number is 185-98-009

National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

For marriages after 1979, write to:

Director General
Tribunal Electoral
Registro Civil
Apartado 5281
Panama 5, Republic de Panama

Cost for marriage records from Panama is unknown at this time.

Medical Records

     Medical Records are no longer in Panama Canal Commission custody and have been transferred. Outpatient and inpatient medical records up to 1982 may be obtained from the following address:

Federal Records Center (NARA) 
1557 St. Joseph Avenue 
East Point, GA 30344

     To obtain medical records from either place, provide enough information to identify requester and medical charts in question.

All vital records were transferred before the year 2000. Information for the final destination of these records will be published and the United States Consulate may also be contacted for reference.
     To obtain medical records after 1982, write to the following address, making your request under the Freedom of Information Act.
School Transcripts

All Canal Zone Schools, Canal Zone College and Panama Canal College transcripts, and copies of student records may be obtained at no charge by requesting transcripts from:

Department of Defense Education 
Activity Records Center
7201 Custer Road, Bldg. 2670
Fort Benning, GA 31905-4300

Or visit the website: 

http://dodea.edu/students/transcripts.cfm#5

Go to alumni and highlight the area that applies to you to obtain records or transcripts.

INSURANCE UPDATE

     Compania Internacional de Seguros (CIS), the current underwriter of the former Mutual of Omaha Life Insurance Program, has recently implemented a number of changes that are designed to improve their ability to handle business in English and to expedite the process of issuing new certificates to policyholders, updating beneficiary designations, and adjudicating death benefit claims. As a result, CIS is currently encouraging policyholders to do their business directly with the Panama office, but will gladly continue to accept and handle all business of those policyholders who choose to act and process through the Panama Canal Society office. Beth Brandenburg will continue to be the Society’s point of contact and may be reached on the last Tuesday afternoon of the month at the Society’s toll free number (1-866-726-2262) for assistance or to obtain Change of Beneficiary or Beneficiary Death Claim forms.
For persons choosing to deal directly with the CIS office in Panama, the point of contact is: Mr. Miguel Gordon; and he can be reached as follows:

Mail: Compania Internacional de Seguros 
Attention: Mr. Miguel Gordon 
Apartado 0833-0084 
Plaza Credicorp Bank
Panama, Republic of Panama
Telephone: 011-507-206-4000 Ext. 4382
E-Mail: mgordon@iseguros.com 
Fax: 011-507-210-1605

Policyholders or claimants dealing directly with the Panama office should advise the Society office of the particulars if they would like for the Society to monitor CIS progress and intercede with CIS on their behalf. Likewise, policyholders and claimants should notify the Society office when their business has been satisfactorily concluded with CIS so that the Society can drop the policyholder or claimant from its list of pending cases to be pursued.

COROZAL AMERICAN CEMETERY

I. The following personnel are eligible for interment at Corozal American Cemetery:

A. Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans.

1. Members of the U.S. Armed Forces who die on active duty and were born or have immediate family members permanently residing in the Republic of Panama.
2. Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces who were honorably discharged and were born in Panama or were 
permanently residing in the Republic of Panama at the time of their death.

B. United States Citizen who were Employees of the Former Panama Canal Commission. U.S. Citizens who worked for the Panama Canal Commission before January 1, 2000 and who were permanently residing in the Republic of Panama at the time of their death. 

C. Immediate Family of Eligible Members of the Armed Forces, Veterans and the Panama Canal Commission. Please contact the cemetery for more information on immediate family members.

II. Documentation: The following documentation is required for interment in the Corozal American Cemetery:

A. Members of the Armed Forces and Veterans.

1. DD 214 or Copy of Honorable Discharge.
2. Military ID Card if retired.
3. Certificate of Death.
4. Original copy of Interment Permit. This is obtained through the funeral home.
5. Copy of Panamanian Cedula or Passport Visa to prove that veterans were residing in the Republic of Panama.

B. Civilians.

1. Panama Canal Identification Card or other documentation of employment.
2. Passport. 
3. Certificate of Death.
4. Original copy of Interment Permit. This is obtained through the funeral home. 
5. Copy of Panamanian Cedula or Passport Visa to prove residence in the Republic of Panama.
6. For immediate family member interment: The Marriage Certificate to identify marriage date and partner (for spouse based eligibility) or the Birth Certificate to identify parents and age (for dependent child eligibility).

III. Additional information:

A. Corozal provides the burial plot free of charge for those who are qualified. There are no monthly or yearly maintenance fees charged for the burial plot.
B. Honorably discharged veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members are also provided headstones at no cost from the VA. It usually takes 3 to 4 months for us to receive the headstones. It is placed free of charge upon arrival.
C. Corozal will dig burial holes for urns but not for caskets. The burial holes for caskets must be contracted separately. Two caskets will not be stacked upon each other in the same burial plot. Cremated remains may be buried with the remains of interred family members or loved ones.
D. Corozal must be advised at least 2 days prior to the burial. Burials are not conducted on weekends.
E. Corozal doesn't provide information or coordinate burials at other national cemeteries such as Arlington National Cemetery. Those personnel interested in being buried at those locations must contact these cemeteries individually. 
F. Burial plots cannot be reserved in advance. Plots are only assigned when someone eligible for interment has died and we have received the proper documentation. The cemetery will be closed by an act of congress when all plots have been filled.

For the complete letter and information click here to read the entire document.

IV. For any additional information please contact Mr. Bruce Phelps at 011-507-317-6033 / 6034.

Corozal office hours are from 0800 to 1700 Monday through Friday. 
The office is closed on American holidays. 
Email address is abmcpan1@cwpanama.net. 

Vital Records Web Site