What is a notice of operation (Aviso de Operación)?

The notice of operation is the document issued by the state so that a person, natural or legal, can open a business or carry out a commercial activity. It contains the name of the business, known as commercial name; the business owner’s corporate name; the Taxpayer’s Unique Registry (RUC); the type of commercial activity and the location of the business.

The notice of operation is the only document necessary to carry out any commercial activity, therefore, it is understood that every business must have it in order to operate. However, there are certain commercial activities that do not require an operation notice, such as agricultural, livestock, fishing and similar activities; the exercise of liberal professions (doctors, lawyers, accountants) in their own right; the elaboration and sale of handicrafts, and non-profit activities. It is worth noting that, although it is true that these commercial activities are not required to issue a notice of operation, they may request it free of charge.

On the other hand, there are certain activities that require permits or licenses prior to applying for a notice of operation. These are regulated activities, such as the sale of liquor, operation of night clubs, sale of firearms, brokerage houses, establishments dedicated to the sale of drugs, among others. In these cases it is necessary to consult the regulations of that particular activity in order to obtain the corresponding permits.

The notice of operation can be requested through the platform “Panama Emprende”, operated by the Ministry of Commerce and Industries. In said platform, the interested party enters its data, the business data and a payment slip will be issued. The operation notice has a cost of $15 dollars for natural persons and $65 for legal entities. Payment can be made through the Banco Nacional or within the same platform. Once the payment is received, the interested party obtains its operation notice. Generally everything is handled in a few hours.

All commercial premises must have their respective notice of operation in a visible manner. Those who do not have it, may be subject to sanctions by governmental authorities. Penalties for non-compliance with the Law can range from $100 to $10,000. Therefore, it is recommended to anyone who operates a physical business to have this document to avoid these penalties.

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