Checklist for Bringing Dogs & Cats to Panama from the U.S.
Since this website is target toward North Americans, I have included how to bring pets in from the United States. If you are coming from another country, you can use this as a guideline but be sure to contact the Panamanian Consulate in your country for specific instructions.
The process of bringing cats and dogs into Panama is not complicated, but it takes planning and a strict adherence to a schedule. Once you get the health certificate, the 10-day clock starts ticking. You then need to utilize overnight delivery to send documents for authentication. Because government agencies don't work on weekends, the typical process will take 9 of the 10 days, so you will want to make sure you are organized before starting the process. I suggest opening an account with an overnight delivery service, such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, Using pre-printed overnight envelopes to get from you to the various authentication locations will allow you to track the progress of your documents and ensure a timely delivery.
Step 1: Go to your vet for a health certificate, a rabies vaccination certificate, and certificate of origin. Then send all documents with the appropriate fee to the USDA in an overnight envelope.
Step 2: Verify that the USDA has received your overnight envelope. I suggest spending the extra money to get morning delivery.
Step 3: Verify that the Panama Consulate or Embassy has received your overnight envelope.
Step 4: Receive all of the paperwork back and double-check the authentication stamps.
Step 5: Prepare your pets for travel.
Step 6: Travel Day
I get a lot of phone calls requesting more information about bringing your furr-babies into Panama. I have tried to be as detailed as possible in this information, so believe it or not, this is all of the information I have. You are welcome to call me and say hello, but I honestly don't have any more information than this about bringing pets in.
It's a bit nerve wracking, but it can all be accomplished with advanced planning.
Good luck!
The process of bringing cats and dogs into Panama is not complicated, but it takes planning and a strict adherence to a schedule. Once you get the health certificate, the 10-day clock starts ticking. You then need to utilize overnight delivery to send documents for authentication. Because government agencies don't work on weekends, the typical process will take 9 of the 10 days, so you will want to make sure you are organized before starting the process. I suggest opening an account with an overnight delivery service, such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, Using pre-printed overnight envelopes to get from you to the various authentication locations will allow you to track the progress of your documents and ensure a timely delivery.
Step 1: Go to your vet for a health certificate, a rabies vaccination certificate, and certificate of origin. Then send all documents with the appropriate fee to the USDA in an overnight envelope.
- Health Certificate. Your vet will do an examination or your dog or cat and then give you a health certificate proving that your pet is healthy and disease free. Once you get this certificate, you have 10 days to get the other documents together and arrive in Panama. There is a fee to do this, but check with your vet for the exact amount.
- Rabies Vaccination Certificate. This is also provided by your veterinarian. Your pet's last rabies shot must be at least 30 days and not more than 12 months before entering Panama.
- Other Shots. In addition to a valid rabies vaccination, dogs must have current vaccinations for distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis. Have your vet check with the USDA to see if any new vaccinations are required.
- Certificate of Origin. You must be able to show where the pet was born. You can get this from your vet if you don't already have it.
- Overnight Envelope. You will need to address an overnight envelope to the USDA. Inside that envelope, you will need two more prepaid overnight envelopes--one to the Panama Consulate or Embassy of your choice, and one back to you.
Step 2: Verify that the USDA has received your overnight envelope. I suggest spending the extra money to get morning delivery.
- USDA Certification. Health and Vaccination certificates must be certified by the USDA who have offices all over the U.S. The USDA typically takes 2 business days to authenticate your documents. I strongly suggest you call the USDA to verify receipt of your overnight envelope. Be prepared to be a squeaky wheel and call as often as you need to in order to get your documents processed. I made 7 calls to the USDA ensure my darling pets had the correct paperwork. If they lose your documents (as they did mine), you may need to postpone travel unless your documents are found in a timely manner. Click here for a link to the USDA website.
Step 3: Verify that the Panama Consulate or Embassy has received your overnight envelope.
- Apostille or Certification. The health certificate, rabies vaccination, and USDA Certificates must be authenticated by the nearest Panamanian embassy or consulate, or apostiled by the U.S. government or Secretary of State. You can send them to the nearest Panama consulate or embassy by FedEx or UPS with return envelope and a money order for $30 per document. I used the Panama Consulate in Houston and they were very responsive to my many phone calls and processed the paperwork within 1 business day.
Step 4: Receive all of the paperwork back and double-check the authentication stamps.
Step 5: Prepare your pets for travel.
- Import Form. Complete the Panama Import Form and bring with you at the time of travel.
Step 6: Travel Day
- Pet Carrier. Be sure to buy the appropriate pet carrier. See this page for more information on pet carriers.
- Allow Extra Time for Travel. Checking in a pet takes extra time. Allow an additional hour for this process. Even though I flew out of DFW--an airport known for easy check-in--and flew first class to avoid lines, it took every minute of 3 hours to get my dogs checked in properly.
- Picking Up Your Pet in Panama. If you carried your pet on the airplane, you will proceed through customs normally, and then have your dog or cat checked by the airport vet once your luggage has gone through the final screening. If you checked your pet as cargo, you will pickup your dog or cat near baggage claim after your final baggage screening. The Panama Airport Health Department will review the papers and inspect your dog or cat. There is a $16 pet-entry fee, payable in cash. The vets are in the airport on weekdays only from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and again from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. If your flight arrives on the weekend or during hours when there is no vet scheduled, you can make arrangements to have a vet come meet your flight. You must make these arrangements through either the Panama Ministry of Health or the Panama Agriculture Ministry. You will be expected to pay an extra fee to have the vet come meet you after hours. If you don’t make arrangements to have the vet meet you ahead of time, your pet will have to stay at the airport until a vet is scheduled during normal business hours, and you will also have to pay a daily fee. Knowing how stressful it is for your beloved pets to make the flight, make sure to arrive when a vet is on duty, or schedule an after-hours call.
- Quarantine. Panama has an option for home quarantine. This means that you promise to keep your pet quarantined at home for 40 days. In order to get the home quarantine option, your request must be made to the Panama Ministry of Health at least 14 days prior to your arrival in Panama. The request must include your arrival date, flight number, time, pet information, name & passport number of owner, and length of time the pet will remain in Panama. There is a $130 fee for this option, payable in cash. The home quarantine option is cheaper (not to mention less stressful for your pet) than regular quarantine, as there is a $10 per day fee for the traditional 40-day quarantine.
- Potty Break. As you leave the main terminal of Tocuman Airport in Panama City, turn right. There is a patch of grass that will cause your dogs to lick you in gratitude. As I've mentioned in previous pages on this website, be sure to pack a small pair of scissors in your checked luggage to cut the zip ties if you checked your pet as cargo.
I get a lot of phone calls requesting more information about bringing your furr-babies into Panama. I have tried to be as detailed as possible in this information, so believe it or not, this is all of the information I have. You are welcome to call me and say hello, but I honestly don't have any more information than this about bringing pets in.
It's a bit nerve wracking, but it can all be accomplished with advanced planning.
Good luck!