Procedure guide · Living in Panama
Bringing Your Pet to Panama: Dogs, Cats and Ferrets
Requirements for entering Panama with a dog, cat or ferret: apostilled health certificate, vaccines, advance notice, airport inspection and costs.
- Health certificate
- 30 days maximum, apostilled
- Advance notice
- 3 to 5 business days
- Authorities
- MIDA and Ministry of Health
- Updated
On this page
In short
To enter Panama with a dog, cat or ferret you need an export health certificate from your country, apostilled or legalized and less than 30 days old, the mandatory vaccines up to date and advance notice of its arrival. On arrival, MIDA's Agricultural Quarantine and the Ministry of Health check the documents and the animal. If any requirement is missing, the animal may be held or returned.
Requirements
- An export health certificate issued by your country's animal health authority, no more than 30 days old, stating that the animal was examined and is healthy.
- That certificate, apostilled or legalized at the Panamanian consulate (see embassies and consulates).
- Dogs vaccinated against rabies, distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.
- Cats vaccinated against rabies, feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia. Ferrets, against rabies.
- For puppies and kittens, the rabies vaccine given from 3 months of age and at least 30 days before travel; for adults, current.
- A vaccination record with the date, brand, lot and expiry of each vaccine, and the internal and external parasite treatments done before travel.
- The animal must have no recent or unhealed wounds.
Required documents
- Apostille or legalisation
Export health certificate
No more than 30 days from issue
Vaccination record
With date, brand, lot and expiry
Entry application for dogs, cats and ferrets
For the advance notice
Step by step
01
Plan the vaccines in time
If the animal is young, the rabies vaccine must be given at least 30 days before travel.
02
Get the health certificate in your country
From the official animal health authority, within the 30 days before travel, and have it apostilled or legalized.
03
Give notice of the arrival
3 to 5 business days in advance, by sending the entry application, the health certificate and the vaccination record to the Ministry of Health at [email protected].
04
Go to the quarantine office on arrival
At Tocumen airport, at MIDA's Agricultural Quarantine office and the Ministry of Health's Zoonosis Control office, with the originals and a copy.
05
Pay and wait for the inspection
The veterinarian checks the documents and the animal. If everything is in order, it leaves with you; if not, it may be held or returned.
Costs
- Animal health import license (MIDA)One per species
- USD 10
- Veterinary inspection (MIDA)Per animal
- USD 15
- Entry and inspection (Ministry of Health)Per animal, or a higher rate if strict home quarantine is required
- USD 40, or USD 130 with strict home quarantine
Frequently asked questions
Will my pet have to go into quarantine?
If it meets all the requirements, it usually leaves with you after the inspection. The authority may order strict home quarantine, which has its own cost, or hold the animal if a document is missing.
Can I bring other animals, such as birds or reptiles?
Yes, but they have their own requirements: ask MIDA's National Directorate of Animal Health in advance.
Does it need a microchip?
MIDA's requirements do not call for one to enter Panama, but the airline or transit country may. Check with them.
Can I have a pet in a rented apartment?
It depends on the lease and the building's bylaws: ask before you sign (see renting a home in Panama).