Pet Relocation to Panama

The Panama Club’s Services as Facilitators include:

• Guiding you with all the necessary steps in your country of residency.
• Coordinating with airport authorities to be expecting your pet’s arrival.
• Assisting with after hour arrivals (see the IMPORTANT note bellow)
• Receiving pets at Panama City’s Airport and completing the necessary  paperwork, for their entrance to Panama.
• Transportation of the pet to your home in or out of Panama City.

STEPS FOR US RESIDENTS (if you do not live in the US please notify us and we will send you information regarding your country of residency):

We recommend you start this process a month before you move to Panama.

1. Obtain your health certificate: A licensed vet must fill out a state health certificate (every state has one) indicating the dog has:
1)    Had a complete check up and is disease free.
2)    Had a Rabies vaccination. This must be dated to show the vaccination occurred more than 30 days, but less than 180 days prior to the dog’s arrival in Panama.

2. Mail health certificate to USDA: After your vet signs the certificate, it must be “certified” by the USDA. There are offices all over the US, for an office near you please view http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome or ask your vet for guidance.

3.  Send certificate to a Panamanian Embassy or Consulate: for authenticated and stamped accordingly. Costs $30 – takes about 2 weeks, if you need it faster you can pay $70 for same day. You will then bring the Certificate along with yourself and the dog to Panama.

List of Panamanian Embassies and Consulates in the United States:

• Embassy of the Republic of Panama to the United States -  2862 McGill Terrace, NW, Washington DC 20008. Tel: (202) 483-1407 Fax (202) 483-8416.
• General Consulate of Panama in San Diego, USA 402 West Broadway, suite 670  San Diego, CA 92101. (619) 235-4441
• General Consulate of Panama in Atlanta, USA – 260 Peachtree Street, N.W., suite 1760, Atlanta, GA 30303.  (404) 525-2772.
• General Consulate of Panama in Detroit, USA – 29355 Northwestern Highway, suite 200, Southfield, MI 48034. (313) 354-0200
• Consulate General of Panama in Miami, USA- Dupont Plaza Center 300 Viscayne Blvd, suite 914, Miami, FL 33131. (305) 371-7031.
• General Consulate of Panama in New Orleans, USA – 1324 World Trade Center No. 2 Canal Street New Orleans LA 70130. (504) 524-3458.  Fax (504) 524-8960.
• General Consulate of Panama in New York, USA – 1212 Avenue of the Americas 10th Floor, New York, NY 10036 (212)-840-2450 Fax – (212)-840-2469.
• General Consulate of Panama in Tampa, USA – 400 N. Ashley Drive, suite 1900, Tampa, FL 33602.  (813) 223-6373.
• General Consulate of Panama in Washington, USA – 2862 McGill Terrace, NW.  Washington DC 20008 (202) 483-1504 Fax- (202)483-8416.
• General Consulate of Panama in Texas, USA – 24 Guenway Plaza, Ste. 1307. Houston, TX 77046 (713) 622-4451 Fax- (713) 622-4468.

4. *Buy your plane tickets to Panama: at least two weeks before the actual travel date. This is recommended for several reasons, first you need to make sure there is space for your pet to travel since there are limits on travel space for animals and second If you want a “home quarantine” (you do) you must also send a letter TWO WEEKS before the animal arrives, to the Panama Dept of Health. This we coordinate as facilitators.

5. Arriving in Panama City: you need to pay $19.00 for inspection fee, $130.00 for home quarantine fee per animal and $50.00 for the vet in the airport if you come after duty hours.  If you have no authenticated certificate the dog must be held at the airport in quarantine for 40 days at $10/day.

* IMPORTANT: The vet at the airport is only on duty Monday thru Friday 9AM to Noon and 1PM to 5PM. Saturdays 9AM to Noon. If he isn’t there when you arrive, the dog is impounded at the airport until he returns. Try not to arrive after 5 PM on weekdays or after noon on Saturdays or any time Sundays, if not your pet must spend the night in an un-airconditioned cargo storage area. If your plane lands after hours you must pay the $50 per vet, we can coordinate for the vet to be there when you land, if not you have to wait until they arrive and it is common for them to send 2 vets, raising your cost to $100.

For more useful information about moving to Panama contact one of our experts today.