• About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
FREE REPORT
BEST PLACES TO RETIRE
*No spam: We will NEVER give your email address to anyone else.
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
Live and Invest Overseas
  • HOME
  • COUNTRIES
    • Top Destinations
      • Portugal
      • Panama
      • Belize
      • France
      • Colombia
      • Dominican Republic
      • Thailand
      • Mexico
      • Spain
      • Argentina
    • Browse All Countries
    • Best For
      • Retire Overseas Index
      • Health Care
      • Cost of Living
      • Investing in Real Estate
      • Editor’s Picks For Retirement
      • Establishing Residency
      • Starting an Online Business
      • Single Women
      • Playing Golf
  • BUDGETS
    • Super Cheap ($)
      • Cuenca, Ecuador
      • Chiang Mai, Thailand
      • The Philippines
      • Las Tablas, Panama
      • Granada, Nicaragua
    • Cheap ($$)
      • Algarve, Portugal
      • Medellin, Colombia
      • Boquete, Panama
      • Carcassone, France
      • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Affordable ($$$)
      • Abruzzo, Italy
      • Barcelona, Spain
      • Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic
      • Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
      • Costa de Oro, Uruguay
    • Luxury On A Budget ($$$$)
      • Ambergris Caye, Belize
      • Paris, France
      • Panama City Beach Area
  • Real Estate
  • ARCHIVES
    • Living & Retiring Overseas
    • Raising A Family Abroad
    • Foreign Residency & Citizenship
    • Offshore Diversification
    • Our Latest On Coronavirus ⚠️
  • Making Money
    • International Real Estate
    • Banking
    • Employment
    • Investing
  • CONFERENCES
  • BOOKSTORE
No Result
View All Result
Live and Invest Overseas
No Result
View All Result
Home In Focus: Panama

How To Bring Your Pet To Panama: What You Can Expect

How To Move Your Pet To Panama

Heather McClenahan by Heather McClenahan
Nov 07, 2020
in In Focus: Panama, Lifestyle, Panama, Travel
0
Dog in airplane traveling to Panama

iStock/Ryan Jello

250
SHARES
3.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Moving a pet across international borders can be a daunting process, but not an impossible one. There are only a few steps, but the timing is what will prove difficult. From the USDA to the Panamanian consulate, take our advice, follow this guide, and bring that loving pet along.

Beware: The procedure for transporting pets could change from time to time. Check the Embassy of Panama website to make sure that the requirements have not changed.

Steps In The Pet Transporting Process…

Making sure cat is healthy enough to travel to Panama
iStock/Ekaterina Petruhan
  1. Ensure your pet has the necessary vaccinations and that they are administered within the time requirements.
  2. Confirm your crate meets airline requirements. The pet needs to be able to stand up with head room to spare and comfortably turn around in the crate.
  3. Make your travel arrangements about two to three months ahead of when you want to arrive.
  4. Discuss the health certificate with your veterinarian.
  5. Have the health certificate completed by your vet 10 days before you travel.
  6. The U.S. Department of Agriculture must certify the health certificate.
  7. Have the Panamanian Consulate or the U.S. State Department Office of Authentications issue an apostille for the health certificate. (This is a document which verifies the certificate is legitimate and authentic.)
  8. Apply for home quarantine three days before you travel.
  9. Have exact cash, for the import fee and for the home quarantine, to pay what you need at the airport.
  10. Check in with the pet three to four hours before your departure and know that all the paperwork travels with the animal, not with you.

Now, take a deep breath…

Tips To Help You Through The Process…

Chihuahua traveling to Panama in open pet carrier
iStock/KonstantinGushcha
  1. Know What You Need: Panama does not require a parasite check, but it does require a leptospirosis vaccine and a parvo vaccine (generally considered a puppy disease). Panama also only accepts one-year rabies shots for the health certificate. There are deadlines associated with all of these shots, so make sure you get them within the required times.
  2. Details, Details, Details: Make sure you have records of all the vet visits and vaccinations from the very first visit until the last. The health certificate requires the vaccine manufacturer and expiration date. Make sure your vet is aware of that.
  3. Hire An International Pet Shipper: Although you and your pet may be flying on the same plane, hiring an international pet shipper will help things run smoother. For example, Jackie’s Pet Services is certified with IPATA, the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association. They not only make the dog’s flight reservations, but they also walk you through the paperwork maze, and make phone calls to bureaucracies on your behalf.
  4. Use Every Minute Of Time You Have: From the day your pet’s veterinarian signs the health certificate, you have only 10 days to get into Panama, and the certificate must be signed off by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and either the U.S. State Department Office of Certification or the Panamanian Consulate in that time.
  5.  Don’t Be Afraid To Make Phone Calls: Making a phone call to offices in Washington, D.C., may be slightly nerve-wracking. However, those in the Panamanian Consulate in D.C. who take care of pet paperwork are generally friendly, helpful, and are willing to take the time you need to get answers to your questions.
  6. Don’t Believe Everything You Read: Unlike many European countries or island nations that are working to keep out rabies, Panama does not require a kennel quarantine. A home quarantine is allowable, meaning the pet has to stay with you for some number of days. Some websites will tell you 30 days, some will say 40, some won’t offer any explanation at all. You do have to apply for home quarantine, though. Some websites say apply 10 days ahead of time. The Panamanian Embassy website says three days is enough. Working through the maze of contradicting information is time consuming and sometimes frustrating. Just be sure to make all the necessary phone calls and ask the right people and you’ll be fine.
  7. Plan To Arrive At The Airport In Panama During The Vet’s Working Hours: Generally, a veterinarian who approves the health certificate and home quarantine is at the airport from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. However, be aware of holidays. There are many in the month of November, for example, and you don’t want to spend hours waiting at the airport for someone to come approve your paperwork.
  8. Be Prepared To Answer Lots Of Questions: Prior to departure, you will have to go through a couple of pages of fine-printed questions with the airline. These range from could the dog be pregnant to would the dog be used for fighting. It’s a long part of the process and one reason you should check in several hours before the flight.
  9. Know Your Neighborhood: Like many big American cities, Panama City is a series of distinct neighborhoods. When you arrive, authorities will ask you where you plan to stay. You can’t just say you are staying in Panama City. You need to let authorities know if you will be in El Cangrejo, Bella Vista, San Francisco, or one of the myriads of other barrios that make up the city.
  10. Make Copies Of Everything: You will not get the health certificate back from the veterinarian at the airport. We recommend you make copies of everything before turning it over to the airline. Also, you may not have anyone—apartment managers, security, police officers, or park officials—ask for the dog’s papers once you’ve been let out of the aiport in Panama. Still, it’s a good idea to keep the little stamped OK/receipt you receive from the vet at the airport with you at all times, just in case.
  11. Don’t Be Surprised By… Anything: The vet at the airport in Panama might not even look at the dog, just the dog’s paperwork. Airport personnel in the United States might ask you out-of-the-ordinary questions like are you transporting your dog to use for dog fighting. Also, no toys are allowed in the dog’s crate during transportation. These are just a few of the things that you may find surprising.

Living overseas, and traveling with a pet helps you learn to “go with the flow.”

Heather McClenahan

Tags: airportcatdoglive in PanamaMove to Panamapetstravel to panamaTravel to Panama with petstravel with petsVisit Panama
Share106Tweet60
Previous Post

Reasons To Establish An Offshore Corporation

Next Post

Staying Put In Paris, France And Loving Every Second Of It

Heather McClenahan

Heather McClenahan

Heather McClenahan is a native New Mexican who spent 14 years in exile before returning home. She has degrees in journalism and political science from Drake University and a master’s in history from the University of South Florida. She has worked as a newspaper reporter and editor and serves as executive director of the Los Alamos Historical Society. She and her husband Bob have three adult children and two dogs.

Related Posts

Keeping It Close In North America
Lifestyle

Keeping It Close In North America

by Kathleen Peddicord
August 12, 2022
0

Mexico is still North America... and it can be helpful to remind ourselves of this fact when we think about...

Read more
Panama City Skyline on summer night

As Told By An Expat: The Benefits Of A Second Residency In Panama

August 5, 2022
Waterford City, Ireland

First Impressions On Moving To Waterford City, Ireland

August 2, 2022
Panorama of the city of Porto in Portugal

News From Readers Living And Retiring In Portugal

July 31, 2022
Elderly woman walking through a field of flowers on a sunny day

Retiring Abroad Alone? Here Are 8 Things To Know

July 28, 2022
Beach restaurant in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic

Life In Las Terrenas, Samana Is All About Outdoor Fun

July 22, 2022
Puebla streets in historic center

10 Things To Do In Puebla, Mexico: Must-See Landmarks And More

July 20, 2022
Next Post
Sunset Eiffel tower and Paris city view form Triumph Arc.

Staying Put In Paris, France And Loving Every Second Of It

Start Your New Life Today, Overseas

A world full of fun, adventure, and profit awaits! Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and we’ll send you a FREE report on the 10 Best Places To Retire In Style Overseas Today.







Get Your Free Panama Report Today!

​​Simply enter your email address below and we'll send you our FREE REPORT - 101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.
 

LIOS Resources


  • New To LIOS
  • Ask An Expert
  • Media Center
  • Contact Us
  • FAQs

Quick Links


  • Best Places To Live
  • Best Places To Retire
  • Finding A Job Overseas
  • Real Estate

Sign up for our free daily e-letter, Overseas Opportunity Letter, and get your FREE report: The 10 Best Places To Retire Overseas In 2022

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms
  • Unsubscribe

© 2008-2022 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Countries
  • Budgets
  • Archives
  • News
  • Events
  • Bookstore
  • Newsletters
  • About Us
  • Members Area
  • Contact Us

© 2008-2022 - Live and Invest Overseas - All Rights Reserved.

The World’s Best Places To Be In 2022?

Discover Them Here…

Sign up for FREE and learn how to live the good life on a modest budget, find bargain property, and more. Plus, check out our free report on the 10 BEST PLACES TO RETIRE.

RETIRE OVERSEAS AND LIVE LIKE ROYALTY

Get Your Free Panama Report Today!
 

​​Learn more about ​​​PANAMA and other countries in our free, daily Overseas Opportunity Letter​​, as well as our ​In Focus: ​Panama ​newsletter​​​​​​. Simply enter your email address below and we’ll send you our FREE REPORT – ​​​101 Things You'll Wish Someone Had Told You About Panama.