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Registered: 11-2005
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Procedures for bringing pets in and out of Panama


EXPORTING AND IMPORTING OWNED ANIMALS AND WILDLIFE FROM THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA

Before shipping a dog or cat to or from the Republic of Panama, contact local airline personnel or MAC, to determine shipping requirements, size and type of cage needed.
To export a dog or cat from Panama, obtain a current rabies vaccination certificate ($8.25) and two health certificates ($12.00) from an accredited veterinarian, have them stamped by Consejo Tecnico de Salud of the MINSA (Ministerio de Salud at Building 255, former Gorgas US Army Hospital, tel. 262-9008). Some countries may require an additonal stamp from the MINREX Foreign Relations Ministry . If departing from Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen you must take a copy of the Panamanian health certificate and a copy of the rabies vaccination certificate to VICOMEX (Viceministerio de Comercio Exterior (formerly IPCE, tel. 360-0700 ext. 2303) for a $5.00 export document which must be presented at the airport.
To import a dog or cat into Panama, you have to bring:
1) Health certificate authenticated by Panamanian Consul
2) Vaccinations certificate authenticated by Panamanian Consul
3) Pay US$130.00 for quarantine fees at any BANCONAL Banco Nacional de Panama
4) If entering through Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen an attorney or acquaintance in Panama has to request an exemption from quarantine in writing before the health minister 2 weeks before the trip - indicating arrival and pet information. The request must be submitted hand-delivered at PETA-MINSA (Proteccion de Alimentos of Ministerio de Salud, at former Gorgas US Army Hospital, tel. 262-1671)
With these documents the dog will be allowed into the country. Without 4), the dog will be subject to 30-days quarantine and then released to you. Without any documents, the dog will be returned back to the country of origin.
BIRDS AND OTHER WILD ANIMALS HAVE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS!
Panama requires CITES species control certificates from the country of origin and approvals from ANAM (Areas Protegidas at Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente, Curundu, tel. 232-7223) and MIDA (Cuarentena Agropecuaria of Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario, Curundu, tel. 232-5340).
For a list of Panamanian consulates providing more information, go to Embassyworld, http://www.segumar.com or http://www.mire.gob.pa
US Government personnel in Panama should contact:
Chief, Animal Medicine Branch
Panama District Veterinary Command
Unit 7121
APO AA 34004
DSN (313) 285-6106
Tel +507 285-6106, Fax +507 285-4536
Ministerio de Salud de Panamá
Ciudad de Panamá, Ancón
Edificios 237 - 238 - 253 - 255 - 261 - 265
Apartado 4444, Panamá 1, Panamá
Central Telefónica: (507) 262-3507
More info and other countries at http://www.ipata.com/, Ramblin' Cat, Mousekateers
From CVTF guide and rec.travel.latin-america
11/15/2005, 7:15 pm Link to this post Send Email to susangg   Send PM to susangg
 
susangg Profile
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Re: Procedures for bringing pets in and out of Panama



I recommend that you contact your nearest Panamanian consulate and ask them for the pet importation fact sheet, as sometimes the rules are changed.

Also its very important to check, in advance, with your airline. Some airlines do not allow pets at all, some allow small pets (cats and
very little dogs) in underseat carriers and some do not; some have "blackout" periods when animals cannot be transported at all, and some do not.

It is very important to make sure you take a flight that arrives in Panama between 8 and 5 on weekdays, otherwise your facilitator will have to try to pay the govt vet to come after hours, and that can get dicey. And try to get a nonstop flight. If you are coming from California or anywhere on the west coast, I recommend the COPA nonstop from LA to PC. It leave at around 1 AM and arrives in Panama City at around 9:15. Make sure you fly so that you arrive on a weekday. I don't know what nonstops are available from other parts
of the USA, nor about flights from other countries.

Remember that other than the home quarantine letter (SEE specimen letter posted in this forum), which must be delivered to Panama Dept of Health 2 weeks before arrival, everything else must be done within 10 days of your flight. It can get hairy, because you have to:
1. Have pet examined, and have your vet sign cert of rabies shots (which had to have been given AT LEAST 30 days before you fly and less than a year before you fly) on special form.
2. Drive/overnight, etc. the form to the nearest USDA Veterinary Health office for "certification" of same (pay fee, call to find out current fee)
3. Drive/overnight, etc. the signed, stamped, certified forms to Panamanian consulate for "autnentication" and get them back in time to
take with you. Do call in advance, as consultates sometimes move or close or take vacations with no warning.

NOTE: All these procedures are aimed mainly at cats and dogs and are fairly straightforward, if a hassle. As Susan Hahn has pointed out, its much more complicated and difficult and expensive to import birds, and that's probably true for any other animals other than cats and dogs.

I do have one question that I haven't seen answered anywhere: What if you are importing a puppy or kitten that is too young to have a rabies shots? Vets do not, as a general rules, innoculate kittens and puppies for rabies until they are 4 months of age. What do you do if you are bringing in a kitten or puppy younger than that? Do you get a statement from the vet explaining why the puppy or kitten hasn't had its rabies shots yet? Or do you just not import young puppies or kitties? If anybody has done this, please post.

11/17/2005, 9:34 am Link to this post Send Email to susangg   Send PM to susangg
 
susangg Profile
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Re: Procedures for bringing pets in and out of Panama


warning: Once in a while, there is no vet there even on regular business days, because of illness or a vacation, and if that happens, your pet won't be released. Also, apparently, the vet only works 4 and a half days, and leaves at noon on Fridays to take long weekends.

This could particularly be a problem if you are bringing a cat.

Below is a message from one of the yahoo groups about one expat's experience bringing in his dog:

From: "mikedogman2000" <mikedogman2000@...>
Date: Mon Nov 21, 2005 9:26 am
Subject: Re: Pets at Tocumen Airport mikedogman2000

You should also know the vet leaves at noon on Fridays to go to his weekend house. I came in at 1 on a Friday and he was gone already so my dog stayed in quarantine until he came back Monday morning. THE GOOD NEWS: the people at the airport who work at the vets office are great! My dog didn't want to leave.
I "introduced" them and my dog before I left and they saw he was kewl so they let him out of his travel box in a chainlink fenced
hanger area (where they do the quarantine) and let him run and play. They called me at home over the weekend to report he was out of food and should they feed him what they have or did I want to bring some of his own brand over. If you come in after 5 weekdays or between noon Fridays and Monday mornings you're pet is gonna get locked down - but well cared for************** doGg
11/21/2005, 12:20 pm Link to this post Send Email to susangg   Send PM to susangg
 
stanh Profile
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posticon taking cat out of panama


I relocated my 9lb cat january 2010 from US to Panama.
I want to take a vacation back to the US for 2 or 3 months in the near future and I want to take my cat. Miami customs requires Nothing. To fly COPA under the cabin seat, copa wants a health certificate. What does Panama require to take the cat out. I knew how to get the cat IN. But I have found nothing clear about how to take cat out. Please, only, experienced cat travelers reply. I live in Chiriqui.
Thanks.
4/15/2011, 10:40 am Link to this post Send Email to stanh   Send PM to stanh Blog
 


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