PANAMA

Pets

Relocating pets to Panama

IMPORTING / EXPORTING PRIVATELY 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, to determine shipping requirements, size and type of cage needed.

To import a dog or cat into Panama, you have to bring:

1) Health certificate authenticated by Panamanian Consul or with Apostille from the Department of State,

2) Vaccinations certificate authenticated by Panamanian Consul or with Apostille from the Department of State,

3) Pay US$130.00 for quarantine fees at any BANCONAL Banco Nacional de Panama with an appropiate form

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. 562-1671)

With these documents the pet will be allowed into the country. Without 4), the pet will be subject to 30-days quarantine and then released to you. Without any documents, the pet will be returned back to the country of origin. Some Panama government officials are off-duty on weekends/holidays. PETS ARRIVING DURING OFF-DUTY HOURS WILL BE LEFT IN THE AIRPORT CARGO SECTION WITHOUT FOOD.

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. 532-7223) 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/

General Information

Panama is the southernmost country of both Central America and, in turn, North America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The capital is Panama City.

Panama is an international business center, and although it is only the fourth largest economy in Central America, after Guatemala, Costa Rica and El Salvador, it is the fastest growing economy and the largest per capita consumer in Central America.