A Beautiful Mountain Community in Panama
Bringing a pet to Panama
While researching how to bring my Germen Sheppard to Panama, I found all kinds of contradicting and out-of-date information. So I decided to post what I found to be the latest and most accurate information as of early 2009. I am providing the links directly to the Panamanian government site, so you should still be able to get the latest even if what I write here becomes obsolete at some point in time.
First of all, the place where all the information is available is the website of MINSA (MINisterio de SAlud, or Health Ministry). The pertinent page for importing an animal is that of the Departmento de Control de Zoonosis.
Here you will find the following information sheet, Here is the machine translation:
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF CONTROL ZOONOSIS
INTERESTED IN INFORMATION FOR IMPORTING LIVESTOCK MINORS
1. Decree. 1132 20 August 1970, states that any animals under INTRODUCED TO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE IN THE CARE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LOCATED IN THE OFFICE OF QUARANTINE Tocumen International Airport.
2. QUARANTINE AT HOME IS PROVIDED FOR BY MINISTERIAL RESOLUTION NO. 183 OF 20 AUGUST 2001 WHICH IS AUTHORIZED BY THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE AT HOME WITH THEIR PAPERS IN RULE.
3. REQUIREMENTS TO OWNER OR RESPONSIBLE IN PANAMA.
a. Rabies vaccination and health certificate issued by a qualified veterinarian, these documents must be consularized by a Panamanian diplomatic entity in the country of origin.
b. Must submit an application within three days (3) at least before the arrival of the pets, this request should be addressed to the head of the Department of Zoonosis Control with the animal's general information (race, age, color, sex, name , origin and marks), source, no. flight airline name, date and time of arrival, details of the owner or applicant (name, no. cards or passport, home address or phone, with the commitment of the owner interested in finding the time to stay with the pet the country in case of animals in transit, or to comply with the requirements if you are going to reside permanently in the country.
c. At the Veterinary Medical Animal Quarantine / MINSA in the Tocumen Airport will be delivered by health documents which will give its entry into the country.
d. The animal must be delivered to its owner or interested in the veterinarian, exclusively at the offices of Health located in the Tocumen International Airport, SA
e. The cost of quarantine is B/.130.00 balboas (one hundred thirty balboas 130/00) and payment must be made within the National Bank (cash), located on the first floor of the Tocumen International Airport, SA whose hours are 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. The proof of payment must be returned to the veterinarian for quarantine of animals under the Ministry of Health.
For any other information are at your disposal by telephone 512-9338 FAX 512-9449 Secretary Ms. Nella Dr. Alfonso De Leon-Dr. Damaris Contreras Building 265-first floor Corregimiento de Ancón
Tocumen International Airport 238-3855, Ms. Luz Miriam Miss Dr. Jaime Paz 6585-0531
MIDA 238-4020-4234
NOTE: It is recommended to pre-apply for Home Quarantine of the Ministry of Health, requesting an import permit from the offices of the Agricultural Quarantine MIDA.
The above "pre-application" didn't seem to do anything for me as there was no paperwork ready at the airport. In Canada I had to get the following papers from the vet: Rabies vacccination (more than 1 month old but less than 12 months), Health Certificate (there is a government form in 3 languages [EN/FR/SP] that they can download from the Federal Government website). I then had to get those papers authenticated by Foreign Affairs (no need to get them notarised as they are official original documents) and then consularized by the Panama Embassy. I was lucky I lived in Ottawa and could do everything in person. Otherwise you need to courier the papers around as it all needs to be done within 30 days of your departure. You can get more details on this process fromt he Embassy's website: http://www.embassyofpanama.ca/Ingles/ingles.htm
I imagine the process int he USA is somewhat similar.
Once you get to the airport (try to arrive during regular business hours so the duty vet will be there) your pet will arrive in the special luggage area. You then go through customs and the vet's office is on the left wall just before you exit the baggage area. They will take a quick look at your pet and then charge you the fees. I think it was $27 for the health papers and another $125 for the house quarantine, but my memory is a bit fuzzy.
First of all, the place where all the information is available is the website of MINSA (MINisterio de SAlud, or Health Ministry). The pertinent page for importing an animal is that of the Departmento de Control de Zoonosis.
Here you will find the following information sheet, Here is the machine translation:
REPUBLIC OF PANAMA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH
DEPARTMENT OF CONTROL ZOONOSIS
INTERESTED IN INFORMATION FOR IMPORTING LIVESTOCK MINORS
1. Decree. 1132 20 August 1970, states that any animals under INTRODUCED TO THE REPUBLIC OF PANAMA WILL BE RECEIVED IN THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE IN THE CARE OF THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH, LOCATED IN THE OFFICE OF QUARANTINE Tocumen International Airport.
2. QUARANTINE AT HOME IS PROVIDED FOR BY MINISTERIAL RESOLUTION NO. 183 OF 20 AUGUST 2001 WHICH IS AUTHORIZED BY THE ANIMAL QUARANTINE AT HOME WITH THEIR PAPERS IN RULE.
3. REQUIREMENTS TO OWNER OR RESPONSIBLE IN PANAMA.
a. Rabies vaccination and health certificate issued by a qualified veterinarian, these documents must be consularized by a Panamanian diplomatic entity in the country of origin.
b. Must submit an application within three days (3) at least before the arrival of the pets, this request should be addressed to the head of the Department of Zoonosis Control with the animal's general information (race, age, color, sex, name , origin and marks), source, no. flight airline name, date and time of arrival, details of the owner or applicant (name, no. cards or passport, home address or phone, with the commitment of the owner interested in finding the time to stay with the pet the country in case of animals in transit, or to comply with the requirements if you are going to reside permanently in the country.
c. At the Veterinary Medical Animal Quarantine / MINSA in the Tocumen Airport will be delivered by health documents which will give its entry into the country.
d. The animal must be delivered to its owner or interested in the veterinarian, exclusively at the offices of Health located in the Tocumen International Airport, SA
e. The cost of quarantine is B/.130.00 balboas (one hundred thirty balboas 130/00) and payment must be made within the National Bank (cash), located on the first floor of the Tocumen International Airport, SA whose hours are 8:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. The proof of payment must be returned to the veterinarian for quarantine of animals under the Ministry of Health.
For any other information are at your disposal by telephone 512-9338 FAX 512-9449 Secretary Ms. Nella Dr. Alfonso De Leon-Dr. Damaris Contreras Building 265-first floor Corregimiento de Ancón
Tocumen International Airport 238-3855, Ms. Luz Miriam Miss Dr. Jaime Paz 6585-0531
MIDA 238-4020-4234
NOTE: It is recommended to pre-apply for Home Quarantine of the Ministry of Health, requesting an import permit from the offices of the Agricultural Quarantine MIDA.
The above "pre-application" didn't seem to do anything for me as there was no paperwork ready at the airport. In Canada I had to get the following papers from the vet: Rabies vacccination (more than 1 month old but less than 12 months), Health Certificate (there is a government form in 3 languages [EN/FR/SP] that they can download from the Federal Government website). I then had to get those papers authenticated by Foreign Affairs (no need to get them notarised as they are official original documents) and then consularized by the Panama Embassy. I was lucky I lived in Ottawa and could do everything in person. Otherwise you need to courier the papers around as it all needs to be done within 30 days of your departure. You can get more details on this process fromt he Embassy's website: http://www.embassyofpanama.ca/Ingles/ingles.htm
I imagine the process int he USA is somewhat similar.
Once you get to the airport (try to arrive during regular business hours so the duty vet will be there) your pet will arrive in the special luggage area. You then go through customs and the vet's office is on the left wall just before you exit the baggage area. They will take a quick look at your pet and then charge you the fees. I think it was $27 for the health papers and another $125 for the house quarantine, but my memory is a bit fuzzy.
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