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Dog or cat from Hawaii (US) to Panama: official requirements

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip, dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations and internal and external parasite treatments before boarding and 2 more.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 5 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Panama → Hawaii (US)

In short

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

4 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip (30 days before the trip)

5 days

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives (3 to 5 business days before arrival: 7 to 5 calendar days is our conversion (always within that range on working weeks without holidays), not an official figure)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (dogs)

  • No rabies blood test
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Tell the authority in advance

How early to start (cats)

4 weeks

if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet

Set by: Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip (30 days before the trip)

5 days

if it is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives (3 to 5 business days before arrival: 7 to 5 calendar days is our conversion (always within that range on working weeks without holidays), not an official figure)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (cats)

  • No rabies blood test
  • No import permit
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Tell the authority in advance

Prefer a feed reader? Hawaii (US) rule changes · Panama rule changes

Hawaii (US) → Panama

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Hawaii (US) (leaving) or Panama (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

We haven’t verified the leaving side for Hawaii (US) yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.

  1. Get ready

    1. VaccinationEntering Panama

      Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip

      Your pet is vaccinated against rabies from 3 months of age, at least 30 days before the trip for a young animal; for an adult the vaccination must be within its validity. The vaccination card shows the dates, brand, batch and expiry.

      Details and the official words

      The page ties the 30 days to young animals ('cachorros'). We also apply it to an adult's first vaccination, to be safe: ask MIDA if your adult pet's first rabies vaccination was less than 30 days before the trip.

      “La vacuna antirrábica para caninos, felinos y hurones ha sido aplicada a partir de los tres (3) meses de edad y con treinta (30) días previos al viaje (cachorros). Y en los animales adultos las vacunas estén dentro del periodo de vigencia.”

      “Indicar las fechas de vacunación, marca, lote y fecha de expiración en su cartilla de vacunación.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Panama

      Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations

      Before the trip your dog must also be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus.

      Details and the official words

      “Caninos: RABIA, DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS, PARVOVIRUS.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examLeaving Hawaii (US)

      Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian

      Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue your pet's international health certificate. Tell them the destination, any transit countries, your departure date and whether the pet travels in the cabin or as cargo.

      Details and the official words

      “contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel”

    2. TreatmentEntering Panama

      Internal and external parasite treatments before boarding

      Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites before boarding, and the treatments are stated in its documents. The pages give no time window: ask your vet.

      Details and the official words

      “Indicar los tratamientos endo y ectoparasitarios realizados previos al embarque.”

    3. PaperworkHawaii (US) and Panama

      Official export health certificate, apostilled, at most 30 days old

      The health authority of the country your pet comes from issues an official export health certificate stating that the pet was examined and is in good health. It must be legalised with an apostille (or by a Panamanian consulate) and be no more than 30 days old.

      Details and the official words

      USDA APHIS endorsement: Your accredited vet submits the certificate to USDA APHIS (usually electronically through VEHCS) for endorsement; the endorsement date counts as the issue date for the destination.

      “Documento oficial “Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación”, expedido por la Autoridad Sanitaria del país de procedencia, legalizados mediante “Apostillado” por Cancillería o Consularizado en oficinas diplomáticas panameñas con un máximo de treinta (30) días de emisión, donde conste que las mascotas (Perros, gatos y hurones) han sido examinados clínicamente presentando buen estado de salud.”

      “assist you through the process of obtaining a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate”

    4. NoticeEntering Panama

      Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives

      Email cam@minsa.gob.pa 3 to 5 business days before arrival with the request for entry of dogs, cats and ferrets, the export health certificate and the vaccination card.

      Details and the official words

      The 2026 pages name a 'Solicitud de Ingreso de Perros, Gatos y Hurones' form that we couldn't find online: ask MINSA for it.

      “Notificar de 3 a 5 días hábiles anticipadamente, la llegada de su mascota, enviando “la Solicitud de Ingreso de Perros, Gatos y Hurones, el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación del país de procedencia y la cartilla de vacunación”.”

      “Enviarlo a cam@minsa.gob.pa”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Panama

      Checks at Tocumen airport: MIDA quarantine and MINSA zoonosis offices

      At Tocumen International Airport, go to MIDA's agricultural quarantine office and then MINSA's zoonosis office with your pet and documents, and pay in cash: MIDA's import licence (10 per species) and inspection (15 per animal), and MINSA's entry and inspection fee (40 per animal).

      Details and the official words

      “Pasos a seguir en Panamá – Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, presentarse en:”

      “B/. 10.00 (dólares) en efectivo por concepto de “Licencia Fito‐zoosanitaria de Importación”; (1) una licencia por especie.”

      “B/. 15.00 (dólares) en efectivo por la Inspección Veterinaria por animal.”

      “Ingreso de animales menores e inspección veterinaria: B/. 40 (dólares) en efectivo por animal.”

Good to know

  • If strict home quarantine is required, MINSA charges 130 balboas (US dollars) instead of 40. The 2026 pages don't say when it is required or for how long (an older MINSA form from 2013 said 40 days). Ask MINSA (cam@minsa.gob.pa) when you send your advance notice.
  • If any requirement isn't met, your pet will be held and/or sent back by the airline it arrived on.
  • Your pet must not have fresh or healing wounds.
  • All fees at Tocumen are paid in cash (balboas, at par with US dollars). MIDA's office is open 24 hours; MINSA's zoonosis office is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm.
  • USDA: destination requirements can change at any time — check them every time you travel.

Cats

We haven’t verified the leaving side for Hawaii (US) yet: its official veterinary authority usually has to issue or endorse the health certificate.

  1. Get ready

    1. VaccinationEntering Panama

      Rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip

      Your pet is vaccinated against rabies from 3 months of age, at least 30 days before the trip for a young animal; for an adult the vaccination must be within its validity. The vaccination card shows the dates, brand, batch and expiry.

      Details and the official words

      The page ties the 30 days to young animals ('cachorros'). We also apply it to an adult's first vaccination, to be safe: ask MIDA if your adult pet's first rabies vaccination was less than 30 days before the trip.

      “La vacuna antirrábica para caninos, felinos y hurones ha sido aplicada a partir de los tres (3) meses de edad y con treinta (30) días previos al viaje (cachorros). Y en los animales adultos las vacunas estén dentro del periodo de vigencia.”

      “Indicar las fechas de vacunación, marca, lote y fecha de expiración en su cartilla de vacunación.”

    2. VaccinationEntering Panama

      Cats: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia vaccinations

      Before the trip your cat must also be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, feline calicivirus and feline panleukopenia.

      Details and the official words

      “Felinos: RABIA, RINOTRAQUEITIS VIRAL FELINA, CALICIVIRUS FELINO, PANLEUCOPENIA FELINA.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. Vet examLeaving Hawaii (US)

      Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian

      Only a USDA-accredited veterinarian can issue your pet's international health certificate. Tell them the destination, any transit countries, your departure date and whether the pet travels in the cabin or as cargo.

      Details and the official words

      “contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian as soon as you decide to travel”

    2. TreatmentEntering Panama

      Internal and external parasite treatments before boarding

      Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites before boarding, and the treatments are stated in its documents. The pages give no time window: ask your vet.

      Details and the official words

      “Indicar los tratamientos endo y ectoparasitarios realizados previos al embarque.”

    3. PaperworkHawaii (US) and Panama

      Official export health certificate, apostilled, at most 30 days old

      The health authority of the country your pet comes from issues an official export health certificate stating that the pet was examined and is in good health. It must be legalised with an apostille (or by a Panamanian consulate) and be no more than 30 days old.

      Details and the official words

      USDA APHIS endorsement: Your accredited vet submits the certificate to USDA APHIS (usually electronically through VEHCS) for endorsement; the endorsement date counts as the issue date for the destination.

      “Documento oficial “Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación”, expedido por la Autoridad Sanitaria del país de procedencia, legalizados mediante “Apostillado” por Cancillería o Consularizado en oficinas diplomáticas panameñas con un máximo de treinta (30) días de emisión, donde conste que las mascotas (Perros, gatos y hurones) han sido examinados clínicamente presentando buen estado de salud.”

      “assist you through the process of obtaining a USDA-endorsed pet health certificate”

    4. NoticeEntering Panama

      Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives

      Email cam@minsa.gob.pa 3 to 5 business days before arrival with the request for entry of dogs, cats and ferrets, the export health certificate and the vaccination card.

      Details and the official words

      The 2026 pages name a 'Solicitud de Ingreso de Perros, Gatos y Hurones' form that we couldn't find online: ask MINSA for it.

      “Notificar de 3 a 5 días hábiles anticipadamente, la llegada de su mascota, enviando “la Solicitud de Ingreso de Perros, Gatos y Hurones, el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación del país de procedencia y la cartilla de vacunación”.”

      “Enviarlo a cam@minsa.gob.pa”

  3. Travel day and arrival

    1. On arrivalEntering Panama

      Checks at Tocumen airport: MIDA quarantine and MINSA zoonosis offices

      At Tocumen International Airport, go to MIDA's agricultural quarantine office and then MINSA's zoonosis office with your pet and documents, and pay in cash: MIDA's import licence (10 per species) and inspection (15 per animal), and MINSA's entry and inspection fee (40 per animal).

      Details and the official words

      “Pasos a seguir en Panamá – Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen, presentarse en:”

      “B/. 10.00 (dólares) en efectivo por concepto de “Licencia Fito‐zoosanitaria de Importación”; (1) una licencia por especie.”

      “B/. 15.00 (dólares) en efectivo por la Inspección Veterinaria por animal.”

      “Ingreso de animales menores e inspección veterinaria: B/. 40 (dólares) en efectivo por animal.”

Good to know

  • If strict home quarantine is required, MINSA charges 130 balboas (US dollars) instead of 40. The 2026 pages don't say when it is required or for how long (an older MINSA form from 2013 said 40 days). Ask MINSA (cam@minsa.gob.pa) when you send your advance notice.
  • If any requirement isn't met, your pet will be held and/or sent back by the airline it arrived on.
  • Your pet must not have fresh or healing wounds.
  • All fees at Tocumen are paid in cash (balboas, at par with US dollars). MIDA's office is open 24 hours; MINSA's zoonosis office is open every day from 7 am to 10 pm.
  • USDA: destination requirements can change at any time — check them every time you travel.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Hawaii (US) publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 166 USD (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

If you need them Not official figures

  • Travel cratea pet shop or the airline139.99–269.99 USD
    • Petmate (petmate.com): Petmate Sky Kennel, 28" (28 x 20.5 x 21.5 in), weight range 25-30 lbs as the page states; page says it complies with the IATA Live Animals Regulation (51st edition, 2025); manufacturer's own online store139.99 USD · read 2026-10-13
    • Petmate (petmate.com): Petmate Sky Kennel, 40" (40 x 27 x 30 in), weight range 70-90 lbs as the page states; IATA LAR-compliant per the page; manufacturer's own online store269.99 USD · read 2026-10-13
  • Pet shipper, door to doora pet relocation company3,395–10,000 USD
    • Starwood Pet Travel: Published starting price for relocating 1 pet (dog) from the USA to the UK with Starwood Pet Travel; the page calls it a starting estimate and says final costs vary3,395 USD · read 2026-10-13
    • PetRelocation, Inc.: Published pricing example: door-to-door move of 1 small pet from the United States abroad with PetRelocation (Complete Relocation Support); the page says vet visits and a travel crate are not included5,975–10,000 USD · read 2026-10-13
    • PetRelocation, Inc.: Published worked example: one small dog moving from the United States to Singapore with PetRelocation Complete Support, total of required costs plus service fee; the page calls these estimates based on typical cases7,500 USD · read 2026-10-13

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to Hawaii (US)

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Hawaii (US) (dogs).

The trip back asks for 8 steps: rabies vaccination #1, rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival), rabies antibody blood test (OIE-FAVN) and a 30-day wait and tick treatment within 14 days before arrival and more.

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Hawaii (US) (cats).

The trip back asks for 8 steps: rabies vaccination #1, rabies vaccination #2 (a booster, more than 30 days before arrival), rabies antibody blood test (OIE-FAVN) and a 30-day wait and tick treatment within 14 days before arrival and more.

Every step from Panama to Hawaii (US)

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.

Entering PanamaReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Hawaii (US) to Panama?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Panama?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Panama?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Hawaii (US) to Panama?

With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip, dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations and internal and external parasite treatments before boarding and 2 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

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