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Dog or cat from Kenya 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 health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board and 3 more.

Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 4 official pages

Make my dated plan Reverse: Panama → Kenya

In short

Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Kenya publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services doesn't publish its export procedure for pets on its own website. We use KenTrade's InfoTrade description of the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), last updated in 2022. It gives no processing time, doesn't say how long before departure to apply, and lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. Confirm with the Directorate (infodvs@kilimo.go.ke) before you travel.

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)

  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Tell the authority in advance

Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.

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)

  • Parasite treatment before travel
  • Tell the authority in advance

Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.

Prefer a feed reader? Kenya rule changes · Panama rule changes

Kenya → Panama

What your pet needs

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

Dogs

Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.

  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 Kenya

      Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board

      A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”

    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. PaperworkKenya 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

      International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.

      Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.

      InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.

      “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.”

      “The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”

      “Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”

      “From the country of destination.”

      “EU export health certificate (copy)”

      “For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”

      “KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”

    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.
  • The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.

Cats

Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.

  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 Kenya

      Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board

      A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”

    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. PaperworkKenya 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

      International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.

      Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.

      InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.

      “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.”

      “The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”

      “Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”

      “From the country of destination.”

      “EU export health certificate (copy)”

      “For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”

      “KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”

    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.
  • The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.

Money

What it costs

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

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 65 USD (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for Kenya yet.

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

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

Round trip

Coming back to Kenya

Do before your pet leaves Kenya (dogs)

  • Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment
  • Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment

Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.

The trip back asks for 9 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.

Do before your pet leaves Kenya (cats)

  • Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment
  • Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment

Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.

The trip back asks for 9 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.

Every step from Panama to Kenya

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.

Entering PanamaLeaving KenyaReport a mistakeGet rule-change alerts

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Kenya to Panama?

We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.

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

We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Panama?

We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.

How early should I start preparing my pet for Kenya 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 health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board and 3 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

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

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