Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Panama to Vietnam: official requirements
Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card and quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country.
Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 3 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Panama publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. MIDA's pages describe only the basic steps for the export licence. They don't say how far ahead to apply, how long the licence is valid or whether any other office must sign. A 2026 Ministry of Health decree has a section on export certificates for dogs and cats, but the official gazette blocks automated readers and we couldn't check it there: ask MIDA (560-5890) and the Ministry of Health before you travel.
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Vietnam publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Viet Nam's 2026 circular on animal quarantine sets out what happens at the border for a pet carried by a traveller, but it doesn't list what the exporting country's quarantine certificate must state (for example a rabies vaccination or its timing), and we found no official English page for pet owners. Ask the animal quarantine office at your arrival airport and your airline what the certificate must show before you travel.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card and quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
How early to start (cats)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card and quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
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Panama → Vietnam
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Panama (leaving) or Vietnam (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Taking a dog or cat out of Panama (MIDA): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Panama
Certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card
A qualified vet (médico veterinario idóneo) examines your pet and issues a certificate of good health, no more than 72 hours old when you collect MIDA's licence. Bring the up-to-date vaccination card (combined vaccine and rabies) and the record of parasite treatments, originals and one set of copies.
Details and the official words
“Es indispensable portar la Cartilla de Vacunación actualizada (múltiple y rabia), y un Certificado de Buena Salud emitido por un médico veterinario idóneo con una vigencia no mayor a 72 horas.”
“Cartillas actualizadas de vacunas (múltiple y rabia) y desparasitaciones.”
PaperworkPanama and Vietnam
Quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country
Your pet travels with the quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country's authority. The border quarantine office in Viet Nam checks it. The circular doesn't say how recent it must be or what it must state: ask the quarantine office at your arrival airport.
Details and the official words
MIDA export licence: request it on SITERPA, collect it in person: Request the export licence (Licencia Fitozoosanitaria de Exportación) online on MIDA's SITERPA portal with the red 'MASCOTAS' button, and note the request number. Then collect it in person at Plaza Edison (ground floor, single window) in Panama City or at MIDA's offices in Herrera or Chiriquí, with the vet's certificate and the vaccination card (originals and copies). One licence per species, 10 balboas each, paid by deposit at Banco Nacional (bring the slip).
Executive Decree 8 of 26 February 2026 (Ministry of Health) has a section on export certificates for dogs, cats and ferrets. The official gazette blocks automated readers, so we couldn't check it there. A copy on the UN's legal database (not an official source) says the certificates must be presented to the ministry's National Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance 5 working days before the trip for evaluation and signature. Ask MIDA and the Ministry of Health whether this applies before you book.
“Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu thực hiện: Kiểm tra Giấy chứng nhận kiểm dịch của nước xuất khẩu; kiểm tra lâm sàng động vật;”
“El Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario (MIDA) a través de la Dirección Ejecutiva de Cuarentena Agropecuaria (DECA) emite las Licencias Fitozoosanitarias de Exportación de mascotas (caninos y felinos).”
“Para lo cual los usuarios deben Ingresar a SITERPA , dando click al botón ROJO llamado «MASCOTAS» para registrar los datos requeridos y enviar la solicitud del documento vía web.”
“Para finalizar el proceso de exportación y retirar la Licencia (que tiene un costo de B/. 10.00), el solicitante debe presentarse personalmente en las oficinas designadas (Plaza Edison en Panamá o en las provincias de Herrera y Chiriquí) con la documentación original y copias.”
“Se emite una Licencia por Especie y cada Licencia tiene un costo de 10.00 balboas (debe entregar el slip del depósito realizado al Banco Nacional”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering Vietnam
Declare your pet at the border animal quarantine office
For up to 2 animals you bring as pets or on a trip (not on the banned list), declare them for import quarantine directly at the animal quarantine office at the border. It checks the certificate and examines your pet, and issues Viet Nam's import quarantine certificate within 1 working day if everything is in order.
Details and the official words
“Kiểm dịch đối với trường hợp mang theo người không quá 02 con động vật với mục đích để nuôi làm cảnh, sinh hoạt trong gia đình hoặc mang theo đi du lịch, công tác, quá cảnh và không thuộc Danh mục động vật cấm xuất khẩu, nhập khẩu theo quy định”
“Chủ hàng khai báo kiểm dịch nhập khẩu trực tiếp tại Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu;”
“Trong thời hạn 01 ngày làm việc kể từ ngày thực hiện kiểm dịch, Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu cấp Giấy chứng nhận kiểm dịch động vật nhập khẩu”
Good to know
- The circular doesn't list the vaccinations a pet must have. At the border, the quarantine office vaccinates an animal that hasn't been vaccinated against dangerous infectious diseases, and takes samples from an animal suspected of an infectious disease (the certificate then comes within 1 working day of the test result).
- An animal with a dangerous infectious disease is destroyed near the border crossing, and an animal whose foreign quarantine certificate isn't valid is held.
- These are only the basic steps for leaving Panama. You are responsible for checking and meeting every requirement of the destination, which may include extra paperwork for your pet.
- If your dog will come back to Panama, tell MIDA when you apply: it gives more information for that case.
Cats
Taking a dog or cat out of Panama (MIDA): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Panama
Certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card
A qualified vet (médico veterinario idóneo) examines your pet and issues a certificate of good health, no more than 72 hours old when you collect MIDA's licence. Bring the up-to-date vaccination card (combined vaccine and rabies) and the record of parasite treatments, originals and one set of copies.
Details and the official words
“Es indispensable portar la Cartilla de Vacunación actualizada (múltiple y rabia), y un Certificado de Buena Salud emitido por un médico veterinario idóneo con una vigencia no mayor a 72 horas.”
“Cartillas actualizadas de vacunas (múltiple y rabia) y desparasitaciones.”
PaperworkPanama and Vietnam
Quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country
Your pet travels with the quarantine certificate issued by the exporting country's authority. The border quarantine office in Viet Nam checks it. The circular doesn't say how recent it must be or what it must state: ask the quarantine office at your arrival airport.
Details and the official words
MIDA export licence: request it on SITERPA, collect it in person: Request the export licence (Licencia Fitozoosanitaria de Exportación) online on MIDA's SITERPA portal with the red 'MASCOTAS' button, and note the request number. Then collect it in person at Plaza Edison (ground floor, single window) in Panama City or at MIDA's offices in Herrera or Chiriquí, with the vet's certificate and the vaccination card (originals and copies). One licence per species, 10 balboas each, paid by deposit at Banco Nacional (bring the slip).
Executive Decree 8 of 26 February 2026 (Ministry of Health) has a section on export certificates for dogs, cats and ferrets. The official gazette blocks automated readers, so we couldn't check it there. A copy on the UN's legal database (not an official source) says the certificates must be presented to the ministry's National Directorate of Food Control and Veterinary Surveillance 5 working days before the trip for evaluation and signature. Ask MIDA and the Ministry of Health whether this applies before you book.
“Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu thực hiện: Kiểm tra Giấy chứng nhận kiểm dịch của nước xuất khẩu; kiểm tra lâm sàng động vật;”
“El Ministerio de Desarrollo Agropecuario (MIDA) a través de la Dirección Ejecutiva de Cuarentena Agropecuaria (DECA) emite las Licencias Fitozoosanitarias de Exportación de mascotas (caninos y felinos).”
“Para lo cual los usuarios deben Ingresar a SITERPA , dando click al botón ROJO llamado «MASCOTAS» para registrar los datos requeridos y enviar la solicitud del documento vía web.”
“Para finalizar el proceso de exportación y retirar la Licencia (que tiene un costo de B/. 10.00), el solicitante debe presentarse personalmente en las oficinas designadas (Plaza Edison en Panamá o en las provincias de Herrera y Chiriquí) con la documentación original y copias.”
“Se emite una Licencia por Especie y cada Licencia tiene un costo de 10.00 balboas (debe entregar el slip del depósito realizado al Banco Nacional”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering Vietnam
Declare your pet at the border animal quarantine office
For up to 2 animals you bring as pets or on a trip (not on the banned list), declare them for import quarantine directly at the animal quarantine office at the border. It checks the certificate and examines your pet, and issues Viet Nam's import quarantine certificate within 1 working day if everything is in order.
Details and the official words
“Kiểm dịch đối với trường hợp mang theo người không quá 02 con động vật với mục đích để nuôi làm cảnh, sinh hoạt trong gia đình hoặc mang theo đi du lịch, công tác, quá cảnh và không thuộc Danh mục động vật cấm xuất khẩu, nhập khẩu theo quy định”
“Chủ hàng khai báo kiểm dịch nhập khẩu trực tiếp tại Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu;”
“Trong thời hạn 01 ngày làm việc kể từ ngày thực hiện kiểm dịch, Cơ quan kiểm dịch động vật cửa khẩu cấp Giấy chứng nhận kiểm dịch động vật nhập khẩu”
Good to know
- The circular doesn't list the vaccinations a pet must have. At the border, the quarantine office vaccinates an animal that hasn't been vaccinated against dangerous infectious diseases, and takes samples from an animal suspected of an infectious disease (the certificate then comes within 1 working day of the test result).
- An animal with a dangerous infectious disease is destroyed near the border crossing, and an animal whose foreign quarantine certificate isn't valid is held.
- These are only the basic steps for leaving Panama. You are responsible for checking and meeting every requirement of the destination, which may include extra paperwork for your pet.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Panama publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
MIDA export licence (one per species, paid at Banco Nacional)Leaving Panama10 USD
“Se emite una Licencia por Especie y cada Licencia tiene un costo de 10.00 balboas”
Exportación de animales menores: caninos y felinos (MIDA, DECA, modified 1 August 2023) · as of 2026-10-13
Government fees in total: 10 USD (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Panama 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 Panama
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Panama (dogs).
The trip back asks for 7 steps: Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives, official export health certificate, apostilled, at most 30 days old, rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip and dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations and more.
Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves Panama (cats).
The trip back asks for 7 steps: Tell MINSA 3 to 5 business days before your pet arrives, official export health certificate, apostilled, at most 30 days old, rabies vaccination from 3 months old, at least 30 days before the trip and cats: rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia vaccinations and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Thông tư 01/2026/TT-BNNMT quy định về kiểm dịch động vật, sản phẩm động vật trên cạn, consolidated text 67/VBHN-BNNMT (2026)
- Exportación de animales menores: caninos y felinos (MIDA, DECA, modified 1 August 2023)
- MIDA recuerda requisitos para entrada y salida de mascotas en el territorio nacional (MIDA, 14 November 2025)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Panama to Vietnam?
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 Vietnam?
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 Vietnam?
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 Panama to Vietnam?
There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: certificate of good health from a qualified vet (no more than 72 hours old) and an up-to-date vaccination card and quarantine (health) certificate from the exporting country.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
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