Shipping a dog or cat from Panama to Poland rewards owners who start planning early. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 20-26 weeks. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order.
The sections …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Panama to Poland
typically takes around 20-26 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Panama to Poland pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) implanted before any vaccination
Responsible: MIDA-registered vet in Panama
Week 1
2
Rabies vaccination post-chip
Responsible: MIDA-registered vet
Week 2-3
3
30-day minimum wait from vaccination before blood draw
Responsible: Pet owner
Weeks 3-7
4
FAVN or ELISA blood draw sent to EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: MIDA-registered vet / laboratory
Week 7
5
90-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: Pet owner
Weeks 7-20
6
Book cargo to WAW during the wait period
Responsible: PetTransportGlobal / pet owner
During wait
7
DINASA-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
Responsible: MIDA-registered vet + DINASA
Within 10 days of departure
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Poland
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip, implanted before rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Required. At least 21 days post-primary before travel.
Rabies titre test
REQUIRED. Panama is unlisted under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131. FAVN or ELISA at EU-approved laboratory. Blood drawn 30+ days post-vaccination. Result 0.5 IU/ml or above. 90-day wait from blood draw date.
Quarantine
None
Import permit
Not required
Health certificate
EU Annex IV non-commercial health certificate, DINASA-endorsed, issued within 10 days of travel
Export permit (Panama)
Not required for companion animals
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test: USD 150-300 lab fee plus vet and sample shipping
Cargo PTY to AMS, MAD, or FRA: EUR 700-1,500
Second-leg cargo to Warsaw (WAW): EUR 150-400
IATA-approved crate: EUR 80-250
DINASA documentation fees
GIW border inspection fee on arrival at WAW
Critical points to read before you book
Panama is an unlisted country. The 90-day wait begins from the blood draw date and cannot be reduced. Do not book flights for your pet until you have the titre test result in hand and have calculated exactly when the 90 days expire.
Poland's GIW inspectors at Warsaw Chopin Airport are detailed in their document checks. The health certificate must include the titre test date, result, laboratory name, and explicit confirmation that the 90-day wait has been completed.
LOT Polish Airlines has breed-specific restrictions for cargo transport. Confirm your dog's breed is accepted before booking, especially for brachycephalic breeds.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
COPA AIRLINES
Copa Airlines
PTY to AMS or MAD via Copa. Then onward cargo to Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). Copa is Panama's main carrier to European hubs.
Cargo Only
IBERIA (CARGO)
Iberia (Cargo)
PTY to MAD. From MAD, LOT Polish Airlines Cargo or other carriers connect to WAW. Iberia is the main transatlantic cargo bridge from Panama.
Cargo Only
LOT POLISH
LOT Polish Airlines
Second-leg carrier from LHR, AMS, FRA, or MAD to Warsaw (WAW). LOT Cargo handles live animals and WAW is Poland's primary international cargo hub.
Cargo Only
KLM ROYAL
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Copa to AMS, then KLM or LOT to WAW. Amsterdam to Warsaw is a short connection with good cargo handling.
Cargo Only
LUFTHANSA
Lufthansa (Cargo)
Via Frankfurt (FRA) to WAW. Lufthansa's FRA animal centre paired with LOT or Lufthansa FRA-WAW. Good for larger animals.
Cargo Only
Poland entry requirements at a glance
The requirements for Poland are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about Panama to Poland pet transport
No. The 90-day waiting period after the FAVN blood draw is mandated by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 for pets from unlisted countries. There is no way to waive or shorten it, regardless of the destination within the EU. The only way to reduce the total preparation time is to start as early as possible.
Small pets (typically under 8 kg including crate) can sometimes travel in the cabin on European routes, but the transatlantic leg from Panama will almost certainly require cargo transport regardless of pet size. Copa Airlines’ policies on in-cabin pets vary by route. For the PTY to AMS or MAD leg, cargo is the standard approach for all but the smallest animals. The second leg from the hub to WAW may allow cabin transport for very small animals. Confirm with the specific airline when booking.
Only if the laboratory is on the EU-approved list under Commission Decision 2000/258/EC. Most Panamanian veterinary laboratories are not on this list. Your MIDA-registered vet will need to ship the blood sample to an approved laboratory outside Panama. Confirm before drawing blood that the laboratory you plan to use is approved and accepts international samples from Panama.
Airline guides
Copa Airlines
Iberia (Cargo)
LOT Polish Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Lufthansa (Cargo)
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.