Home/Routes/Panama to Portugal
PA
Panama
✈️
PT
Portugal

Pet Transport from Panama to Portugal: 2026 Guide

20-28 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
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Lead time needed
20-28 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Panama to Portugal typically takes around 20-28 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.

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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

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Overview

Shipping a dog or cat from Panama to Portugal rewards owners who start planning early. Expect around 20-28 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting periods. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.

You will need a rabies titre test, which adds a mandatory wait, so begin it as soon as possible. The sections below cover each requirement in detail.

Step by step

The Panama to Portugal process

1
Before the rabies vaccination.
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.

Responsible: Vet in Panama.

2
At least 30 days before the FAVN blood draw.
Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: MIDA-registered vet.

3
30 or more days after vaccination. Sample ships internationally; allow 2-4 weeks for results.
Draw blood for the FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and EU-approved laboratory.

4
Fixed. Cannot be shortened.
90-day mandatory wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: N/A

5
Within 10 days of travel, once the 90-day wait has passed.
Obtain the EU-format export health certificate, endorsed by MIDA-DINASA.

Responsible: MIDA-registered vet and DINASA.

6
Confirm live animal acceptance on every leg.
Book cargo from Panama City to Lisbon via São Paulo, Madrid or Amsterdam.

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent.

Checklist

Portugal: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after the primary vaccination.
Rabies titre testRequired. Panama is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, then a fixed 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636.
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate endorsed by MIDA-DINASA, issued within 10 days of travel.
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Leaving Panama

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion animals leaving Panama.
Health certificateOfficial export health certificate from a MIDA-registered vet in Panama, completed in EU format for Portugal and endorsed by DINASA (Dirección Nacional de Sanidad Animal). Issued within 10 days of travel.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test plus international sample shipping: USD 200-320.
2MIDA-DINASA-endorsed export health certificate: USD 90-170.
3Cargo fee, Panama City to Lisbon via a connecting hub: USD 1,300-2,500 depending on crate size and season.
4IATA-approved travel crate: USD 120-380.
5Total typical range: USD 2,100-4,000 over 5-7 months.
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the result date. Start the process at least six months before your intended travel date.
⚠ There is no EU-approved FAVN laboratory in Panama, so the sample must travel internationally in the correct cold-chain packaging.
⚠ There is no direct flight from Panama City to Lisbon. The São Paulo-TAP routing is often the shortest total journey time, but confirm cargo capacity on the connecting leg well ahead.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
Copa Airlines covers Panama City (PTY) to São Paulo (GRU) or another South American gateway, connecting to TAP's direct GRU-LIS service.
Cargo Only
Iberia via Madrid
PTY to Madrid (MAD) via a US or European hub with Iberia, then a short onward hop to Lisbon.
Cargo Only
KLM via Amsterdam
A Panama City-to-Amsterdam routing via a US hub, with an onward AMS-LIS connection when the Madrid or São Paulo options do not align with travel dates.
Cargo Only

What Portugal requires

Bringing a pet into Portugal involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.

Avoiding the common mistakes

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

Yes. Panama is an EU unlisted third country, so a FAVN or ELISA titre test is required, with a minimum result of 0.5 IU/ml and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date.
Via São Paulo with Copa Airlines connecting to TAP Air Portugal’s direct GRU-LIS service is typically the most efficient. Madrid and Amsterdam connections are workable alternatives.
No. It is fixed to the blood draw date regardless of how quickly the laboratory reports a result.
No. Non-commercial companion pet movements do not require a separate import permit once the titre test, vaccination and health certificate requirements are met.
Airline guides
  • TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
  • Iberia via Madrid
  • KLM via Amsterdam
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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