Moving your pet from United Kingdom to Panama?

The United Kingdom–Panama route requires quarantine on arrival, so planning well ahead matters. In plain terms, this is a moderate route, meaning the requirements are relatively straightforward compared to many international moves.

Most owners start the process around 6-10 weeks before the flight date. That window is not arbitrary — it accounts for vaccination waiting periods, titre test processing, and document endorsement.

Here is how the preparation unfolds from start to travel day:

Costs vary considerably depending on your pet's size, the airline, and whether you use a pet relocation agent. The main factors to price up are:

• Animal Health Certificate from UK Official Vet (approximately GBP 100-200)
• Spanish translation of health certificate if required
• Airline cargo fees London to Panama City: approximately GBP 700-1,200 depending on carrier and pet size
• IATA-compliant travel crate
• Panama MIDA import permit and processing fee
• IPATA agent fee if used

Microchip: Required (ISO 11784/11785).

Rabies vaccination: Required. Must be current at time of travel.

Health certificate: Official health certificate issued within 7-10 days of travel, endorsed by UK APHA. Panama may require Spanish translation or specific MIDA-compliant format.

Import permit: Required. Apply to Panama's Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) before travel.

Quarantine: Veterinary inspection on arrival at Panama City Tocumen International Airport (PTY). No quarantine for compliant pets.

Export permit: No general export permit required from the UK. An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an APHA-authorised UK Official Vet is required.

Export health certificate: Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an APHA-authorised UK Official Vet. Valid 10 days from examination date. Must confirm microchip, vaccination, and health status.

Several airlines serve routes between United Kingdom and Panama, each with different policies on pets in cabin versus cargo hold:

There are currently no direct scheduled flights from the UK to Panama City. All routes connect through European or US hubs.

Iberia via Madrid (MAD) is the recommended option for pet cargo. Iberia runs multiple daily London-Madrid services and connects to Panama City (PTY) with high frequency. The Spanish-language documentation environment at Madrid aligns with MIDA’s requirements, and Iberia’s long-haul cargo to Latin America is well-established.

KLM via Amsterdam is a practical alternative - Amsterdam to PTY is available and KLM Cargo has experience on Latin American routes. Air France via Paris CDG and Lufthansa via Frankfurt also connect to Panama and are reliable cargo carriers.

Avoid routings through US airports unless necessary. A US connection means your pet may need to comply with US import requirements during transit, which adds complexity.

Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) governs pet imports. You will need a MIDA import permit before travel, a current ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and an official health certificate.

MIDA may require the health certificate to be in Spanish, or require a certified translation. This is worth confirming early - your UK Official Vet will need to know whether a specific format is required before issuing the AHC.

On arrival at Tocumen International Airport, a MIDA vet will inspect your pet. With correct documentation, there is no extended quarantine. Arrive with original documents and allow extra time for the agricultural inspection process.

• Pet Transport Panama to UK