Pets Go Global

Pet Relocation from Panama to the USA

Moving back to the United States with your dog or cat? We can manage the details from Panama to arrival, including paperwork, flight planning and the practical steps your pet needs for the journey.

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A cat looking out of an aircraft window

From Panama to Miami, Washington D.C., New York and beyond.

We have done this before

Real Pets Go Global journeys from Panama to the United States.

River

Panama to Washington, D.C.

Pets Go Global handled the relocation. A U.S. partner handled customs clearance.

Luna

Antón, Panama to Miami

Ground transport from Antón to Panama City, an overnight flight to Miami, customs clearance through a partner, then the reunion with her owner.

Maya

Panama to Indiana, via Miami

She stayed at VIP Vacation Kennels while her travel documents were prepared, flew to Miami and continued by private ground transport to Indiana.

How the move works

  1. 1

    Tell us about your pet and destination

    Breed, age, size, destination, preferred timing and travel history.

  2. 2

    We check the route and requirements

    We review the U.S. entry requirements, Panama export requirements, airline options and any destination-state requirements that apply.

  3. 3

    Documents and travel preparation

    We coordinate the required veterinary and export documentation, crate requirements and travel arrangements.

  4. 4

    Departure from Panama

    Where required, this can include collection, boarding before travel and airport coordination.

  5. 5

    Arrival in the United States

    Depending on the route, local partners can assist with arrival procedures and onward transport.

The official requirements apply to every pet, whoever organises the move. We work through them with you for your journey.

What a move can include

Each journey depends on the pet, the airline, the destination and the route. Not every move needs every service.

  • ✓Planning the relocation
  • ✓Panama export paperwork
  • ✓Veterinary documentation
  • ✓Airline and routing coordination
  • ✓Travel crate advice and preparation
  • ✓Transport within Panama
  • ✓Boarding before departure, when required
  • ✓U.S. arrival and customs coordination through partners, where required
  • ✓Onward ground transport in the United States, where required

Current requirements

Requirements can change and can also vary by U.S. state and airline. Pets Go Global checks the requirements for the individual journey.

Dogs from Panama to the USA

Panama is not currently listed by the CDC as a high-risk country for dog rabies. For a dog that has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the six months before entering the U.S.:

  • ✓The CDC requires a CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
  • ✓The dog must be at least 6 months old.
  • ✓The dog must have a microchip that a universal scanner can detect.
  • ✓The dog must appear healthy on arrival.

If your dog has been in a CDC high-risk country during the previous six months, different and additional rules apply. We need to check your dog's individual travel history first.

Additional current requirement for dogs: screwworm

Panama is currently recognized by USDA APHIS as affected by New World screwworm. Dogs entering the United States from a screwworm-affected country require official certification that they were inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment and were found free of screwworm, or were treated and cleared before export.

Leaving Panama: export requirements

MIDA currently requires an export process for dogs and cats leaving Panama. The basic requirements include:

  • ✓A MIDA export licence
  • ✓Current vaccination records
  • ✓A veterinary certificate of good health, issued no more than 72 hours before the export process
  • ✓An application through the MIDA/SITERPA system

We help clients navigate and coordinate the required Panama export documentation.

Cats from Panama to the USA

At U.S. federal level:

  • ✓USDA APHIS Veterinary Services currently has no general animal-health requirements for importing a normal domestic pet cat.
  • ✓The CDC requires cats to appear healthy on arrival.
  • ✓The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats at federal level.
  • ✓Individual U.S. states and airlines can have additional requirements.

Panama's own export requirements still apply to cats.

Requirements checked October 2026 against CDC, USDA APHIS and MIDA (Panama).

Why this is not always a direct flight

The best route depends on:

  • ✓Your pet's size
  • ✓Airline restrictions
  • ✓Breed
  • ✓Weather and embargoes
  • ✓The destination
  • ✓Available cargo or in-cabin options
  • ✓Onward ground transport

Two cats, Boquete to Philadelphia. A direct route to Philadelphia was not available. The cats travelled via New York, and a driver was arranged from New York to Philadelphia.

Maya, Panama to Indiana. She flew to Miami and continued by private ground transport to Indiana.

Arriving in Miami or New York and finishing the journey by road can be the practical way to reach your destination.

Dog or cat?

Dogs

  • ✓Route planning
  • ✓Crate requirements
  • ✓The CDC rules
  • ✓MIDA export paperwork
  • ✓The current additional USDA screwworm requirement

Cats

  • ✓Panama export documentation
  • ✓Airline and carrier planning
  • ✓U.S. destination-state requirements
  • ✓Experience with multi-step cat relocations, like Boquete to Philadelphia via New York
Tell us where you're moving

Boarding before departure

Sometimes the owner needs to leave Panama before the pet, travel dates change, documents still need to be completed, or the best flight is later.

Pets Go Global can combine relocation planning with boarding at our related facilities: VIP Vacation Kennels for dogs and VIP Vacation Kitty Kennels for cats. Not every move needs it.

Bubba stayed at VIP Vacation Kennels before departure while his journey was prepared. A U.S. customs partner assisted with his arrival.

Two cats from Boquete stayed for 10 days before their flight, while their owner had already travelled ahead to Philadelphia.

VIP Vacation Kennels VIP Vacation Kitty Kennels
Cats in the cat area of the boarding facility
Customer story

Two cats, Boquete to Philadelphia

  • ✓ The owner travelled ahead.
  • ✓ Her two cats stayed in Panama for 10 days of boarding.
  • ✓ Pets Go Global handled the medical paperwork.
  • ✓ She received regular photos and videos.
  • ✓ The cats flew to New York.
  • ✓ Ground transport was arranged to Philadelphia.
"This was really complicated because I had to get to Philly before the cats to get my apartment in living condition, and I needed PGG to do all the medical paperwork… So yeah, this was pretty involved, but there were zero complications…"
Catherine Boquete, Panama → Philadelphia · Google review
Read more reviews →

Questions about moving from Panama to the USA

For a dog that has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the six months before entry, the CDC requires a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, a microchip detectable by a universal scanner and a minimum age of 6 months, and the dog must appear healthy on arrival. Because Panama is currently affected by New World screwworm, the dog also needs official certification that it was inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment and found free of screwworm, or was treated and cleared before export. On the Panama side, MIDA requires an export process. Airlines and U.S. states can add their own requirements, so we check them for your journey.

Panama itself is currently treated as low-risk for CDC dog-rabies purposes. What matters is your dog's complete travel history for the six months before entering the U.S. If your dog has been in a high-risk country during that time, additional requirements can apply. Tell us where your dog has been and we will check it.

It is the CDC form for dogs entering the United States. For a dog that has been only in dog-rabies-free or low-risk countries during the six months before entry, the CDC requires the receipt for this form.

Yes. The CDC requires a microchip that can be detected by a universal scanner.

Panama is currently recognized by USDA APHIS as affected by New World screwworm. Dogs entering the United States from a screwworm-affected country require official certification that they were inspected for screwworm within 5 days before shipment and were found free of screwworm, or were treated and cleared before export.

MIDA currently requires an export process for dogs and cats leaving Panama. The basic requirements include a MIDA export licence, current vaccination records, a veterinary certificate of good health issued no more than 72 hours before the export process, and an application through the MIDA/SITERPA system. We help clients navigate and coordinate this documentation.

Yes. At U.S. federal level, APHIS currently has no general animal-health requirements for a normal domestic pet cat, and the CDC requires cats to appear healthy on arrival. The CDC does not require proof of rabies vaccination for cats federally, but individual states and airlines can have additional requirements. Panama's export requirements still apply.

Yes, when the move needs it. Dogs can stay at VIP Vacation Kennels and cats at VIP Vacation Kitty Kennels, for example when you leave Panama first, travel dates change or documents still need to be completed. Bubba and Maya stayed at VIP Vacation Kennels, and two cats from Boquete stayed for 10 days, before their flights.

Where required, yes, through partners. Maya continued from Miami to Indiana by private ground transport, and a driver took two cats from New York to Philadelphia. What is possible depends on the route.

Large dogs can travel, but airline rules on size, crate dimensions and breed decide which routes and flights are available. We check the options for your dog. We cannot guarantee a particular route or flight.

It depends on the airline, the route and your pet's size. We check what is available for your journey, but we cannot guarantee in-cabin travel.

As early as you can. The documents, the 5-day screwworm inspection window for dogs and flight availability all have to line up. Contact us once you know you are moving.

Ready to plan your pet's move from Panama to the USA?

Tell us about your pet, where you're leaving from and where you're going. We'll review the journey and help you work out the next steps.

Request an Estimate

A question first? WhatsApp us in English on 6678-0220, Spanish on 6747-2424.

Related pages

Documents & Consultation → Paperwork and advice for your pet's move. Crates & Accessories → Travel crates that meet the airline rules. Boarding Pre & Post Travel → When the dates do not line up. Contact → Office phone, WhatsApp and email.
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