International pet travel to Latin America has become increasingly common as more American families, retirees, remote workers, and expats relocate to countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia. Recently, the team at Across The Pond Pets coordinated Lucy’s relocation from Seattle, Washington to Panama City, Panama — helping her family safely navigate every stage of the international pet shipping process.
International pet relocation involves much more than booking a flight. Every country has different veterinary requirements, import permits, airline regulations, customs procedures, and travel timelines. For pets traveling to Central and South America, careful planning is especially important because many countries require USDA-endorsed health certificates, rabies documentation, parasite treatments, and coordination with local customs agents at the destination.
Panama has become one of the most popular relocation destinations for Americans thanks to its modern infrastructure, favorable residency programs, warm climate, and well-established expat communities. As more families move internationally, professional pet transportation services make the difference between a smooth arrival and a stressful, costly documentation error.
Professional Crate Fitting: Why It Matters for International Pet Travel
Every international pet relocation begins with selecting the correct airline-approved travel crate. Our pet travel specialist Chris visited Lucy’s home in Washington for an in-person crate fitting appointment to ensure her kennel met all current airline and IATA requirements before anything else was booked.
Proper crate sizing is one of the most important — and most overlooked — parts of international pet shipping. Airlines require that pets:
- Stand comfortably without their ears or head touching the top of the kennel
- Turn around naturally within the crate
- Lie down comfortably in a natural position
Crates that are too small result in airline refusal at check-in — after you’ve already completed all documentation, paid cargo fees, and arrived at the airport. Getting the crate right before anything else protects the entire timeline.
During Lucy’s fitting, our team carefully evaluated multiple kennel sizes before selecting the best option for her comfort and airline compliance. We also covered hydration planning, feeding schedules before departure, crate labeling requirements, absorbent bedding, and crate acclimation techniques — helping Lucy feel at home in her travel space weeks before departure.
Lucy during her professional crate fitting with specialist Chris in Seattle.
Lucy and her family preparing for the move to Panama City.
Travel day — Lucy ready for departure.
Panama’s Pet Import Requirements: What We Coordinated for Lucy
Panama requires pets entering the country to meet specific veterinary and import regulations before arrival. Our team coordinated every requirement on Lucy’s behalf — working directly with her veterinarian, the USDA APHIS office, and Panama’s Ministry of Agricultural Development (MIDA) to ensure everything was in order before she departed Seattle.
Panama Pet Import Requirements — Dogs from USA
- USDA-endorsed international health certificate — issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS within the required timeframe before departure.
- Valid rabies vaccination certificate — current vaccination with documentation of the vaccine brand, serial number, and date administered.
- Parasite treatments and vaccination records — internal and external parasite treatment documentation required by MIDA.
- Import approval coordination — advance coordination with Panama customs and local receiving agents before the pet’s arrival.
- IATA-compliant kennel — correctly sized airline-approved crate meeting current IATA Live Animals Regulations standards.
- Arrival coordination with local pet import agents — our team coordinated with Panama-based agents to ensure smooth customs clearance at Tocumen International Airport.
For Lucy’s move, our team coordinated the required veterinary paperwork, USDA endorsement process, apostille services, and final travel approvals. We worked directly with Lucy’s veterinarian to verify all medical requirements and ensure the timeline aligned precisely with airline cargo booking and Panamanian import regulations.
Moving to Panama or Latin America with your pet?
Our IPATA-certified team coordinates every document, permit, and cargo booking — from your front door to your destination country.
Growing Demand for Pet Shipping to Latin America
Across The Pond Pets has seen significantly growing demand for international pet transportation to Latin America as more Americans relocate abroad for retirement, lifestyle changes, remote work, and family moves. Countries like Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, and Colombia continue attracting expats because of lower living costs, established healthcare systems, warmer climates, and welcoming expat communities.
Each country has its own distinct import regulations and timelines. Panama and Costa Rica are generally more straightforward than some South American destinations — but all require USDA-endorsed documentation, correct crate sizing, and careful advance planning. Our team has coordinated pet relocations to every major Latin American destination and stays current on changing import requirements.
Latin American destinations we serve:
Official Resources for International Pet Travel
Pet owners planning an international move should verify requirements directly with official government sources. Requirements change — what applied six months ago may not apply today. Our team monitors these changes continuously, but these are the primary official sources:
Planning an international move with your pet?
Contact Across The Pond Pets today — our award-winning team safely relocates pets anywhere in the world.
