Until three million years ago, water separated North and South America. Once that gap closed, Panama Isthmus was born. Panama then became the corridor for flora and fauna between the two Americas, which increased the biodiversity of the western world. For the modern world, Panama's geography and location has become a shipping shortcut between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The well-known and vital Panama Canal has given this country a high-income economy, but it is also supported by international tourism, banking, and commerce. And that has led to its e-commerce activity having grown at 12% annually from 2014 - 2019. The recent doubling of the canal's capacity will surely keep Panamanians at the forefront of world trade and increase their e-commerce activity.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Panama through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Panama. In case you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking information to Panama
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Jun 2, 2023
8:49 am
Nuevo Belen, NB, PA
Delivered
Jun 1, 2023
7:18 am
Rio Abajo, RI, PA
In transit
May 31, 2023
9:03 pm
Cativa, CA, PA
International Clearance
May 31, 2023
8:14 am
Chilibre, CH, PA
In transit
May 31, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
May 30, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Disclaimer!
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Panama before shipping any goods.
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will require different
paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Shipping gifts to Panama may be exempt from duty and taxes if their value is B/. 50 PAB (about $65 CAD) or less.
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
A gift shipment from an individual in Canada to an individual in Panama will be exempt from duty and taxes providing:
Its value is B/. 50 PAB* (about $65 CAD) or less
The gift is for personal use of the recipient or his or her family
It is sent on an occasional basis and has no commercial value
*PAB = Panamanian balboa
Shipments from Business-to-Business
A gift shipped from a business in Canada to a business in Panama will incur duty and taxes regardless of its value.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
A gift shipped from a business in Canada to an individual in Panama will be exempt from duty if its value is B/. 50 PAB (about $65 CAD) or less as long as items are for personal use and have no commercial value.
Gift Checklist
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
The words 'Gift Shipment' or 'Unsolicited Gift' are included on the commercial invoice, even if the shipment is sent at Christmas time
(see sample)
List the items in the parcel and write the value of each
Sending more than one gift in the parcel? Wrap and tag each one individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
If you are sending more than one gift in one shipment, be sure to wrap and tag each one individually.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
As Canada and Panama have a free-trade agreement, repairs under warranty returning to Canada from Panama are duty-free and will not be charged GST providing the item for repair stays in Panama no longer than 1 year.
Items Under Warranty
If a piece of equipment is shipped to Panama for repair while under a warranty it will be exempt from duty. This exemption is granted provided the item is returned to Canada within 1 year of its original entry to Panama.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
Equipment that is no longer under warranty and is returning to Canada from Panama after repairs will be charged GST on the value of the repair and on any new parts required to complete the repair.
Sending Product for Repair to Panama
Equipment sent to Panama for repair may be exempt from duty and taxes provided it is returned to Canada within 1 year of its arrival in Panama.
Returning Repaired Product to Panama
Products repaired in Canada must be returned to Panama within a maximum period of 3 months from the departure from Panama.
Repair Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks, and include the estimated time of return
(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Panama or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
A commercial invoice must be included with your shipment
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods may be shipped to Panama temporarily from Canada duty-free under the following conditions:
They can stay in Panama from 3 months up to maximum of 1 year
Imports have no commercial value and are of negligible quantity NOTE
If samples arrive in large containers, they will incur duty even though they may be marked as free samples.
ATA Carnets
Panama does not accept ATA Carnets for temporary imports.
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods.
(see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment returning Jan 2020
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 box
Temporary Imports - Trade show booth and display equipment
CA
$1032.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Temporary Imports Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1032.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Permanent/Sold Goods
Because of the Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement, most sold goods shipped to Panama from Canada will be exempt from duty. However, they will incur VAT.
Occasional Shipper
Goods shipped occasionally from Canada to Panama will be exempt from duty if the CIF value is B/. 500 PAB (about $630 CAD) or less.
Regular shipper
If you regularly ship sold goods to Panama, we recommend the use of a licenced Panamanian customs broker.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Arnulfo Aria Madrid Av Julio Linares 801 Panama Panama
Phone: +507 314-3020
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This process alone can be confusing and time-consuming.
So we’ve narrowed down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels).
These are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a controlled good
and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Panama. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Panama, it will incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters of credit for the goods. Otherwise,
it is generally your choice whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process and
ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties and taxes.
No specific form required, but generally includes information regarding:
The exporter, importer and transport company
Date of issue
Number of freight invoice
Type and number of packages
Contents of each package
Marks and numbers
Net weight, gross weight and measurements of each package
Prohibited & Restricted Imports
Prohibited goods are not allowed to be shipped to Panama while restricted goods may enter the country, but there may be limits to the amount of goods or who may send them.
Prohibited Items
Plants and seeds
Arms and ammunition
Cash and coins
Equipment or instruments for manufacturing coins
Foreign lottery or raffle tickets
Obscene material in any format
Any material that portrays Panama or its culture in a negative way
Medicines with labels that falsely describe contents or of harmful preparation
Duty and taxes on goods shipped to Panama are calculated using the CIF value of the shipment, i.e. the sum of the customs value plus freight costs plus insurance charges.
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
By knowing the CIF value, you will be able to predict the duty and taxes owed by the recipient.
Thresholds
The threshold value on shipments to Panama, also called the de minimis value, is $100 USD (about $125 CAD). This means that duty or tax will not be incurred on shipments of less than this value.
Currency
Panamanian balboa (B/.)
Duty Exemption (De minimis Value)
$100 USD (about $125 CAD)
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
7%
Tax Exemption
(De minimis Value)
$100 USD (about $125 CAD)
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
The Canada-Panama Free Trade Agreement came into force April 1, 2013. Therefore, many goods may be imported from Canada to Panama duty-free.
Excise Duties
Excise tax is imposed on a variety of items including soft drinks, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and tobacco products, and jewels.
Selective Consumption Tax
Certain goods will incur a luxury tax, also known as selective consumption tax, which applies to items considered to be non-essential.
The selective consumption tax (Impuesto Selectivo de Consumo, ISC) is applied to foods (sugar tax), goods
(e.g. jewellery, expensive automobiles, guns, tobacco, alcoholic beverages).
Candy6%
Chocolate1.5%
Spirits and wines0%
Tobacco0% + 35% ISC
Books0%
Documents0%
Video games & consoles0%
Computers & laptops0%
Tablets0%
Mobiles0%
Cameras0%
Accessories for Electronics0%
Coats0%
Beauty products & cosmetics0%
Jewellery0% + 5% ISC
Shirts & pants0%
Home appliances0%
Toys0%
Sports equipment0%
*Alcoholic beverages will incur an ISC tax (Selective Consumption Tax). Details can be found
here.
You can purchase
insurance
through Secureship and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment our system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable, if it doesn’t meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Panama from Canada can take between 3-5 business days through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform.
More economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 1-2 months to complete the delivery.
