Permits

EXPORT PERMIT APPLICATION

IMPORTANT

  • Avoid return of CITES samples
    CITES Export Permits require an additional signature and official stamp from the National Environmental Authority (ANAM), their Office located in Tocumen International Airport. This signature and stamp is mandatory by customs agencies in the destination country.
    • If you are taking the samples: once your CITES permit is granted, you must go to the ANAM Office at the airport to obtain this additional requirement (signature and stamp);
    • If you send the samples by courier/mail: an additional fee will be charged for local service.  For more information, please contact the Traffic Section at: trafico@si.edu 
  • A permit request application submission does not imply approval of the permit. Panamanian authorities will have the final decision regarding the granting or not of a permit.
  • Permit requests must be completed in Spanish.
  • Be aware that ANAM can take up to 45 working days in order to process your permit application.
  • Please be aware that you will require a Phyto-Zoo-Sanitary Permit (MIDA) to export live samples.  For further information, please visit the following link: http://www.stri.si.edu/english/research/applications/permits/mida/mida.php
  • STRI at this time does not provide a service to deliver voucher specimens to the University of Panama as part of permit compliance. Visitors are responsible for completing all permit requirements before submitting their permit request application to us for processing with the local authorities.
  • If samples were collected in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument, please read part “B” described below.


A. As part of your export permit application, you must submit the following documents:

  1. ANAM Terrestrial and Marine Export Permit Application Form in Spanish. For your convenience, we can provide a list of independent translators that you may contact directly.
  2. Collecting report in Spanish, referring to your previous collecting permit granted by ANAM.
  3. Material Transfer Agreement Complete requested information, sign and scan it. Material Transfer Agreement English version only for your reference, you must complete, sign and scan the Spanish version.
  4. Once you collect, you are required to deposit a set of of samples collected, along with a "carta remisoria".  When you have complied with this requirement, you will need a proof of deposit letter from the appropriate/corresponding Museum:  
    1. Flora: “Herbario de la Universidad de Panamá”. ”.  You must obtain a proof of deposit letter "carta remisoria", signed by the Herbarium. .  Please complete the "carta remisoria" contact Lucila Guillen, email: lucilapma@gmail.com, herbariopma@gmail.com, tel.: 523-6590. The Herbarium of the University of Panama will now charge $10.00 for the certification of deposit of samples.  When you do the deposit, to the herbarium, go to the cashier located at the Science’s Faculty, which is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Once you have paid, go to the herbarium with the receipt, so they can give you the certification.  The $10.00 is for each certification they issue.  ALL FLORA SAMPLES MUST BE DEPOSITED IN THE HERBARIUM IN THE UNIVERSITY OF PANAMA.  STRI WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FLORA SAMPLES.
    2. Fauna:
    3. Marine biological and fresh water samples: “Museo de Biología Marina y Limnología”.  You must obtain a proof of deposit letter "carta remisoria", signed by Marine Biological and Limnology Museum.  The samples must be deposit in a labeled glass bottle.  Please contact Professor Edgardo Muñoz, email: edgardoabdiel@yahoo.com

B. If samples were collected in the Barro Colorado Nature Monument, the following documents will also be required:

Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute
Visitor Services Office
Attn.: Permit Section-MRC 0580-12
Phone (507) 212-8082 / (507) 212-8158
Tupper Building-401
Balboa, Ancon
Panama, Republic of Panama

Please send all the above documents to Office of Permits:
STRI-ANAMpermits@si.edu