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FredfromArkansas
  5/7/2021 11:31 EST

I assume this has been ask before, but I can't find it. Especially with the Covid situation, does anyone have an idea of how long it would take a 20 foot container to get through customs these days?

StanLeeee
  5/7/2021 11:38 EST

I don’t have any current information but I checked on it three years ago and decided that it wasn’t worth it.

It’s expensive to ship things, it can take months to get clearance by customs and then you have to arrange for shipping again to wherever you are living.

Unless you have things you absolutely cannot live without you would be money ahead to buy your household goods here.

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FredfromArkansas
  5/7/2021 12:03 EST

That eas my plan, but the wife insisted we bring a container.

stgibson
  5/7/2021 12:16 EST

It depends on your shipper. We normally file a dicreto 6 and have the container brought to David for customs which usually clears in a couple of hours. it costs an extra $100 but is well worth not having to wait for the backlog and corruption in Colon.

llave
  5/7/2021 12:36 EST

What are the best alternatives to a container, assuming one isn't bringing furniture or pots and pans... but for smaller things that aren't easily replaced, like art, knick knacks, etc.?

Is it feasible to just bring that down in stages in one's checked airline baggage (assuming one would be visiting their home country several times a year)? Or are those mail forwarding services people use for Amazon purchases and the like a better choice for smaller and/or sentimental household goods?

ranadelnorte
  5/7/2021 12:44 EST

Your mover should have this real-time info at their finger tips, or at the least they could contact their Panama correspondent for an answer.
Personally, I preferred Balboa to Colon as port of entry for my container because I was settling in Panama City. Make sure your mover ships to the port of your choice.
Time of year is important: national holidays in November, Year-end holidays, and Carnival all slow down time through customs.
Good luck!

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ranadelnorte
  5/7/2021 12:49 EST

P.S. My 20-ft container got through customs in 5 days during early February. This was 7 years ago. The company was Westmount Movers out of Montreal, and the local correspondent was Canal Movers. I was very satisfied with the service of all involved.
I don’t regret shipping a container as it helped me to settle in quicker, and replacing all the items in the container would have cost more than the price of shipping.

LSR18
  5/7/2021 13:03 EST

Does anyone have experience shipping smaller moving boxes to Mailboxes Etc. (we would be using the one in Coronado)? My husband and I will be moving to Coronado from Connecticut next spring. We don't want to bring a lot with us, but I think it will be more than we will be able to fit in our luggage. I was hoping to ship a few boxes before we move and then pick them up when we arrive.

ROKSlide
  5/7/2021 15:48 EST

LLave -- You can ship all kinds of items cheaply to Panama from Miami, including heavy, bulky items. Depends on whether you can get them to Miami cheaply. I paid less than $50 to ship framed paintings, statuary, and related items. Problem was it cost $300 to get them to Miami using UPS. The Miami to Panama is from Delvi, the shipping arm of Riba Smith grocery stores. They ship once a week. You pick up the items at the Riba Smith store in Costa del Este, or have a Panamanian company pick they up to transport to the rest of the country. You can find many references on this site.

llave
  5/7/2021 16:46 EST

@ROKSlide, thanks for the information! I do recall seeing Delvi mentioned before, but I am glad to understand more clearly now about what their service is. I'm in Texas, so getting things to Miami isn't that awful. Thanks again!

mimi0222
  5/11/2021 10:42 EST

Currently it takes no longer than one week to clear a container of household or personal effects through Panama customs after it arrives at the port.Your Panama freight forwarder will have the container moved to a warehouse. Customs will do the inspection of the container and the necessary documents there. There are hundreds of freight forwarders in Panama. Some are large International companies who are very expensive, but most are smaller capable forwarders who will charge you much less. And , they can handle your shipment and the necessary documents from your home wherever all the way to your doorstep in Panama.

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