Guidance

Check if you need a CITES permit to import or export endangered species

Check if your import, export or re-export needs a permit or certificate under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

From:
Animal and Plant Health Agency and Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs
Published
1 January 2013
Last updated
8 October 2024 — See all updates

You must apply for a permit if you’re moving a specimen of any CITES listed species either into or out of Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). This includes moving a specimen to or from:

  • the EU
  • non-EU countries
  • Northern Ireland

A specimen is a living or dead animal or plant or any of its parts, or an item made from these. An import, export or re-export permit is an official document that confirms you can move a specimen that is listed by CITES.

If you do not have a valid permit or certificate for moving or trading CITES listed species you could be liable to a prison sentence of up to 7 years, an unlimited fine, or both.

How to apply

You should:

As part of your application, find the trade term code.

You must get a permit for any species listed on annex A, B or C in Species+.

If you have a permit to export a specimen of a CITES species issued by another country, this does not guarantee that the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) will issue an import permit for it.

You can only import specimens of annex A species in exceptional circumstances. This is to avoid endangering the species further. Contact the APHA team for endangered plant and animal species for more detailed advice if you want to import a specimen of an annex A species.

Other permits and certificates

You can apply to import annex C specimens. To do this you’ll need to get an import notification form by emailing APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk or phoning 03000 200 301.

Commercial use

If you plan to use any specimen listed by CITES in annex A for commercial purposes, you must get a commercial use certificate (known as an Article 10 certificate). 

If you’re importing an annex A specimen to sell it, you may be able to get a permit that can be used instead of an Article 10 certificate. Please contact APHA for more information by emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Check if you need an Article 10 certificate and how to apply.

Musical instruments, museums, art exhibitions and touring displays

In some cases, you may need to move CITES specimens across international borders several times. For example, endangered species or specimens that are part of a:

  • touring orchestra
  • museum exhibit
  • art exhibition
  • touring display or circus

If you’re travelling with your instrument as part of a touring orchestra, you must use the apply for a CITES permit service for each instrument containing CITES listed specimens. You do not have to pay for a musical instrument certificate.

Elephant ivory

If you intend to trade or move elephant ivory, read the guide on dealing in items containing ivory or made of ivory.

Personal and household effects

In some specific circumstances, you do not need CITES documentation to move personal and household items that contain a CITES specimen. 

You do not need a CITES permit for the following items if they are carried in your personal luggage and intended for personal use (allowance is per person): 

  • 125 grams of caviar (Acipenseriformes spp), in containers that are individually marked in accordance with Article 66(6) 
  • 3 rainsticks of Cactaceae spp 
  • 4 worked items containing Crocodyllia spp (excluding meat and hunting trophies)  
  • 3 shells of Queen conch (Strombus gigas) 
  • 4 dead specimens of seahorse (Hippocampus spp) 
  • 3 specimens of giant clam (Tridacnidae spp) not more than 3kg in total, where a specimen can be one intact shell or 2 matching halves 
  • up to 1kg woodchips, 24ml oil, and 2 sets of beads or prayer beads (or 2 necklaces or bracelets) of agarwood (Aquilaria and Gyrinops species) 

Contact APHA if you plan to import, export or re-export a personal or household item that you think includes a CITES specimen by emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Retrospective permits

If your CITES specimens have entered or left Great Britain or Northern Ireland without the relevant permits, contact APHA by emailing wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk, as you may need to apply for a retrospective permit.

Replacement permits

You can only apply for a replacement if your official validated permit is:

  • cancelled
  • lost
  • stolen
  • accidentally destroyed

APHA only issues replacement permits if the specimen has not left or entered Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

You can only apply for a replacement permit by emailing APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Before you receive your permit

Until you have the correct CITES permit, you should not:

  • ship or travel with specimens
  • make any payments for specimens
  • enter into contracts over specimens

You must check:

Check with the CITES management authority of the country of import or export before you move any items you cannot identify.

How long it takes

APHA reviews each application individually and aims to process your application within 30 days. Your application may need to be reviewed by scientific advisers at either:

  • the Royal Botanical Garden, Kew – for plants
  • the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) – for animals

If your application is accepted, you’ll get a printed, signed and stamped permit or certificate in the post. If your application is refused, APHA will send you a letter explaining why.

After you receive your permit

After you receive your permit, you’ll need to:

Importing or exporting your species

There are different processes depending on if you plan to move the CITES-listed species yourself, or if you plan to send them by post.

Before you apply, check the guidance on how to:

Returned goods

If your CITES specimen has been exported from Great Britain but is rejected by the importing country, contact APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk to let them know it’s been rejected. You’ll need to get CITES documents to re-import the items into Great Britain.

Marking specimens

You must mark specimens according to European regulation Article 66 of EC Reg 865/2006. The marking needed depends on what the specimen is.

Most live specimens must have one of the following:

Get help

If you need further advice or support with your application, contact APHA at wildlife.licensing@apha.gov.uk.

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2013
Last updated 8 October 2024 + show all updates

  1. Page has been updated with new guidance to reflect that a new online service is now available to apply for a CITES permit. A definition has been added for the term specimen.

  2. Information has been added about the items in your personal luggage that do not need a CITES permit.

  3. Information has been added about the items in your personal luggage that do not need a CITES permit, and information about eels has been removed.

  4. We have added a link to the list of the UK’s formal import suspensions. These are held alongside banned or restricted specimens listed in Species+. Anyone who wants to import CITES specimens should check the UK’s import suspensions in addition to Species+ or contact APHA if you are unsure.

  5. Updated the 'Customs requirements for CITES items' section to make it clear that you need to present documents to UK Border Force at the first point of entry into, and the last point of exit from, Great Britain.

  6. Updated the export by post and import by post sections. When moving CITES specimens from Great Britain (GB) to Northern Ireland (NI), your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast International airport. When moving CITES specimens from NI to GB your handling agent must move parcels through Belfast seaport.

  7. Updated eels section. Contact APHA for advice if you plan to export or import European eels.

  8. We updated the guidance to make it clearer that you need a CITES permit when you move CITES specimens between Great Britain and the EU, and between GB and Northern Ireland.

  9. Added guidance about customs requirements and travelling displays. Updated information about penalties if you do not have the correct documents.

  10. When you need a certificate instead of a permit section updated

  11. CITES content has been restructured.

  12. Updated the information in the "UK ivory sales ban" section.

  13. Guidance on CITES-designated points of entry or exit published in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.

  14. CITES news updated.

  15. News section - High levels of CITES applications

  16. Method of payment section updated

  17. Added news - UK ivory sales ban

  18. News added - reminder to bird breeders

  19. CITES news update - CITES Open Day

  20. Amended section on legislation due to updated regulations in relation to the imports and introduction of specimens of certain species of wild fauna and flora into the EU

  21. Added news - new EU guidance on intra-EU trade/re-export of rhino horn

  22. Added news - new EU guidance and high levels of CITES applications

  23. Added news: New CITES controls - Rosewood and Palisander guidance

  24. Added news - African Grey Parrots

  25. Amended legislation for the complete list of species controlled by CITES under the EU regulations.

  26. New CITES controls on animal and plant species news added

  27. Added news - The Listing of Dalbergia species on CITES

  28. Added news - CITES team change of address

  29. Added news - species listing decisions at CITES Conference of Parties (CoP17)

  30. News added - Defra announcement about UK ban on modern day ivory sales

  31. Published new species requiring licences (CITES certificates and permits) news

  32. Amended current restrictions on importing live birds listed on CITES news item.

  33. News added - CITES documents for hybrid specimens

  34. AHVLA documents have been re-assigned to the new Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).

  35. First published.

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