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Trade in protected species permits: application forms

To receive a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) permit, you will need to fill out the appropriate application form to move your CITES-listed item into or out of Canada. You will find the application form applicable to your species and movement type in the table below. Once completed, submit the form as indicated in Submit your permit application.

For information on processing time for your permit application, consult our service standards. Note that if you submit an incomplete application, we will notify you and the application process will be paused until we receive all missing information.

For general information about CITES permits, visit Permits for trade in protected species.

For assistance with the application form, contact cites@ec.gc.ca.

How to open a form

To be able to fill in and save a PDF form, download the form and then open it using the free Adobe Reader

Download means to save the file to your computer for retrieval with software installed on your device.

  1. Right click or Control+Click (Mac users) on the download link and choose Save link as. Save the file in a folder that you will easily find on your computer
  2. Launch Adobe Reader
  3. Browse to the folder where you saved the file and open it from within Adobe Reader. You can now fill and save your PDF form

Note:

Many tablets/phones will not open these forms even with Adobe Reader. If you require an alternative version, please contact us at cites@ec.gc.ca.

You may be able to enable the automatic download of PDF files to your computer.

Select your preferred browser from the list below:

Google Chrome
  1. Copy the following text:
    chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments
  2. Paste the copied text into the address bar (located at the top of your browser) and press the Enter key on your keyboard
  3. On the right side of the browser enable/ turn on Download PDF files instead of Open PDF files in Chrome

Note: the toggle will turn blue when it is turned on.

Firefox
  1. Copy the following text:
    about:preferences#general
  2. Paste the copied text into the address bar (located at the top of your browser) and press the Enter key on your keyboard
  3. Scroll down to the Applications section
  4. Locate and select Portable Document Format (PDF) under Content Type
  5. Using the drop-down menu in the Action column, change the Action to Save File
Microsoft Edge
  1. Copy the following text:
    edge://settings/content/pdfDocuments
  2. Paste the copied text into the address bar (located at the top of your browser below your tabs) and press the Enter key on your keyboard
  3. On the right side of the browser enable/turn on Always Download PDF files

Note: the toggle will turn blue when it is turned on.

Safari

Safari will automatically download a PDF form if you click on the download link.

To open your downloaded application form:

  1. Ensure that you have installed Adobe Reader
  2. Click the Show Downloads button near the top right corner of the browser
  3. Double-click the downloaded PDF file in the downloads list to open it

Note: to find out where a downloaded item is located on your Mac, click the magnifying glass next to the filename in the downloads list

List of permit forms

Permit table

Category

Application

Description

Forms and instruction guides

Export - animals harvested in Canada

Application for CITES permit to export a hunting trophy

For hunters/trappers seeking to export or receive the Canadian trophy they harvested.

Import - animals harvested abroad

Application for CITES permit to import a hunting trophy

For trophies of CITES Appendix I animals harvested abroad and imported into Canada on behalf of the hunter/trapper. The trophy can be imported for taxidermy in Canada before being sent on to the hunter in another country.

Export - animals harvested in Canada

Application for CITES permit to export parts or products of hunted animals

For individuals exporting parts or products of animals harvested in Canada (e.g. tanned skin, rug, claw or tooth jewelry, etc.)

NOT for trophies sent to hunter/trapper.

Export - animals harvested in Canada

Application for CITES permit to export fur garments or products

For garments or products made from the fur or skin of animals harvested in Canada. If the fur was imported into Canada, the re-export application should be used instead.

Export - ginseng or goldenseal

Application for CITES export to export Ontario-grown American ginseng

For export of ginseng grown in Ontario, from members in good standing of the Ontario Ginseng Growers Association (OGGA)

Export - ginseng or goldenseal

Application for CITES permit to export American ginseng or goldenseal

For export of Canadian-grown Goldenseal or American Ginseng from a province other than Ontario.

Export - ginseng or goldenseal

Application for additional permit copies

For requesting additional shipments of a valid CITES permit issued for multiple ginseng or goldenseal shipments.

Export - live Animals

Application for CITES permit to export live animals

For export of live animal(s) of Canadian origin.

Note: Use the RE-EXPORT Application form for live animal(s) of foreign origin.

Import - live Animals

Application for CITES permit to import live animals

For import into Canada of live CITES Appendix I animal(s)

Pets - travel

Application for CITES Certificate of Ownership

For Canadians to travel with their CITES-listed pet (e.g. parrots, reptiles, exotic hybrid cats). This certificate is also known as a CITES Pet Passport.

Valid for 3 years.
  • Pet Passport - Certificate of Ownership (PDF; 51 KB) (HTML)

Temporary movement

Application for a temporary movement certificate

For leaving and returning to Canada with items made with CITES-listed species (e.g. musical instruments, museum exhibits, art pieces). For use by individuals, exhibitors, museums, galleries, musical ensembles, etc.

Also used for live animals or plants belonging to circuses or other exhibitors.
  • Temporary Movement Certificate (PDF; 63 KB) (HTML)

Export – live plants

Application for CITES permit to export live plants

For export of live plants by nurseries, greenhouse, retailers, wholesalers, associations, etc.

Export – live plants

Application for additional permit copies

For requesting additional shipments of a valid CITES permit issued for multiple live plant shipments.

Export – live plants

Application for renewal of a multi-shipment permit

For requesting a new live plant permit based on an expired permit, where shipments for those plants are still required.

Import – live plants

Application for CITES permit to import live plants

For import of live CITES Appendix I plants by nurseries, greenhouse, retailers, wholesalers, associations, etc.

Export – live plants

Application for CITES permit to export personal/household plants

For export of live personal plants sent to an individual or as part of a household move.

Import – live plants

Application for CITES permit to import personal/household plants

For import of live CITES Appendix I personal plants for an individual or as part of a household move.

Export – plant parts or products

Application for CITES permit to export plant parts or products

For export of plant parts or products such as stems, leaves, powdered root, medicine, cosmetics, etc.

Export – plant parts or products

Application for renewal of a multi-shipment permit

For requesting a new plants parts or products permit based on an expired permit, where shipments for those plant parts or products are still required.

Export – plant parts or products

Application for additional permit copies

For requesting additional shipments of a valid CITES permit issued for plant parts or products shipments.

Import – plant parts or products

Application for CITES permit to import plant parts or products

For import of plant parts or products such as stems, leaves, powdered root, medicine, cosmetics, etc.

Export – wood or wood products

Application for CITES permit to export wood or wood products

For export of wood or wood products such as logs, plywood, veneer, inlays, guitar parts, furniture, etc.

Import - wood or wood products

Application for CITES permit to import wood or wood products

For import of wood or wood products such as logs, plywood, veneer, inlays, guitar parts, furniture, etc.

Re-exports

Application for a CITES re-export certificate

For re-export of specimens of animals or plants (including live) which originated from a foreign country.

Items may be re-exported in a different form than initially imported (such as imported reptile skin re-exported as a pair of boots.)

Renewals

Application to renew a single-use permit

For replacement of a single-use permit which has expired or will expire before it can be used.

The original copies of expired permit along with Application form must physically be sent to CITES office.

Instruction Sheets (PDF; 104 KB) (HTML)

Registration

Application for CITES registration of scientific institution

For registration with the CITES Secretariat of a Canadian scientific institution that needs to exchange samples with foreign CITES registered institutions.

Also used for renewal of registration every 3 years.
  • Scientific Institution Registration (PDF; 45 KB) (HTML)

Registration

Application for CITES registration of a captive breeding operation

For registration of facilities breeding CITES species for commercial trade.
  • Captive Breeding Operation Registration (PDF; 70 KB) (HTML)

Antiques or pre-convention

General animals Application form

For the import or export of parts or products from CITES-listed species obtained before the species was protected under CITES (e.g. antiques, pre-convention).

Scientific research

General animals Application form

For export or import of specimens of CITES listed species for scientific research or analysis.

Export – shipments of biomedical samples

Application for export of biomedical specimens

For multiple exports of samples of animals used for medical research on understanding, treating or preventing disease.

Use the General Animals Application form when only 1 shipment of samples is planned.

Export – shipments of biomedical samples

Application for additional permit copies.

For requesting additional shipments of a currently valid CITES permit issued for multiple biomedical sample shipments.

Export – shipments of biomedical samples

Application for renewal of a multi-shipment permit

For requesting a new biomedical sample permit based on an expired permit, where shipments for those biomedical samples are still required.
Temporary movement Application for a temporary import and export certificate

This application is to be used for requesting a certificate to import and export musical instruments or items that are part of a Traveling exhibition when these instruments or items contain elephant ivory and/or rhino horn. 

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