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.
- 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
- Launch Adobe Reader
- 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
- Copy the following text:
chrome://settings/content/pdfDocuments - Paste the copied text into the address bar (located at the top of your browser) and press the Enter key on your keyboard
- 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
- Copy the following text:
about:preferences#general - Paste the copied text into the address bar (located at the top of your browser) and press the Enter key on your keyboard
- Scroll down to the Applications section
- Locate and select Portable Document Format (PDF) under Content Type
- Using the drop-down menu in the Action column, change the Action to Save File
Microsoft Edge
- Copy the following text:
edge://settings/content/pdfDocuments - 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
- 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:
- Ensure that you have installed Adobe Reader
- Click the Show Downloads button near the top right corner of the browser
- 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
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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
Registration |
Application for CITES registration of a captive breeding operation |
For registration of facilities breeding CITES species for commercial trade. |
|
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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