To ensure the safety and protection of all wildlife, both domestically and internationally, it is important that importing and exporting activities are regulated by the Service as well as other governmental agencies. The information below will be of use to the following entities when they import or export wildlife or wildlife products:

  • Businesses and individuals engaged in commerce
  • Animal dealers, animal brokers, pet dealers, or pet or laboratory suppliers
  • Trade show participants displaying wildlife products
  • Collectors or hobbyists involved in commercial activities
  • Commercial laboratories, researchers or biomedical suppliers
  • Circuses and animal shows
  • Scientific institutions
  • Academic institutions

The Service issues a variety of permits for activities involving import or export. Review this list for regulated activities. Follow the link for more on that permit on our ePermits site. You'll find additional resources there to help. You can even begin the application process online. Please note that your particular activity may require multiple permits. 

Import/export permits:

Migratory Bird – Raptor Propagation (3-200-12)

Import of Sport-Hunted Trophies of Southern African Leopard and Namibian Southern White Rhinoceros (3-200-19)

Designated Port Exception Permit (3-200-2)

Import of Sport-Hunted Trophies (3-200-20)

Import of Sport-Hunted Trophies of Argali (3-200-21)

Import of Sport-Hunted Bontebok Trophies (3-200-22)

Export/Re-export of Wildlife Samples and/or Biomedical Samples (CITES) (3-200-29)

Export/Re-export/Re-Import of Traveling Exhibitions (and Reissuance) under the CITES and/or ESA (3-200-30)

Introduction from the Sea under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3-200-31)

Import of Wild Collected Appendix-I Plants under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3-200-35)

Export/Re-Export/Import/Interstate and Foreign Commerce of Plants under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and/or the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (3-200-36)

Import / Export / Re-export of Live Animals under CITES/ESA (3-200-37a)

Interstate or Foreign Commerce of Live Animals/Samples/or Products (ESA) (3-200-37d)

Import/Export/Re-Export of Biological Specimens (CITES/ESA) for Scientific Research (3-200-37e)

Import of Live African Elephants and Southern White Rhinos from South Africa and Eswatini under CITES (3-200-37f)

Certificate of Scientific Exchange (COSE) under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3-200-39)

Import / Export License for U.S. Entities (3-200-3a)

Import / Export License for Foreign Entities (3-200-3b)

Export and Re-Import of Museum Specimens under the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) Museum Exchange (CITES/ESA) (3-200-40)

Import/ Acquisition/Transport of Injurious Wildlife under the Lacey Act (3-200-42)

Take/Import/Transport/Export of Marine Mammals or Amendment of Permit (MMPA; ESA) (3-200-43)

Import/Export/Re-Export of Personal Pets under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and/or the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) (3-200-46)

Import of Birds for Scientific Research or Zoological Breeding and Display under the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) (3-200-47)

Import of Birds under an Approved Cooperative Breeding Program under the Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA) (3-200-48)

Migratory Bird Import / Export (3-200-6)

Certificate of Ownership for Personally Owned Wildlife "Pet Passport" under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3-200-64)

Transport of Bald and Golden Eagle from and to the United States for Indian Religious Purposes under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) (3-200-70)

Pre-Convention, Pre-Act, or Antique Musical Instruments Certificate (CITES, MMPA and/or ESA) (3-200-88)