Applying for a permit to import and export protected plant and animal species

Source: BUS Rheinland-Pfalz

The permit requirement applies to live and dead animals and plants listed in CITES as well as parts or products with components thereof.

You can also apply for the following CITES special permits:

Certificate for musical instruments,
Certificate for traveling exhibitions,
sample collection certificate and
travel certificate for pets of protected species

and

Exemption permit in accordance with the Habitats Directive (FFH) or the Birds Directive

You must present the issued permit to the import or export customs office for customs clearance under species protection law.
You also need a permit if you wish to re-export or re-import the specimen.
Special requirements for the permit are based on

the degree of protection of the species you wish to import or export and
the type of application.

You can apply for an import, export or re-export permit online or by post or email by scanning the signed application.

If you apply for the permit online:

Go to the website of the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation "citesantrag.bfn.de" and follow the instructions.
In addition to registration, various additional services are available to you there, for example
- Sending verification documents together with the online application,
- selecting the payment method and
- saving the submitted application in your account for later processing and creating templates for new applications.
If all the requirements for approval are met, this will be sent to you by post.
If your application is rejected, you will receive a fee-based rejection notice by post.

If you apply for approval by post or e-mail:

Download the application form at "citesantrag.bfn.de" or https://www.bfn.de/genehmigungen-und-bescheinigungen.
Fill it out and send it to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation by post or scan it together with the supporting documents required for the type of application.
If all the requirements for the permit have been met, it will be sent to you by post.
If your application is rejected, you will receive a notification of rejection by post for a fee.

The specific requirements for the permit depend on the degree of protection of the species you wish to import or export and the type of application.

You must have a positive opinion from the scientific authority
- This is not required when applying for a re-export certificate.
When applying for an import permit, you will need a copy of an export document from the exporting country.
You need a user account for the CITES online portal.

Application form and, if applicable, follow-up form for more than one species
Supporting documents for the import permit application for live specimens
Supporting documents for the application for an import permit for products or parts of plants or animals and for dead specimens
Supporting documents for the application for export permit or re-export certificate for live specimens
Supporting documents for the application for the export permit or re-export certificate for products or parts of plants or animals and for dead specimens

Use of import, export or re-export licenses: no later than the last day of validity of the documents
lodging an appeal against a rejection notice within one month of notification

Application Deadline: 4 - 6 Weeks
Applications for a permit must be submitted to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation in good time before the planned transfer. Please note that the statutory processing period is four weeks if all requirements are met. Applications for live animals must be submitted 6 weeks before the planned transport if possible.

The following information is available:

Protected animal and plant species

The easiest way to find out whether a species is protected or not is to use the relevant databases, such as the WISIA species database or the international CITES database Species+. Here you can enter the scientific species name and obtain information on the protected status of the species.

Dealing with species protection documents after receipt

Please check your species protection permit for completeness and accuracy of the information upon receipt. Multiple use of the permit/certificate is not possible. Each permit issued can only be used once during its period of validity.

Unused species protection documents

After expiry of the validity period, you are obliged to return all copies of the permit/certificate to us without being asked.

Loss of species protection documents

The loss of a document must be reported to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) immediately in writing, stating the facts of the case.

Other regulations that may need to be observed

Nagoya Protocol
Veterinary law
Pharmaceutical law
Invasive alien speciesCustoms law,
Timber Trade Regulation
Regulation on deforestation-free supply chains

Applying for a permit to import and export protected plant and animal species

Process flow

Requirements

Which documents are required?

What are the fees?

What deadlines do I have to pay attention to?

Processing duration

Legal basis

Applications / forms

Appeal

What else should I know?

Professionally released on