How to apply for a CITES permit

As of 1st January 2023, 184 Parties had signed up to CITES, which protect for over 40,000 species (more than 6,610 animal species and 34,310 plant species) listed in three appendices. The list of species covered and further information about the CITES is available on the website www.cites.org. According to the Convention, a CITES document must be obtained in advance of any import, export or re-export of a specimen.

The Principality of Monaco is a Party to CITES; the Convention entered into force in the Principality on 18 July 1978 on the basis of the Sovereign Ordinance no. 6.292 of 23 June 1978.

The species are listed in three appendices:

• Appendix I covers the most endangered species. Trade in these species is prohibited or authorised only under certain conditions. Symbolic species such as the elephant, Siberian tiger, rhinoceros, gorilla, Przewalski's horse, certain cacti and some orchids are included in this Appendix
• Appendix II covers species likely to become threatened with extinction if international trade in them is not controlled. A permit is mandatory for any transaction involving these species. This Appendix includes the vast majority of species covered by CITES: certain reptiles, sturgeon, some species of orchids and cacti not included in Appendix I
• Appendix III includes species in respect of which one Party requires the cooperation of the other Parties to prevent illegal or unsustainable exploitation. Documentation is required for trade in these species

A "specimen" is considered to be any animal or plant, live or dead, which belongs to one of the species included in the list of those protected by CITES, or any part or product obtained from such animals or plants, whether or not it is incorporated into other goods.

The Department of the Environment is the CITES management authority for Monaco. It issues permits to individuals and professionals.

CITES documents must be obtained prior to any import, export, or re-export (export of a previously imported specimen). CITES documents are sent to the applicant as identified on either the online service or the form.

Any unused or outdated CITES documents must be returned to the Department of the Environment (form CITES/2023-004). Any lost documents must be reported, even if there is no request for renewal.

Private individuals holding CITES specimens and wishing to obtain Monegasque CITES documents must:

• Provide any CITES documents in their possession
• Prove the legal acquisition of the specimen 
• If the specimen is pre-convention (acquired before the entry into force of the convention for the species concerned): provide a certificate written in French and issued by an expert mentioning the date or period, the name of the species, a detailed description, and a photo of the specimen
• For live animals: provide proof of legal acquisition, any CITES document, demonstrate that you can house the animal in conditions appropriate to its species, and comply with animal welfare regulations (Ministerial Decree no. 2021-572 of 2 August 2021 implementing the Sovereign Ordinance no. 8.808 of August 2021 pertaining to the breeding, keeping and ownership of animal) and any health regulations in force.