How to request a CITES permit

To protect wildlife from commercial overexploitation, which is partly responsible for the decline in global biodiversity, a Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, better known by its acronym, CITES, was signed in Washington, D.C., on 3 March 1973 and entered into force on 1 July 1975.

As of 1^st January 2017, 183 states had signed up to CITES, which protect around 30,000 animal and 5,000 plant species, 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, etc.

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.

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.

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 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 Department of the Environment is the CITES Management Authority for Monaco. It issues permits to individuals and professionals.

For more details, please see the CITES Brochure (French only):

For events taking place in Monaco, an information document has been specifically prepared for the attention of organisers and participants. Even where an event is of short duration, CITES provisions must be adhered to.

For more details, please see the information document (French only):

CITES documentation must be obtained in advance of any import, export or re-export (export of an imported specimen) of a specimen.

Your application must include the following documents:

• A legible copy of the export permit or a re-export certificate indicating Monaco as the destination (for imports)
• Any document certifying the legal origin of the specimen and its provenance (for exports)
• Any document certifying that the specimen was legally imported into the Principality (for re-exports)
• The re-export for personal use certificates (to obtain a commercial use certificate
• The re-export certificates to be renewed (in the case of renewal of expired certificates)

In all cases, unused CITES documents must be returned to the Department of the Environment.