CITES Permit

This application is for a CITES Permit which is required by individuals and organizations who are exporting the following Species out of Canada: Black Bear, Grizzly Bear, Bobcat, Cougar, Canadian Lynx, River Otter, Sea Otter, Gray/Timber Wolf

Note to All Exporters and Importers:
All required CITES permits or certificates MUST be obtained prior to exporting and importing the CITES-listed specimens. CITES permits or certificates will NOT be issued retroactively. As well, a CITES permit or certificate will not be issued to release CITES-listed specimens which have been detained by customs due to lack of required CITES documents.

Costs and Responsibilities

Fees

$ 30 for Personal Use Specimen will be kept as a personal possession by the recipient.

$ 55 for any other use (Including transfers between taxidermists)

The $5.00 Habitat Conservation Trust Fund surcharge is included in the above fee(s).

Fees can be paid online at the time of application, or at a FrontCounter BC location. See Payment Guidelines for more information.

What you need to apply

Eligibility

Can submit a CITES Permit Application.

Information

Applications and Supporting Documentation

All documents provided MUST be complete, legible and scanned in their entirety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Information

You will need the following information:

Documents

Must include copies of the following to prove lawful ownership:

NOTE: A B.C. possession permit cannot be issued for a species that was not harvested in B.C.

  1. For species not subject to Compulsory Inspection:
  2. For species subject to Compulsory Inspection (for a list of species requiring Compulsory Inspection, see the Hunting and Trapping Regulations Synopsis):
  3. When the required documentation proving lawful ownership is not available:
  4. If the species was harvested in another jurisdiction within Canada, a valid export permit from the Province where the species was harvested is required.

The following is not acceptable as proof of lawful ownership:

The following animals require a CITES and not an Export Permit if the animal is leaving Canada:

Requirements for 'Description of wildlife':

Capes, Hides or Rugs

What happens after you apply

The target time frame for issuing your permit is 30 days *

  1. Receiving the application
    FrontCounter BC staff will review your application to make sure that it is complete. We will process your payment and any documents you might mail or bring to one of our offices. If more information is required we will contact you. An application will not be accepted and processed until all required information and documents as well as payment has been received.
  2. Decision Making
    FrontCounter BC staff will forward your application to the decision maker in the region who will review your application and make a decision.
  3. Issuance of Permit
    The decision maker will return your file to FrontCounter BC. If your application is approved, the permit will be issued. If your application is not approved, you will be notified.
  4. Delivery of Permit
    If your permit has been issued, you will either receive the permit in the mail or you can pick it up in person. It is not possible to fax or email the permit. You will receive 3 copies of the permit while 1 of those is stamped 'FILE COPY'. It is not possible to get less or more than those 3 copies.

*Processing time may be considerably longer if there is a required consultation process

Links

Tips for a successful application

Follow these tips to make the application process easier:

  1. Review this guide and have all the information and documents ready before you start filling out the application.
  2. Use a Basic, Personal or Business BCeID for your application. A BCeID is easy to get and allows you to save your application, reopen it, and check the status of your application online. Applications will automatically time-out after a certain period of inactivity if not saved.
  3. Contact FrontCounter BC before you begin, to help you with all natural resource applications.