CITES Permits - Do I need one?
Importing a CITES Animal into Canada: What Hunters, Taxidermists & Importers Need to Know
Importing wildlife into Canada is more than simply getting the animal across the border. When the species is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the shipment may require permits from both the exporting country and Canada—and those permits must be in place before the shipment moves.
For hunters, taxidermists, outfitters and wildlife importers, understanding the CITES requirements before the animal leaves its country of origin can prevent costly delays, seizures and rejected shipments.
Important: CITES requirements are only one part of the Canadian import process. Depending on the species, country of origin and condition of the animal, additional CFIA, customs, provincial/territorial and other requirements may apply.
What Is CITES?
CITES is an international agreement that regulates international trade in certain wild animals, plants and products made from them.
Canada implements CITES through the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) and its regulations.
CITES applies to much more than live animals. A CITES-controlled specimen can include:
A live animal
A dead animal
A hunting trophy
A skull
Horns or antlers
Hide or skin
Feathers
Teeth or tusks
Bones
Claws
Taxidermy mounts
Other parts, products or derivatives
Canada specifically states that CITES permits can be required for specimens that are alive or dead, whole or in parts, or products and derivatives of protected species.
This is one of the most important concepts for anyone shipping hunting trophies internationally.
Step 1: Determine Whether the Species Is CITES Listed
Before arranging transportation, the first question should be:
Is the species protected under CITES?
Canada maintains a CITES species checklist that identifies whether a species is listed under Appendix I, II or III.
Canada recommends searching using the animal's scientific name, because common names can vary and the checklist requires the correct taxonomic name.
Canada's CITES species checklist and permitting information
Why the exact species matters
Two animals that appear similar to a hunter or shipper may have completely different CITES requirements.
The CITES listing can also include specific populations, subspecies or geographic exceptions.
That means you should determine:
Scientific name → CITES Appendix → country of origin → specimen type → intended use
before determining what permits are required.
Understanding the Three CITES Appendices
CITES divides protected species into three appendices.
Appendix I
Appendix I contains species considered to be threatened with extinction and subject to the highest level of CITES protection.
For an Appendix I specimen being imported into Canada, the shipment generally requires:
A Canadian CITES import permit, and
A CITES export permit or re-export certificate from the exporting country.
Canada states that commercial trade in wild Appendix I species is generally prohibited, although specific exceptions can exist, such as certain pre-Convention specimens or qualifying captive-bred specimens.
This is why Appendix I trophies require particularly careful planning.
Appendix II
Appendix II species are not necessarily currently threatened with extinction, but international trade is controlled to ensure that trade does not threaten the species.
For an Appendix II specimen entering Canada, the exporting country generally needs to issue the appropriate CITES export permit or re-export certificate.
A Canadian CITES import permit is generally not required solely because the animal is Appendix II.
However, that does not mean an Appendix II trophy can simply be shipped to Canada without documentation.
The export country may have its own CITES requirements, and Canada may have separate CFIA, wildlife or import requirements.
Appendix III
Appendix III is used when a country has requested international assistance in controlling trade in a species protected within that country.
Depending on where the specimen originated, the shipment may require:
A CITES export permit
A certificate of origin
A re-export certificate
The exact document depends on the species and the country involved.
The Country You Are Shipping FROM Matters
One of the biggest mistakes people make is looking only at Canada's requirements.
CITES is international, but each country implements CITES through its own laws and permitting system.
For example, an animal may be:
Legally harvested → properly documented → CITES listed → exported from Country A → imported into Canada
Every step has to work.
The country where the animal was harvested or is currently located may require its own:
Hunting permit
Export permit
CITES export permit
Veterinary documentation
Wildlife authority approval
Taxidermy documentation
Health certificate
Other government documentation
Canada specifically advises importers and exporters that additional requirements may apply in other countries and along the transportation route.
Hunting Trophies Have Special Rules
For hunters, the process can be different from importing a commercial wildlife product.
Canada has a specific CITES hunting trophy application for certain situations.
The Canadian government's current application information identifies the hunting trophy import application for CITES Appendix I animals harvested abroad and imported into Canada on behalf of the hunter/trapper. The trophy may also be imported into Canada for taxidermy before ultimately being sent to the hunter in another country.
Canada's hunting trophy information describes the qualifying trophy as a dead animal, whole or in part, including trophies that are raw or processed, such as tanned or mounted specimens. It also specifies that the trophy must have been legally harvested for the hunter's personal use and be imported by or on behalf of the hunter as part of a transfer ultimately reaching the hunter's residence.
This distinction is extremely important when a trophy is being shipped through a taxidermist, customs broker or logistics company.
Does the Hunter Have to Personally Ship the Trophy?
No—not necessarily.
Canada's guidance recognizes that an individual other than the applicant, such as a broker, may submit certain CITES applications. The important point is that the correct applicant and ultimate purpose of the shipment must be accurately identified.
For hunting trophies, the circumstances surrounding the shipment matter.
For example:
Hunter hunts in Africa → trophy is prepared by taxidermist → trophy is shipped to Canada → Canadian taxidermist completes work → trophy eventually goes to hunter
That is very different from:
Company purchases an animal product overseas → imports it into Canada for resale.
The documentation and legal basis for the shipment need to accurately reflect what is actually happening.
Are There CITES Exemptions?
Yes—but exemptions should never be assumed.
Canada has specific CITES-related exemptions for certain non-commercial situations, including:
Tourist souvenirs
Personal effects
Household effects
Certain black bear and Sandhill crane hunting trophies
The hunting trophy exemption is quite narrow. For example, Canada's exemption for black bear applies to specific forms of trophy taken legally between Canada and the United States as personal accompanied baggage.
An exemption that applies to one shipment may not apply to another shipment involving:
A different species
A different destination
A different form of trophy
Commercial transportation
Taxidermy
A different country
A different ownership situation
When in doubt, verify the exemption before shipping.
Special Attention: Elephant Ivory and Rhinoceros Horn
Elephant ivory and rhinoceros horn have particularly strict Canadian rules.
Canada states that, since January 8, 2024, import and re-export permits for raw elephant ivory and raw rhinoceros horn, including hunting trophies, are no longer granted except for limited purposes such as zoos, museums, scientific purposes or enforcement activities.
This is an excellent example of why historical experience with a species does not necessarily mean the same shipment can be imported today.
Regulations change.
A Simple CITES Import Checklist
Before shipping a CITES animal or trophy into Canada, confirm:
Exact scientific name of the species
CITES Appendix I, II or III status
Country where the animal was harvested or obtained
Country from which the shipment will be exported
Whether the specimen is live, raw, processed or fully taxidermied
Whether it is a hunting trophy
Whether the trophy is for personal or commercial purposes
Foreign CITES requirements
Canadian CITES requirements
Canadian import requirements under CFIA
Any provincial or territorial requirements
Requirements of any transit countries
Correct customs documentation
Correct permits issued before shipment
Correct inspection/validation arrangements
Appropriate packaging
Documentation matching the physical contents of the shipment
The Biggest Mistake: Treating CITES as "Just a Permit"
CITES is really a chain of documentation.
A successful shipment requires the information on the:
hunting documentation
to match the
CITES documentation
which matches the
taxidermy documentation
which matches the
commercial/customs documentation
which matches the
physical trophy
If those pieces don't agree, the shipment can become complicated very quickly.
How Rigel Logistics Can Help
For hunters, outfitters and taxidermists, international trophy shipping can involve several different government agencies and several different sets of regulations.
Rigel Logistics specializes in wildlife and trophy transportation and can help coordinate the documentation and logistics involved in moving trophies internationally.
That can include helping determine:
What is the species?
Is it CITES listed?
Which Appendix?
What permits are required?
What does the exporting country require?
What does Canada require?
Does CFIA have additional requirements?
Where should the shipment enter Canada?
Does the trophy need treatment or inspection?
What happens after it arrives?
Getting those questions answered before the trophy moves is one of the best ways to avoid unnecessary delays, storage charges and border problems.
Final Takeaway
Importing a CITES-listed animal into Canada is not simply a matter of putting the trophy on a plane and presenting paperwork at the border.
The process starts before the shipment leaves the country of origin.
The species must be correctly identified, the CITES Appendix determined, foreign export requirements confirmed, Canadian requirements reviewed, CFIA requirements considered, and all required documentation obtained before transportation begins.
For hunting trophies in particular, the animal's species, country of origin, CITES status, condition, ownership, intended use and transportation route can all affect the requirements.
When dealing with CITES, preparation is far easier than fixing a problem at the border.
Regulations and permit requirements can change. This article is intended as general educational information and should not be treated as legal or regulatory advice. Requirements should be verified with the appropriate Canadian and foreign authorities before each shipment.
