I. Importing CITES Species

Step 1:

Obtain valid CITES export or re-export permit

Ensure you have a valid CITES export or re-export permit issued by the exporting or re-exporting country’s CITES Management Authority. A digital copy will need to be attached in your application for a CITES import permit issued by NParks.

 

The original CITES export or re-export permit must also be submitted to NParks immediately after clearance of the shipment at HortPark Visitor Services Centre [click here for the location].

 

HortPark Visitor Services Centre

33 Hyderabad Road, Singapore 119578

Tel: 6471 5601

9:00am to 12:00pm; 1:00pm to 5:00pm

(Mondays to Fridays)

Shipments that are accompanied by expired CITES permits will be detained or seized pending further investigations.

You can find a list of CITES Parties and details of the relevant contact persons here.

Step 2:

Apply for a CITES import permit issued by NParks online via GoBusiness

 

You must obtain a CITES import permit issued by NParks before your shipment arrives in Singapore. Each CITES permit is valid for a maximum of 6 months from the date of issuance, and is valid for one consignment only.

Apply for a CITES permit online via GoBusiness at least two working weeks before your shipment arrives. Failing to do so may result in:

- Delays in your shipment’s clearance at the port of entry
- Shipments being returned to the exporting or re-exporting country
- Your shipments being seized by the authorities

 

Please note that a copy of the CITES export or re-export permit issued by the exporting or re-exporting country is required during application.

 
It may take up to seven working days from your date of application, for NParks to issue your CITES import permit, provided that all your supporting documents and application details are accurate and in order. More time may be needed for processing import applications, if NParks needs to verify the foreign CITES permits with the respective CITES Management Authorities.

Please note that Express service is not applicable to CITES import permit applications.

 

Step 3:

Payment

 

Upfront payment is required for all CITES applications, prior to the processing of the applications by NParks.

Fees

Type of Permit	Normal Service (within 7 working days* from date of application)	Express Service (not offered to import applications, within 2 working days* from date of application)
CITES import permit	$12 per scheduled species subject to a minimum of $60 per consignment. Each additional species is charged S$12 within the same consignment.	N.A.
Amendment of CITES permit	S$9.45 per amendment	N.A.

*Day 1 starts on the next working day from application submission date

Fees may be paid via:
- GIRO
- Online payment methods available on GoBusiness.

Step 4:

Self-print approved CITES permits

 

Once the CITES permit application has been approved, applicants can proceed to self-print the CITES permit on single-side, plain A4 white paper (normal 70 or 80gsm) in non-colour.

Every issued CITES permit is valid for one consignment only. There should be no attempts to print multiple copies of the same CITES permit number for re-use, or reprint a lost/damaged/defaced permit.

The CITES permit issued by NParks will carry a QR code on the top right-hand side of the permit. This QR code allows for the permit to be authenticated by Customs and foreign CITES Management Authorities officers through a secured Government verification website (verify.gov.sg). The resultant scanning of the QR code will display the permit details on-screen, with remarks indicating that the document is issued by the Singapore Government and not been tampered with.

II. Exporting or re-exporting CITES species

 

Step 1:

Activation of import stock card/approval of stock card application

 

Stock cards track the movement of CITES specimens into or out of the country, and transfers between companies. In order to apply for CITES permits issued by NParks, the relevant stock cards must first be activated.

If your consignment is imported with a CITES import permit, the import stock card will be activated by NParks in GoBusiness.

If your consignment does not require a CITES import permit, you must create your own stock card and have it approved by NParks on GoBusiness. Examples of such consignments include certain manufactured leather products or specimens that were imported, or locally harvested CITES species.

Any mistakes made during your stock card application will affect the subsequent CITES re-export permit application. An erroneous CITES export or re-export permit may result in the destination country rejecting, detaining, confiscating, or destroying your shipment. NParks is not liable for any decisions foreign authorities pass on your consignment.

Therefore, please ensure that your stock card application contains the correct details, and that you submit the relevant original foreign CITES export or re-export permits to NParks before the application can be approved. If you wish to amend the information on your stock card after your application’s approval, please e-mail NParks with the affected stock card ID numbers to re-submit your application.  

Step 2:
Apply for a CITES export or re-export permit issued by NParks online via GoBusiness 

You must obtain the CITES permit before your shipment departs Singapore. We do not issue retrospective CITES permits, i.e. we do not issue CITES permits for shipments that has already left Singapore.

 

Each CITES permit is valid for a maximum of 6 months from the date of issuance, and is valid for one consignment only.

 

Please note that it may take up to seven working days from the date of application for NParks to issue your CITES export/re-export permit, provided that all your supporting documents and application details are accurate and in order..

 

Express service is available for CITES export/re-export permit applications. Express permits will be issued within two working days, provided that all your supporting documents and application details are accurate and in order.

Step 3:
Comply with the destination country’s import requirements

 

You are responsible for contacting the relevant CITES authorities and ensuring that your shipment complies with the destination country’s CITES requirements.

You can use a copy of your CITES export or re-export permit issued by NParks to support this application.

Step 4:

Payment

 

Upfront payment is required for all CITES applications, prior to the processing of the applications by NParks.

Fees

Type of Permit	Normal Service (within 7 working days* from date of application)	Express Service (within 2 working days* from date of application)
CITES export/re-export permit	$12 per scheduled species subject to a minimum of $60 per consignment. Each additional species is charged S$12 within the same consignment.	$24 per scheduled species subject to a minimum of $120 per consignment. Each additional species is charged at S$24 within the same consignment.
CITES export/re-export permit (for commercial consignments of manufactured products)	S$29.40 per permit	S$58.80 per permit
Pre-signed CITES permit (for non-commercial tourist manufactured products)	S$10 per permit	S$20 per permit
Certificate of Origin (for Appendix III species)	S$29.40 per permit	S$58.80 per permit
Amendment of CITES permit	S$9.45 per amendment	N.A.

*Day 1 starts on the next working day from application submission date

Fees may be paid via:
- GIRO
- Online payment methods available on GoBusiness.

Step 5:

Self-print approved CITES permits

 

Once the CITES permit application has been approved, applicants can proceed to self-print the CITES permit on single-side, plain A4 white paper (normal 70 or 80gsm) in non-colour.

Every issued CITES permit is valid for one consignment only. There should be no attempts to print multiple copies of the same CITES permit number for re-use, or reprint a lost/damaged/defaced permit.

NParks issued CITES permit will be issued with a QR code on the top right-hand side of the permit. This QR code allows for the permit to be authenticated by Customs and foreign CITES Management Authorities officers through a secured Government verification website (verify.gov.sg). The resultant scanning of the QR code will display the permit details on-screen, with remarks indicating that the document is issued by the Singapore Government and not been tampered with.

III. Other requirements

Submit an inward/outward declaration via Tradenet

All imports, exports and re-exports of CITES consignments require a mandatory Cargo Clearance Permit, obtained through approval of Tradenet declarations.

Once your CITES permit for import, export, or re-export has been issued, you must proceed to submit a TradeNet declaration using the appropriate HS codes and product codes.

Please submit your TradeNet declaration and relevant supporting documents before 5.30 pm on Mondays to Thursdays, and before 5 pm on Fridays, to facilitate same-day processing.  Any submissions made on Saturdays, Sundays, and Public Holidays will be processed the next working day.

Please note that CITES permits must be obtained before you submit your TradeNet declaration, and that it should be uploaded as a supporting document in the declaration. Failure to do so will result in the rejection of the declaration.

Check destination countries’ import requirements

In addition to CITES permits, you are required to meet AVS’ veterinary import conditions or the destination countries import requirements, if you are importing or exporting/live animals, respectively.

Please refer to the import, export, and transshipment of wildlife for detailed guidelines.

Guidelines on specific animals are available on the following pages:
- Ornamental birds (including CITES-listed birds)
- Ornamental fish (including CITES-listed fish)
- Insects and other invertebrates
- Amphibians and reptiles

IV. Requirement for CITES species transiting Singapore

If a CITES specimen is transiting Singapore and does not involve a local consignee or importer, it must be accompanied by a valid CITES export or re-export permit issued by the exporting or re-exporting country’s relevant CITES authority.

The following additional requirements apply if the specimen is a live animal, or if it belongs to a species listed under CITES Appendix I:

1. You must obtain a valid CITES import permit issued by the destination country’s relevant CITES authority for your shipment.

2. You must obtain both the CITES export or re-export permit, and CITES import permit, from the relevant parties, and present them to NParks prior to your specimen’s arrival in Singapore.

3. The CITES permits and other shipping documents must be available for inspection when required by NParks or port authorities.

If a CITES specimen is transiting Singapore and involves a local consignee or importer, the specimen is considered an import for re-export. This classification also applies to CITES specimens or shipment that remains or is temporarily stored at the free trade zone, whether or not it involves re-packing. The following requirements apply:

1. Your specimen must be accompanied by a valid CITES export or re-export permit issued by the exporting or re-exporting country’s relevant CITES authority, as well as a CITES import permit from NParks.

2. You must obtain and present both the CITES export or re-export permit, and the CITES import permit, to NParks prior to your specimen’s arrival in Singapore.

3. The CITES permits and other shipping documents must be available for inspection when required by NParks or port authorities.

4. Obtain the CITES re-export permit from NParks before your specimen or shipment departs.

Commercial trade of CITES Appendix I specimens such as elephant ivory, rhino horn, tiger parts, pangolin scales, and marine turtle scales, are strictly prohibited.

Commercial trade of CITES Appendix II specimens such as reptile skins, corals, agarwood, and rosewood, is permitted via issuance of CITES permits.

A standard CITES permit format is available here for reference.

If in doubt, please email nparks@cites.gov.sg.