The Division of Management Authority's Branch of Permits issues permits for the import, export, and re-export of species listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild fauna and Flora (CITES). We focus on regulating international movement of protected species, as well as intra-state movement of species protected under the U.S. Endangered Species Act and other domestic and international laws and treaties, specifically the Lacey Act (injurious wildlife), the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and the Wild Bird Conservation Act.

To determine if you need a permit from our office, you should start by checking the following species lists:

• CITES - Search by scientific name or common name on the CITES Species Database.
• Endangered Species Act (ESA) - Visit the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's (Service) Endangered Species program website.
• Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) - USFWS has jurisdiction over the walrus, polar bear, sea otter, marine otter, West African manatee, Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and dugong. All other marine mammals are regulated by NOAA Fisheries.
• Wild Bird Conservation Act (WBCA)- Visit our WBCA page.
• Lacey Act- Check the current list of injurious wildlife .

If you are unsure whether the animal or plant species that you are importing, exporting, or re-exporting is listed under any of these laws or treaties, please contact the Division of Management Authority, Branch of Permits .

To access additional application forms and determine whether you need to obtain permits issued by other programs within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, please visit the main permits page.

Banner Credits: Scarlet Macaw: Manfred Meiners; Orchids: USFWS; Gecko: Frupus CC BY-NC 3.0