Permits

Permits provide a means to balance use and conservation of protected species. Permits can be important as a conservation tool, to promote long-term conservation of animals, plants, and their habitats, and encourage joint stewardship with others.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service issues permits under various wildlife laws and treaties at different offices at the national, regional, and/or wildlife port levels. (We do not issue hunting and fishing licenses. Instead, those are issued by  State wildlife agencies.)

Permits enable the public to engage in legitimate wildlife-related activities that would otherwise be prohibited by law. Service permit programs ensure that such activities are carried out in a manner that safeguards wildlife. Additionally, some permits promote conservation efforts by authorizing scientific research, generating data, or allowing wildlife management and rehabilitation activities to go forward.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations. The migratory bird species protected by the Act are listed in 50 CFR 10.13.

View the list of MBTA protected birds.

Download a permit application or report form.

Send your completed application forms to your Regional Migratory Bird Permit Office.

New Electronic Permitting System
We have a launched a new electronic permitting system. It is now possible to submit many permit applications online, as well as pay the processing fee online. Some permit applications still need to be submitted by mail at this time, including renewals and amendments to existing permits.  Please visit FWS ePermits to learn more.