Taiwan CITES Import Permit 2026
To import wild animals, plants, and their products listed in the CITES Appendices, an applicant must apply to the International Trade Administration, MOEA for a CITES import/export permit. The process involves confirming the applicable Appendix, preparing documents proving legal origin, applying online through cfgate, obtaining the original physical permit after approval, and entering the permit number in the customs declaration. The permit is valid for 6 months and covers one import only. If the goods cannot be shipped from the original port of loading in time, the applicant may apply for an extension within one month before expiry under Article 15 of the Regulations Governing Import of Commodities; each extension may be no longer than 6 months, and no more than 2 extensions are permitted. However, goods designated by public notice of the International Trade Administration, MOEA cannot be extended and must be imported within the prescribed period; if the permit expires, a new application is required. Readers should confirm with the issuing authority whether CITES goods fall within the non-extendable category.
Last updated: 2026-09-13 · HowBridge Logistics editorial team · Compiled from Customs announcements and current regulations
1. What is a CITES permit? Which goods need one?
CITES is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Taiwan controls imports and exports of CITES-listed species under wildlife conservation rules.
Common imported goods that may need a CITES permit include:
| Category | Common controlled items |
|---|---|
| Animals and products | Ivory and carvings, rhino horn, tortoiseshell, crocodile leather, Asian arowana, and some reptiles. |
| Timber and plants | Rosewood, agarwood, orchids, cacti, and related plant products. |
| Herbal materials | Bear bile, musk, rhino horn powder, and similar materials. Some exemptions may apply. |
| Sea products | Certain shark fins, seahorses, and other listed aquatic species. |
Reminder: control status depends on the scientific name. Common names alone are not enough.
Key CITES Import Figures (Free to Cite)
- The Convention was signed in Washington by 21 countries in 1973 and entered into force on July 1, 1975; as of June 2025 it has 185 Parties (184 countries + the EU) and regulates more than 40,900 species of animals and plants across 3 Appendices.
- Taiwan is not a Party, but under Article 13-1 of the Foreign Trade Act, goods may not be imported without permit documents from the exporting country, and exports require permission from the International Trade Administration.
- Permit validity: 6 months from the date of issuance, valid for a single import or export only (Article 21 of the Regulations Governing the Import and Export of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Their Products); no extension is allowed (Article 23); if the content is wrong, the permit must be cancelled and reissued and may not be amended (Article 22).
- Customs declaration: enter code 8 in the "inspection method" field of the import declaration and declare the scientific name, common name, and exporting country's CITES permit number item by item (Article 5); after inspection, customs sends the originals to the International Trade Administration monthly (Article 6).
- Record keeping: import and export transaction documents must be kept for 5 years from the day after customs release (Article 25).
- Penalties: importing without permit documents from the exporting country is subject, under Article 28 of the Foreign Trade Act, to a fine of NT$60,000–3,000,000 or suspension of import/export for 1 month to 1 year; importing protected species without consent is punishable under Article 40 of the Wildlife Conservation Act by imprisonment of 6 months to 5 years, with an optional additional fine of NT$300,000–1,500,000.
- Travelers: CITES-listed plant-based Chinese herbal materials such as Bletilla, Gastrodia, Dendrobium, ginseng, and American ginseng totaling up to 1 kg are exempt from CITES documents; ingredients from protected animals such as rhino horn, tiger bone, bear bile, musk, and pangolin require prior approval from the Ministry of Agriculture (Taipei Customs announcement).
- Source codes: W = taken from the wild, R = ranched, F = born in captivity, C = meets the definition of bred in captivity (interpretive letter from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency).
2. Appendix levels and control strength
The Washington Convention uses 3 Appendices to regulate international trade in wild animals and plants by level: Appendix I covers the species most threatened with extinction, where commercial trade is in principle prohibited and imports require both an export permit from the exporting country and an import permit issued by Taiwan; Appendix II species may be traded legally under controls and imported with an export or re-export permit from the exporting country; Appendix III species are listed voluntarily by individual Parties and are handled with a certificate of origin or that country's permit. As of June 2025, the Convention has 185 Parties and regulates more than 40,900 species of animals and plants.
| Appendix | Status | Import rule | Commercial trade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appendix I | Highest extinction risk | Import permit is required, and the exporting country must issue an export permit. Other authority approval is often needed. | Commercial trade is generally prohibited. |
| Appendix II | May become threatened without control | Use the foreign export permit or re-export permit for import control. | Legal trade may proceed under controls. |
| Appendix III | Species listed by individual countries | Certificate of origin or permit may be required depending on the listing country. | Follow the listing country rules. |
| Re-export | Export from a non-origin country | The middle country must issue a re-export permit. | Legal origin must be traceable. |
3. CITES import permit application process
Application system: Import/export electronic permit system cfgate.trade.gov.tw
Check the CITES appendix
Use the product species scientific name to check whether Appendix I, II, or III applies.
Prepare legal source documents
Prepare foreign CITES permits, legal source proof, breeding documents, artificial propagation proof, or purchase records.
Submit the cfgate application
Log in, select the CITES permit type, enter scientific name, quantity, source, and purpose, and upload files.
Collect the original paper permit
After approval, collect the original paper permit in person or by mail. Submit it at customs.
Validity Period and Extension: An import permit is valid for 6 months from the date of issuance (Regulations Governing Import of Commodities, Article 13), and each permit covers one import. If the goods cannot be shipped from the original port of loading within that period, the applicant may apply for an extension within one month before the permit expires; each extension may not exceed 6 months, and no more than 2 extensions are permitted (Article 15 of the same Regulations). However, goods designated by public notice of the International Trade Administration must be imported within the prescribed period and may not be extended. When applying, please confirm with the issuing authority whether CITES goods fall within the category for which extensions are not permitted.
4. Customs declaration notes
- Enter code 8 in the inspection method field of the import declaration.
- State the scientific name and permit number in the goods description.
- Submit the original paper CITES permit to customs for review.
- Timber goods may need a species identification report to match the permit.
- If the goods are re-exported later, apply for a re-export permit.
- Under Article 25 of the Regulations Governing the Import and Export of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Their Products, import and export transaction documents and records must be kept for 5 years from the day after customs release.
- Understand the source codes on CITES documents: W = taken from the wild, R = ranched, F = born in captivity, C = meets the definition of bred in captivity (interpretive letter from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture); for species designated as protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act, even captive-bred specimens require prior consent from the Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency before import (Article 24 of the same Act).
Importing without a CITES permit may lead to penalties, seizure, or criminal liability under wildlife conservation rules.
5. Personal-use document exemptions
Travelers carrying small amounts of CITES-listed items for personal use may qualify for document exemptions if official conditions are met, but customs declaration is still required.
| Situation | Rule |
|---|---|
| Small personal use | May be exempt from a foreign CITES permit if official conditions are met, but declaration remains required. |
| Commercial import | A CITES permit is required regardless of quantity. |
| Appendix I species | Simplified handling usually does not apply. Confirm with the authority first. |
| Travelers carrying CITES-listed plant-based Chinese herbal materials | Bletilla, Gastrodia, Dendrobium, Cibotium barometz, Nardostachys jatamansi, Picrorhiza kurroa, Cistanche, ginseng, American ginseng, and aloe totaling up to 1 kg are exempt from CITES permit documents; above 1 kg, or when carrying other CITES species, permit documents must be submitted to customs for clearance (Taipei Customs, "Customs Clearance Rules for Imported Drugs and Medical Devices"). |
| Chinese herbal materials containing protected animal ingredients | Rhino horn, tiger bone, leopard bone, tortoiseshell (hawksbill), bear bile, musk, otter liver, pangolin, and the like, or Chinese medicine preparations containing these ingredients, require prior approval from the Ministry of Agriculture (formerly the Council of Agriculture, Executive Yuan); otherwise they may not be brought in. |
Personal-use rules change by species and quantity. Follow the latest official notices.
6. Authorities and lookup channels
| Permit authority | International Trade Administration; application system: cfgate.trade.gov.tw. |
| Conservation authority | Forestry and Nature Conservation Agency, Ministry of Agriculture. |
| Species lookup | Ministry of Agriculture resources or the CITES official appendix list. |
| Permit validity | 6 months from the date of issuance, valid for a single import or export only, with no extension allowed (Articles 21 and 23 of the Regulations Governing the Import and Export of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Their Products); if errors are found before the customs declaration, the permit must be cancelled and reissued and may not be amended (Article 22). |
| Customs inspection code | 8, meaning document inspection is required. |
| Penalties | Importing without permit documents from the exporting country: Article 28 of the Foreign Trade Act, a fine of NT$60,000–3,000,000 or suspension of import/export for 1 month to 1 year; importing protected species without consent: Article 40 of the Wildlife Conservation Act, imprisonment of 6 months to 5 years, with an optional additional fine of NT$300,000–1,500,000. |
Related Links and Official Channels
- cfgate permit system
- International Trade Administration
- Taiwan import permit guide
- Laws and Regulations Database | Regulations Governing the Import and Export of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Their Products (Articles 21–25: validity, no extension, 5-year retention)
- Laws and Regulations Database | Article 40 of the Wildlife Conservation Act (criminal liability for importing protected species without consent)
- Taipei Customs, Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance | Customs Clearance Rules for Imported Drugs and Medical Devices (1 kg threshold for CITES-listed Chinese herbal materials carried by travelers)
7. FAQ
After getting a CITES permit, how do you prepare customs documents?
HowBridge Logistics tools help prepare packing lists and commercial invoices for AEO broker review, so CITES shipment data stays complete.
Prepare customs documents