Apply In-Person:

1. To apply for a permit to export wildlife specimen in Kenya, the applicant has to contact the Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) offices to make the application.
2. Here the applicant will be given an application form to fill and submit. The form can also be downloaded from the KWS website through the following link
3. The Applicant should do the application at least 21 days prior the exportation date.
4. Fill the application and attach the required documents. A list of the can be found under the "Required Documents" section of this page.
5. The applicant should indicate in the application form that they are making an export application by ticking the box against the export option.
6. Submit the filled in application form and required documents to the KWS officer and pay the required application fees.
7. Submit the payment receipt to the KWS officer, for review of the application.
8. Upon successful review of the application, the KWS officer will issue the exportation permit.
9. The applicant is required to present proof of identification when collecting theirpermit.
10. The application processing time is 21 days.

• Filled in Application form
• Research Proposal
• NACST (National Council of Science and Technology) Clearance for research
• NEMA (National Environmental Management Act) Access Permit
• Research Permit from NACOSTI
• Access permit
• Prior Informed Consent from KWS
• Material Transfer Agreement
• Mutually Agreed Terms
• Letter of acceptance of the materials from national and foreign repository
• Research Authorization from KWS
• Recommendation letter from the scientific authority (NMK)
• Capture Permit
• Letter of support from KWS Research Division
• Material transfer agreement (MTA) with Government of Kenya or an affiliate Kenyan institution
• Preliminary study findings (for on-going research)
• KWS Application form (in addition to NCST Application form)
• Curriculum vitae
• Letters of support/Affiliation + Institutional prole
• Collaborative agreements (if collaborative research)

Kenya Wildlife Service - Head Office,
P.O. Box 40241 - 00100
Nairobi Kenya
Tel: +254 (20) 2379407, +254 (20) 2379408, +254 (20) 2379409
Toll free: 0800597000
Telkom Wireless: +254 (20) 2379407-15
Mobile Numbers: +254 (0) 726 610508/9, +254 (0) 726 610533
Customer Service: customerservice@kws.go.ke
Email Address: kws@kws.go.ke
Website: contact link

• Individuals or organizations wishing to export wildlife specimens from Kenya.

• CITES export permit Ksh. 2,000.00
• Non- CITES export permit Ksh. 1,000.00

• The permit has a one-time validity.

• Application for Import/Export/Re-Export Permit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

• The processing time is 21 days.

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M".

• Individuals or organizations wishing to export or import wildlife specimens will be required to make an application to the Director, KWS using official forms.
• Applications will take 21 working days to process.
• Application to be submitted twenty-one (21 days) prior to exportation.

• Application type (CITES OR Non-CITES)
• Details of applicant /Name /Address / Country
• Details of consignee /Name /Address / Country
• Details of consignor /Name /Address / Country
• Details of Specimen /Common name / Scientific name (Genus and species) /Description (give age and sex if specimen is alive)/Quantity/number
• Details of Certificate of Ownership issued
• State whether specimen was taken from: (Wild /Bred in captivity /Artificially propagated /Ex- situ collection/ Name of ex-situ centre)
• Name of location where specimen has been obtained
• Details of previous application:

• This permit allows an individual or organizations to export wildlife specimen from Kenya.
• It’s illegal to export wildlife specimens from Kenya without a permit issued by the KWS.

• All applications for export or re- export or import permits will be processed on the basis of their conformity to the Wildlife (Conservation and Management) Act and where applicable, relevant international conservation conventions, such as CITES.
• Depending on their nature, applications may be directed the Scientific Authority both within and outside KWS and / or other Divisions within KWS for inspection, investigation, consultations and recommendations.

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

• CITES info
• Licensing
• wildlife conservation and management Act

• CITES stands for (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.