Certificate of personal ownership of a specimen of an animal kept for non-commercial purposes (e.g. a pet)

Main information

Thepersonal ownership certificate allows travel across the external borders of the European Union to third countries with live specimens of animals under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and related EU law on trade in endangered species held for non-commercial purposes (pets, etc.).

A certificate of personal ownership can be issued by the Ministry of the Environment upon request.

This applies to you if

You are a natural personwho intends to travel regularly across the external borders of the European Union to third countries with your live animal specimens for personal non-commercial purposes (pets, etc.).

When to use this service

If you intend to regularly travel across the external borders of the European Union to third countries with your live specimens of animals for personal non-commercial purposes (pets, etc.), you can arrange a certificate of personal ownership in advance upon application to the Ministry of the Environment instead of a one-off CITES import/export permit. 

Vyřízení služby - osobně

What you need if you are using this service

You must apply for a certificate of personal ownership.

The application for a certificate of personal ownership must include:

• completed Application forms (in the type of permit you must tick the box Other and specify that it is a registration for a certificate of personal ownership for trade in biological samples) and Record Cards - see Document Application Forms (Annexes 1 and 2);
• proof of origin of the specimen (e.g. certificate of exemption from the trade ban for species listed in Annex A to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, etc.);
• the registration certificate for compulsorily registered specimens.

Where and how to solve this service

Applications for a certificate of personal ownership (with all supporting documents) can be submitted in person at the filing office of the Ministry of the Environment or sent by post to:

Ministerstvo životního prostředí, oddělení mezinárodních úmluv

The filing office is located at the same address.

Applications are dealt with in an administrative procedure and a decision is issued within 30 days from initiation of the procedure. (The procedure shall be initiated on the date of receipt of the application.)

Vyřízení služby - elektronicky

What you need if you are using this service

To obtain a personal ownership certificate certificate, you must submit an application, which can be completed electronically through the CITES Registry. The application can be found under the link Další dokumenty.

The application for a certificate of personal ownership must include:

• completed Application forms (in the type of permit you must tick the box Other and specify that it is a registration for a certificate of personal ownership for trade in biological samples) and Record Cards - see Document Application Forms (Annexes 1 and 2);
• proof of origin of the specimen (e.g. certificate of exemption from the trade ban for species listed in Annex A to Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97, etc.);
• the registration certificate for compulsorily registered specimens.

Where and how to solve this service

Complete the application through the CITES Registry and submit it with all annexes either:

• through the data mailbox (data mailbox ID: 9gsaax4)
• or by email to the Ministry of the Environment (email: posta@mzp.gov.cz). The email request must be signed electronically.

Applications are dealt with in an administrative procedure and a decision is issued within 30 days from initiation of the procedure. (The procedure shall be initiated on the date of receipt of the application.).

Additional information

What is the benefit of this service

You can use one certificate repeatedly and multiple times when travelling with a specimen instead of the standard export and import permits, which are one-off. The certificate is valid for a maximum of 3 years from the date of issue. You can also use it as proof of the legal origin of the specimen.

Appeal options

An appeal against the decision to issue/not to issue a certificate of personal ownership may be lodged within 15 days of its delivery, in accordance with § 152 of Act No 500/2004 Coll., the Administrative Code, to the Minister of the Environment via the Ministry at:

Ministerstvo životního prostředí, oddělení mezinárodních úmluv

 An exception is when the addressee has waived the right to file an appeal.