EU Import Permit Application Rules
Quick answer
EU import permits are mandatory for certain goods entering the EU single market, including agricultural products, steel, and CITES-listed species. Applications must be submitted to the relevant national competent authority in the Member State of destination or VAT registration, using specific forms such as the daff import permit application form where applicable, and must comply with detailed procedural and documentary requirements to ensure timely processing and compliance with EU trade rules.
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- Import permits apply to specific categories of goods, including agricultural products, steel, and CITES-listed species.
- The daff import permit application form is a key document required for certain agricultural imports.
- Applications must be submitted to the competent authority of the Member State where the importer is VAT-registered or where the goods are located.
- Detailed completion rules apply to permit application forms, including mandatory fields and documentary evidence.
- Import permits for steel and agricultural products are subject to quotas and submission limits.
- Relief from import duty is available for returned goods under certain conditions.
- Deadlines for submitting import permit applications vary by product and quota period.
Who Needs an EU Import Permit?
Import permits in the EU are required primarily for goods subject to specific trade controls or quotas. This includes:
- Agricultural products benefiting from common agricultural policy measures.
- Certain steel products originating from specified countries subject to import quotas.
- Specimens of wild fauna and flora listed under CITES (Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97).
Businesses operating within the EU single market, importing these goods, must obtain the relevant import permits before customs clearance. The obligation to apply for an import permit generally falls on the importer or their authorized representative established in the EU. For agricultural and steel products, the application must be made in the Member State where the importer is registered for VAT purposes. For CITES-listed species, the application is submitted to the management authority of the Member State of destination or where the specimens are located [1][2][3][4].
General Requirements for Import Permit Applications
Applications for import permits must be submitted using the prescribed forms, such as the daff import permit application form for agricultural products, which must be completed accurately and legibly. The forms require specific information including identification of the applicant, description of the goods, quantities, and the purpose of import.
For CITES permits, the application forms must be completed in typescript or legibly in manuscript, using block capitals and ink. Alterations or erasures on forms other than application forms are not permitted unless authenticated by the issuing authority. The description of specimens must follow standard nomenclature and coding systems set out in the relevant annexes of Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97. If multiple species or shipments are involved, annexes reproducing specific form sections must be attached [5][6][7].
Supporting documentary evidence deemed necessary by the competent authority must accompany the application to enable assessment of compliance with EU regulations. Any omission of required information must be justified. Previous rejections of permit applications for the same specimens must be disclosed [2:1][7:1].
Specific Rules for CITES-listed Species Imports
Imports of CITES-listed species are tightly regulated under Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and implemented by Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97. The import permit application form for CITES species must be submitted to the management authority of the Member State where the specimens are located or destined.
The application must include detailed information on the species, quantity, source, and purpose of the transaction, using codes prescribed in the annexes of the regulation. The original import permit and copies must be surrendered to the border customs office at the point of introduction into the EU. Documentation from the country of export or re-export must also be presented as specified in the permit [2:2][5:1][8].
The management authority may consult other Member States’ authorities to verify legal introduction or acquisition of specimens. Replies to such consultations must be provided within one week, ensuring prompt processing [7:2].
Import Permit Application for Agricultural Products and Steel
For agricultural products, particularly those benefiting from the common agricultural policy, import permits are required to control imports under tariff quotas or safeguard measures. The daff import permit application form is commonly used for such agricultural imports and must be submitted to the competent authority in the Member State where the applicant is VAT-registered.
Applications must respect minimum and maximum quantity thresholds. For example, applications for import licences for young male bovine animals or live bovine animals weighing from 80 to 300 kilograms must cover at least 100 animals and may not exceed 5% of the available quota. Multiple applications by the same applicant for the same period are inadmissible [6:1][3:1].
Steel imports originating in Ukraine or other specified countries are subject to import licences issued on standard forms conforming to the specimen in Annex III of Council Regulation (EC) No 1755/2006. These forms must be printed to exact specifications and issued in duplicate, with one copy retained by the issuing authority and the other issued to the applicant. The forms must include specific information such as the steel product group and bear tamper-proof stamps or embossing to prevent falsification [4:1].
Submitting Your Import Permit Application
The submission of the import permit application, including the daff import permit application form where relevant, must be made to the competent national authority in the Member State of VAT registration or destination. The application must be complete, including all required information and supporting documents.
For CITES permits, the original and copies of the application form must be submitted to the management authority. The importer or their representative must surrender the original import permit and any specified documentation at the border customs office upon introduction of the goods into the EU [2:3][8:1].
Applications for agricultural and steel import licences must be made within the designated submission periods and according to the quantitative limits set out in the relevant regulations. Member States are responsible for forwarding verified application data to the European Commission within specified deadlines [6:2][3:2].
Key Deadlines and Submission Limits
Deadlines for import permit applications vary depending on the product category and quota period:
- Agricultural import licence applications must be submitted during the first 10 working days of each quota period. For the initial period, a specific deadline applies based on the publication date of the relevant regulation.
- Applicants may submit only one application per quota period; multiple applications by the same applicant render all applications inadmissible.
- Member States must forward verified applicant lists and quantities to the European Commission by the fifth working day following the end of the submission period [6:3][3:3].
For returned goods benefiting from the common agricultural policy, relief from import duty requires that the goods be declared for free circulation within 12 months of export customs formalities completion, unless otherwise authorised by the customs authorities. Specific conditions must be met, including repayment or cancellation of refunds and that goods were returned due to non-marketability, defects, or other justified reasons [1:1].
Returning Goods to the EU: Relief from Import Duty
Returned goods that previously benefited from common agricultural policy measures may qualify for relief from import duty if certain conditions are fulfilled:
- Refunds or financial advantages granted on export must be repaid or cancelled.
- Goods must have been returned because they could not be marketed, were defective, or could not be used as intended due to circumstances beyond the exporter’s control.
- The goods must be declared for release into free circulation within 12 months of export customs clearance, or later if authorised by customs authorities.
Examples of qualifying circumstances include damage before delivery, non-sale at trade fairs, contractual incapacity of the consignee, or natural/social disturbances preventing delivery [1:2].
An information sheet INF 3 certifying that conditions for relief have been met may be communicated by means other than electronic data-processing techniques [1:3].
Next steps
- Identify whether your goods require an import permit under EU regulations, including CITES species, agricultural products, or steel.
- Obtain and accurately complete the daff import permit application form or other relevant permit forms, ensuring all mandatory fields and supporting documents are included.
- Submit your application to the competent national authority in the Member State where you are VAT-registered or where the goods are located, respecting applicable deadlines and quantity thresholds.
- Retain copies of all submitted documents and monitor communications from the competent authority for any requests for additional information or clarifications.
- If returning goods previously exported from the EU, prepare the necessary documentation to claim relief from import duty, including the INF 3 information sheet where applicable.
FAQ
How to apply for an import permit?
You must complete the relevant application form, such as the daff import permit application form for agricultural products, providing all required information and supporting documents, then submit it to the competent authority of the Member State where you are VAT-registered or where the goods are located [2:4][6:4].
Where to apply for an import permit?
Applications must be submitted to the management authority or competent national authority in the Member State of destination or where the importer is registered for VAT purposes, depending on the product category [2:5][6:5][3:4].
How much does it cost to get an import permit?
The provided sources do not specify fees for import permits. Costs may vary depending on the Member State and product category. Confirm with the relevant national competent authority .
What are the two types of import permits?
While the sources do not explicitly classify import permits into two types, it is common to distinguish between permits for controlled species under CITES and licences for agricultural or steel products subject to quotas or safeguards [2:6][4:2].
Sources
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