Which reptiles need CITES papers in Switzerland?
Every species listed in the appendices of the Washington Convention (CITES). That is considerably more than most people expect. Widely kept terrarium animals are among them.
- Species in this list
- 51
- out of
- 93
CITES Appendix I means trade is prohibited in principle, with exceptions only by permit. CITES Appendix II means import, export and transfer only with papers proving origin and lawful acquisition. Keeping the animal itself needs no additional permit. That remains governed by the Animal Welfare Ordinance.
In practice this mainly affects the purchase. Ask for proof of origin and captive breeding when you buy and keep it. Without papers the animal can later neither be sold nor taken across the border.
This overview sorts the classifications held in the app’s data and replaces no official information. The cantonal veterinary office decides, and it decides case by case: By species, origin, size of the animal and the conditions on site.
Snakes
14 Species
Kenyan sand boa
Eryx colubrinusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Ball python
Python regiusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Blood python
Python brongersmaiCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictorCITES Appendix II, the Argentine subspecies Boa constrictor occidentalis in Appendix I. Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Sumatran short-tailed python
Python curtusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Carpet python
Morelia spilotaCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Javelin sand boa
Eryx jaculusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Burmese python
Python bivittatusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Amazon tree boa
Corallus hortulanusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Emerald tree boa
Corallus caninusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Green tree python
Morelia viridisCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Madagascar tree boa
Sanzinia madagascariensisCITES Appendix I: The strictest protection status. Commercial international trade in wild-caught animals is prohibited; only registered captive breeding with complete papers is permitted
Advanced
Reticulated python
Malayopython reticulatusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Brazilian rainbow boa
Epicrates cenchriaCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Lizards
8 Species
Blue-tongued skink
Tiliqua scincoidesDepends on the subspecies: T. s. scincoides and T. s. intermedia have been in CITES Appendix III since 22 June 2022, listed by Australia. T. s. chimaerea and T. gigas, which is often sold as a blue-tongued skink as well, are not listed. Record the subspecies in writing when buying; for the listed ones, proof of origin is required (Art. 10 BGCITES)
Intermediate
Green iguana
Iguana iguanaCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Chinese water dragon
Physignathus cocincinusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Saharan spiny-tailed lizard
Uromastyx geyriCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Ridge-tailed monitor
Varanus acanthurusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Savannah monitor
Varanus exanthematicusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Argentine black and white tegu
Salvator merianaeCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Gila monster
Heloderma suspectumCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Geckos
4 Species
Tokay gecko
Gekko geckoCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Gold dust day gecko
Phelsuma laticaudaCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Giant day gecko
Phelsuma grandisCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Neon day gecko
Phelsuma klemmeriCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Chameleons
4 Species
Veiled chameleon
Chamaeleo calyptratusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Panther chameleon
Furcifer pardalisCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Carpet chameleon
Furcifer lateralisCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
Bearded pygmy chameleon
Rieppeleon brevicaudatusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Tortoises and turtles
8 Species
Hermann's tortoise
Testudo hermanniCITES Appendix II (Washington Convention). In Switzerland you need papers for every animal that prove its origin and lawful acquisition. They go with the animal when you pass it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Anyone offering the animal publicly states the CITES appendix, the scientific name and whether it comes from captive breeding or the wild (Art. 7a VCITES). Switzerland has no general marking requirement. The often-cited microchip requirement applies in the EU, which lists the species in Annex A
Intermediate
Greek tortoise
Testudo graecaCITES Appendix II (Washington Convention). In Switzerland you need papers for every animal that prove its origin and lawful acquisition. They go with the animal when you pass it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Anyone offering the animal publicly states the CITES appendix, the scientific name and whether it comes from captive breeding or the wild (Art. 7a VCITES). Switzerland has no general marking requirement. The often-cited microchip requirement applies in the EU, which lists the species in Annex A
Intermediate
Marginated tortoise
Testudo marginataCITES Appendix II (Washington Convention). In Switzerland you need papers for every animal that prove its origin and lawful acquisition. They go with the animal when you pass it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Anyone offering the animal publicly states the CITES appendix, the scientific name and whether it comes from captive breeding or the wild (Art. 7a VCITES). Switzerland has no general marking requirement. The often-cited microchip requirement applies in the EU, which lists the species in Annex A
Intermediate
Horsfield's tortoise
Testudo horsfieldiiCITES Appendix II (Washington Convention). In Switzerland you need papers for every animal that prove its origin and lawful acquisition. They go with the animal when you pass it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Anyone offering the animal publicly states the CITES appendix, the scientific name and whether it comes from captive breeding or the wild (Art. 7a VCITES). Switzerland has no general marking requirement. The EU lists the species in Annex B
Intermediate
Common musk turtle
Sternotherus odoratusCITES Appendix II: The entire genus Sternotherus is listed. Ask for proof of origin when buying and keep it
Beginner
Reeves' turtle
Mauremys reevesiiCITES Appendix III: Strongly declined in its home range. Ask for proof of origin when buying
Intermediate
Red-footed tortoise
Chelonoidis carbonariusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
African spurred tortoise
Centrochelys sulcataCITES Appendix II (Washington Convention). In Switzerland you need papers for every animal that prove its origin and lawful acquisition. They go with the animal when you pass it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Anyone offering the animal publicly states the CITES appendix, the scientific name and whether it comes from captive breeding or the wild (Art. 7a VCITES). Switzerland has no general marking requirement. The EU lists the species in Annex B
Advanced
Amphibians
7 Species
Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanumCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Yellow-banded poison dart frog
Dendrobates leucomelasCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Dyeing poison dart frog
Dendrobates tinctoriusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Mimic poison dart frog
Ranitomeya imitatorCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
Red-eyed tree frog
Agalychnis callidryasCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Intermediate
False tomato frog
Dyscophus guinetiCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Tomato frog
Dyscophus antongiliiCITES Appendix II since 2 January 2017. Until then the species was listed in Appendix I; the Conference of the Parties (CoP17, 2016) transferred it. Anyone keeping an animal needs documents on its origin and lawful acquisition and hands them over when passing it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). Ask for proof of origin when buying
Beginner
Tarantulas
5 Species
Chilean rose tarantula
Grammostola roseaCITES Appendix II since 5 March 2026. Switzerland initially entered a reservation and withdrew it with effect from 1 May 2026; since then the listing applies here too. Anyone keeping an animal needs documents on its origin and lawful acquisition and hands them over when passing it on (Art. 10 BGCITES). For animals bought before that, keep the proof of purchase
Beginner
Mexican red-knee tarantula
Brachypelma smithiCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Curly hair tarantula
Tliltocatl albopilosusCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Beginner
Antilles pinktoe tarantula
Caribena versicolorCITES Appendix III, listed by the European Union: Proof of origin belongs to the purchase. Appendix III asks less than Appendix II, but not nothing
Intermediate
Indian ornamental tarantula
Poecilotheria regalisCITES Appendix II: Import and transfer only with papers. When buying, ask for proof of origin and captive breeding
Advanced
More overviews
Which reptiles may be kept in Switzerland without a permit?
Most of them. Article 89 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance lists exhaustively which wild animals require a permit. Anything not listed there may be kept without one.
Which reptiles require a permit in Switzerland?
For venomous snakes unless the FSVO lists them as harmless, giant snakes over three metres (except the boa constrictor), all chameleons, crocodilians, beaded lizards, iguanas, tegus and monitors over one metre, a few other lizards, tortoises and turtles such as the African spurred tortoise, and the Goliath frog and giant salamanders. Article 89 of the Animal Welfare Ordinance lists them.
Which reptiles and amphibians are banned in Switzerland?
The Animal Welfare Ordinance bans no species. Two are listed as invasive organisms in the Release Ordinance, though: the red-eared slider and the American bullfrog. They must not get into the environment: no releasing, no garden pond, no keeping outdoors. The FOEN (Federal Office for the Environment) also considers acquisition and keeping impermissible.
The rules behind them (articles, responsibilities and what a certificate of competence is) are on Switzerland & law. The individual species pages are under Species.
