Our Programs

Birds surround two herring fishing boats
The purpose of Migratory Bird Permits is to promote long-term conservation of migratory birds and their habitats and encourage joint stewardship with others.
Program
Bald eagle and golden eagle
Forty years ago, our national symbol, the bald eagle, was in danger of extinction throughout most of its range. Habitat destruction and degradation, illegal shooting, and the contamination of its food source, largely as a consequence of DDT, decimated the eagle population. Habitat protection...
Program

Our Services

New Electronic Permitting System
We have launched our new ePermits permitting system. It is now possible to submit permit applications online, as well as pay the processing fee online through this system. 

The Migratory Bird Permit Office administers over 20 permit types across the country. For more information about each permit type and how to apply, please click the links below. Don't know what kind of permit you need? Try searching the USFWS Permits page, using the Refine By Tool, to find the permit type that fits your needs. For processing fees associated with permits, check out our Processing Fees Table.

Permit Types and Forms

Our Laws and Regulations

Regulations are an important part of our conservation efforts. During the past one hundred years, the United States has enacted wildlife laws and regulations, and ratified international treaties to protect our heritage of wild animals and plants and their habitats. The Nation's wildlife laws and treaties embody a collective commitment to conserve wildlife and to maintain the biodiversity of animals and plants to be enjoyed by people today and by future generations.

Each law and treaty has its own unique purpose and uses permits in specific ways to protect species. Regulations contain information on the types of permits available, application procedures, and issuance criteria under a particular law or treaty. Permits can serve as tools to gather, share, and use species data to monitor and manage plants and animals.

Below are summaries of laws and implementing regulation related to the work of the Migratory Bird Program.

Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act

The Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 668-668d), enacted in 1940, and amended several times since, prohibits anyone, without a permit issued by the Secretary of the Interior, from "taking" bald or golden eagles, including their parts (including feathers), nests, or eggs....

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act establishes protections for fish, wildlife, and plants that are listed as threatened or endangered; provides for adding species to and removing them from the list of threatened and endangered species, and for preparing and implementing plans for their recovery;...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Lacey Act Amendments of 1981

The Lacey Act, as amended in 1981 and 2008, prohibits the importation, exportation, transportation, sale, receipt, acquisition, or purchase of any fish or wildlife or plant taken, possessed, transported, or sold in violation of any law, treaty, or regulation of the United States or any Indian...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 (16 U.S.C. 703-712) implements four international conservation treaties that the U.S. entered into with Canada in 1916, Mexico in 1936, Japan in 1972, and Russia in 1976. It is intended to ensure the sustainability of populations of all protected migratory...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act

The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act authorizes grants for the conservation of neotropical migratory birds in the United States and Latin America and the Caribbean, with 75 percent of the amounts made available to be expended on projects outside the United States. The funds are to be...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Wild Bird Conservation Act

The Wild Bird Conservation Act requires that all trade in wild birds involving the United States is biologically sustainable and to the benefit of the species and limits or prohibits imports of exotic birds when not beneficial to the species.

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Flora and Fauna

Parties who signed the Convention agreed to restrict international trade in all species threatened with extinction (Appendix I species), all species which may be threatened with extinction unless trade is halted or restricted (Appendix II species), and all species which the parties identify as...

Laws, Agreements & Treaties
Authorizations Under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act for Take of Eagles; Proposed rule.
Document Citation
72 FR 31141
Proposed Rule