Wildlife Permit System

If you are new to using the online Wildlife Permit System and would like to apply for a permit, please view our step-by-step guide or contact the Fauna Permits Unit on (08) 8124 4972.

To understand what permit you need for the activity you want to undertake, to view our permit types.

Applications are typically processed in 6 – 8 weeks, but this may vary depending on the permit you are applying for.

If you are unsure and want to know the expected processing time for your permit, please contact us.

If you already have a permit and want to reapply: Do not follow these instructions. See the information below ‘Reapplying for an existing permit (online or paper-based) – due 30 June each year’.

If you:

• are an existing permit holder and your permit is due to expire on 30 June; and
• you still have animals; or
• you want to continue with the activities that are approved by your permit.

You must reapply for your permit by 30 June each year.

Please view our step-by-step guide to the reapplication process or contact the Fauna Permits Unit on (08) 8124 4972 if you need support.

If you:

• Held a permit last financial year

You must complete an annual stock return by 14 July each year.

• A stock return is a summary of your records (a tally of the animals you brought into your home, or out of your home) for the financial year.
• Completing an annual stock return is part of the requirements of a wildlife permit and is a separate process to reapplying for your permit.
• You must complete a stock return even if you have no animals (nil stock), or if nothing has changed from last year.
• You will need to provide the following information:
  • How many animals you started the year with (1 July)
  • How many animals you ended the year with (30 June)
  • If and how you got each animal (e.g., purchased, rescued), and
  • if and how you no longer have them (e.g., sent them to someone else, or they sadly passed away)

The most important part is to make sure the list of animals you currently have is right – this is called your ‘stock on hand’.

Completing your stock return online (if you use the online record book)

View our step-by-step guide to submitting your online stock return or contact the Fauna Permits Unit on (08) 8124 4972 if you need support.

You can also learn how to manage your online record book.

Completing your stock return manually (if you keep manual record books)

If you have opted to keep manual or paper-based records, you will still need to submit your annual stock return by 15 July.

An email notification will be sent to permit holders with instructions on how to submit your return. 

If you want to switch to manual or paper-based records, view our step-by-step guide.

If you want to add an additional species and/or species group to your permit, you need to complete the application form:

• Rescue animals species endorsement
• Captive animals species endorsement

Email or post your completed application form to:

Fauna Permits Unit
Department for Environment and Water
GPO Box 1047
Adelaide, SA 5001
Email: DEWfaunapermitsunit@sa.gov.au

If you want to add additional premises (location/s) where animals are kept under your permit, you need to complete the application form:

• Additional premises application

Email or post your completed application form to:

Fauna Permits Unit
Department for Environment and Water
GPO Box 1047
Adelaide, SA 5001
Email: DEWfaunapermitsunit@sa.gov.au

Note: If you hold a permit to sell protected animals (kangaroo meat processor) and want to add new premises, you  need to contact Kangaroo Management Program on (08) 8648 5318 or kmp@sa.gov.au.

You can apply for the following permits through the online Wildlife Permit System:

Keep, sell or display native animals (including eggs)

• Basic Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Hobbyist/Recreational)
• Specialist Permit to keep and Sell Protected Animals (Hobbyist/Recreational).
• Sell Protected Animal Permit
• Basic Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Dealer)
• Specialist Permit to keep and Sell Protected Animals (Dealer)
• Wildlife Displayer Permit (Commercial)
• Mobile Wildlife Educator/demonstrator permit (Commercial)
• Basic Permit to Keep and Sell Protected Animals (Scientific/biological products)
• Import/Export Permit (Wildlife)
• Permit to keep eggs of protected animals
• Permit to keep and sell eggs of protected animals
• Emu Farming Permit

Rescue and rehabilitation permits

• Protected animals rescue permit
• Wildlife Carer Permit
• Wildlife Rehabilitation Facility permit
• Retain Protected animals unfit for release permit

Manage, control or destroy wildlife permits

• Wildlife Management (controller) permit
• Permit to destroy wildlife
• Trap and release protected animals permit

Take native plants or animals from wild permits

• Take protected animals from the wild permit
• Permit to collect native plant material – commercial – Class A
• Permit to collect native plant material – Bush food collection – Class B
• Permit to collect native plant material – Individual/community/botanic garden – Class C
• Permit to collect native plant material – Threatened species – Class D

Kangaroo Industry Permits

• Permit to sell protected animals (Kangaroo meat processor)
• Permit to sell protected animals (tannery and skin)
• Permit to harvest and sell or use protected animals (kangaroo field processor)(concession)
• Permit to harvest and sell or use protected animals (kangaroo field processor)
• Import/export (Kangaroo Industry)

Hunting permits

The standard processing time for new applications is between 6 – 8 weeks. These times might varying depending on the type of permit you are applying for and the level of information needed.

A confirmation message will display on the screen with an application number to let you know the form and payment has been successfully submitted. A tax invoice will be sent to your email address.

Permit reapplications for existing permit holders open in early June each year and are due by 30 June (when your current permit expires).

Existing permit holders will receive an email when permit reapplications are available. This will include detailed information on the reapplication process.

The following permit types will be automatically approved (if there are no changes to the details you provided previously):

• Basic permit to keep and sell protected animals (hobbyist/recreational)
• Specialist permit to keep and sell (hobbyist recreational) – excluding venomous snake endorsements and grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Basic permit to keep and sell protected animals (Fauna Dealer)
• Specialist permit to keep and sell (Fauna Dealer) – excluding venomous snake endorsements and grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Wildlife displayer permit (commercial) – excluding venomous snake endorsements and grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Wildlife rehabilitation facility permit – excluding grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Wildlife carer permit – excluding grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Retain protected animals unfit for release permit - excluding grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Permit to keep and sell protected animals (scientific/biological products) –excluding venomous snake and grey-headed flying fox endorsements
• Permit to keep eggs of protected animals
• Permit to keep and sell eggs of protected animals
• Emu farming permit

Your reapplication starts as soon as you click the ‘reapply’ button.

If you close or click out of the application before it is submitted, you can find the incomplete application saved in ‘my account’ under your ‘draft applications’ or in the ‘unpaid applications’ section depending on the stage of process you made it to.

Yes. However this will mean your reapplication is not eligible for automatic approval.

To add an additional species endorsement to your permit as a part of the reapplication process, please provide details in the ‘change details’ section of the reapplication form.

Your reapplication will then be forwarded to the Fauna Permits Unit for assessment.

We may request additional information and documentation, and this could add to the processing time of your permit reapplication.

To add an additional premises to your permit (location where animals are kept) as a part of the reapplication process, please provide details in the ‘change details’ section of the reapplication form.

Your reapplication will then be forwarded to the Fauna Permits Unit for assessment.

To make sure you keep your current permit number, you must finish and submit your reapplication form by 31 July.

If you don’t reapply by this date you will need to complete a brand-new application and must meet all the relevant criteria (information supplied on previous applications will not be considered for a new application).

The information you must record may vary depending on the type of permit that you have.

In general, you must keep information relating to each animal that comes into your care and any animal that leaves your care, including:

• the date you got the animal
• how you got the animal (e.g., purchased, gifted, rescued etc)
• who you got the animal from (including full name, address and permit number (if applicable))
• the date you no longer have the animal if applicable
• why you no longer have the animal (e.g., sold, gifted, unfortunately passed away)
• who you gave the animal to if relevant (including full name, address and permit number (if applicable))
• the total number of animals you currently have

Records must be updated within 48 hours of anything changing.

You can read step-by-step instructions on how to use the online record book in our guide.

This is personal preference.

As long as you keep a record of the required information, you can choose how you would like to record it (e.g., it could be via a manual record book, an excel spreadsheet, a notebook or any other method that is readable and easily accessible).

You can read step-by-step instructions on how to switch to manual record keeping in our guide.

A stock return is a summary of your records (a tally of the animals you brought into your home, or out of your home) for the financial year. Completing a stock return each year is part of the requirements of a wildlife permit.

You must complete a stock return even if you have no animals or have nothing new to report.

You will need to provide the following information:

• How many animals you started the year with (1 July)
• How many animals you ended the year with (30 June)
• If and how you got each animal (e.g., purchased, rescued), and if and how you no longer have them (e.g., sent them to someone else, or they sadly passed away)

The most important part is to make sure the list of animals you currently have is right – this is called your ‘stock on hand’.

Anyone who holds an active wildlife permit is required to complete an annual stock return by 15 July. A return must be completed even if you no longer have animals or you have nothing new to report.

You will be able to complete your stock return from 1 July.

An email notification will be sent to permit holders with instructions on how to submit your return. In the interim, please ensure that your online record book (if applicable) is accurate and up to date.

Please let us know in writing (via email) that you would like to cancel your permit. You will be required to complete a final stock return to show that you are no longer in possession of animals requiring a permit.

You can email us on DEWfaunapermitsunit@sa.gov.au.

No. There are no concession discounts for protected animal permits.

Application fees are non-refundable* and are payable upon submitting your application. Payment does not guarantee that the application will be approved.

*Exceptions may be granted for duplicate applications where payment has been made twice.

You will be able to reset your password by selecting the ‘forgot password’ button on the login page and using the email that you originally created your account with. If you are experiencing issues with the login portal, please contact Service SA on 131 084.

While we are committed to improving the user experience and encourage permit holders to engage with the online system, we do understand that some individuals are unable or do not wish to access the online Wildlife Permits System.

If you are having problems using the online Wildlife Permit System and wish to switch back to manual application forms and record keeping, please contact:

DEW Fauna Permits Unit
Email: DEWfaunapermitsunit@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8124 4972

DEW Kangaroo Management Program
Email: kmp@sa.gov.au
Phone: (08) 8648 5318