Can I keep an exotic or wild animal at home?
Depends on the species: some are banned, others need ICNF registration. The basis is DL 92/2019 and DL 260/2012, with Ordinance 86/2018 setting the lists: Annex I (all venomous snakes, primates, big cats) is banned for private keeping; Annex II is allowed only with ICNF registration per specimen (keeper 18+). CITES species need proof of legal acquisition. Releasing an exotic into the wild without authorisation is prohibited. The ICNF charges about €26 for initial registration and €10.20/year renewal. In short: it depends — check the list before buying.
📋 The rules
- Annex I (venomous, primates, cats): banned
- Annex II: only with ICNF registration (18+)
- CITES species: proof of legal origin
- Banned to release exotics into the wild
- ICNF registration: ~€26 initial, €10.20/year
🔓 Exceptions
- Zoos, research and authorised centres may hold Annex I
- Conservation/recovery projects exempt from the ban
- Species not on the lists (ordinary pets): no registration
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Fines (DL 276/2001, amended by DL 260/2012) run, for an individual, from about €500 to €3,740, with much higher ceilings for companies. Holding a banned or unregistered species means seizure of the animal and a fine; trafficking-scale CITES breaches reach tens of thousands of euros. Beware the Brazil confusion: "if you buy from an authorised breeder you can keep a native wild animal (xerimbabo)" is the IBAMA system, not Portugal's — here the authority is the ICNF and the lists are European/Portuguese (Ordinance 86/2018 + CITES). Before keeping an exotic: check the list, do the ICNF registration if it's Annex II, and keep proof of origin if it's CITES.
📎 Official sources
- DL 92/2019 — exotic/invasive species →
- Ordinance 86/2018 — species lists →
- ePortugal — wild-animal registration →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I keep any exotic animal at home?
No. It depends on the species. Annex I species of Ordinance 86/2018, such as all venomous snakes, primates and big cats, are banned for private keeping. Annex II species are allowed, but require ICNF registration for each specimen, and the keeper must be of age.
Do I need to register my exotic animal?
If it's an Annex II species, yes. Registration is done with the ICNF, per specimen, via the government portal, and costs about €26 initially and €10.20 per year to renew. Ordinary species, not on the lists, need no registration.
What are CITES species?
They're species protected by the CITES convention on international trade in endangered species. To keep them, you must prove the specimen's legal acquisition, and breeding or sale requires ICNF registration, with an annual collection update. The ICNF is the CITES authority in Portugal.
What's the fine for keeping a banned animal?
Fines run, for individuals, from about €500 to €3,740, and much higher for companies. Holding a banned or unregistered species also means seizure of the animal. The most serious CITES breaches, on a trafficking scale, can reach tens of thousands of euros.
Can I release an exotic animal into the wild?
No. Releasing an exotic species into the wild, without ICNF authorisation, is prohibited, given the risk to ecosystems and native species. Anyone who can no longer keep an exotic should seek an authorised centre or the ICNF itself, and never release it into the natural environment.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “exotic animals allowed portugal”
- “keep wild animal at home”
- “exotic animal registration icnf”
- “cites species portugal”
- “ordinance 86/2018 animals”
- “banned animal fine”