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Importing Orchids into the UK
What you need to know (Information as at September 2025)
For many orchid enthusiasts, the lure of rare species or unusual hybrids from overseas nurseries can be irresistible. Whether identifying specific plants for your collection, browsing the broader ranges available online or visiting an international orchid show, it’s natural to want to acquire that special plant for your collection. However, importing orchids into the UK is tightly regulated to protect biodiversity and prevent pests and diseases from entering the country. Failing to follow the legal requirements can result in confiscated plants (which may be destroyed), fines, or even prosecution.
Importing orchids into the UK is possible but it requires knowledge and planning, depending on the type of plants you wish to import. We aim to simplify the process to help you navigate the complexity of importing orchids in order to purchase them with confidence.
We will also give you some important links to information – always check these websites for any updates and for genus and species-specific guidance.
There are five main requirements when buying orchids from overseas:
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CITES
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Phytosanitary certification
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Import permit
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IPAFFS registration
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Border inspection fees
It is important to note that in some instances you could order orchids from overseas and not need to be concerned about any documentation. For example, if you are purchasing artificially propagated hybrids that are not controlled under CITES and are from a quality supplier, they should take care of the phytosanitary certificate along with IPAFFS registration while any border fees would be covered in shipping costs. So, it is well worth exploring should you wish to add more hybrids to your collection.
Import documentation and requirements
Let’s look at the five requirements that impact the importation of certain orchids. Whilst some may not be relevant to you, it is important to understand all five, as documentation may be required depending on the actual plants you wish to buy and the origin of the plants you purchase.
2. Phytosanitary certificate
This is separate from CITES and is required for all live plants entering the UK, regardless of whether species or hybrid, wild or artificially propagated. It is issued by the plant health authority in the exporting country.
The exporter (seller) is responsible for applying to their own country’s plant health authority to gain these certificates, which normally takes only a day or so (depending on the size of the shipment). An inspector checks the plants to ensure they are pest and disease-free and properly labelled. If the plants meet the standards, the authority issues a phytosanitary certificate which travels with the shipment. This is a requirement for plants entering at the UK border and must be uploaded when you complete your IPAFFS registration prior to shipping.
3. Import permit
The requirement for an import permit should only apply if a plant is listed under CITES Appendix I. Exceptions where an import permit also applies are: Appendix 2 orchids collected from the wild; the shipment includes both Appendix I and Appendix II species; it is not clear that the plants were artificially propagated; or it is a large commercial shipment or for exhibition purposes.
Import permits are your responsibility and need to be applied for in advance. They are issued by APHA under the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). You can get more information regarding the requirements and, if necessary, apply for your import permit via gov.uk/cites-imports-and-exports.
It can take a few weeks to receive your import permit.
4. IPAFFS (Import of Products, Animals, Food and Feed Systems)
IPAFFS is an online notification system, not a permit. It is a registration that notifies the authorities of the arrival of plants or other applicable items into the UK. The registration must be completed online by yourself or the company from which you are purchasing at least four (4) working hours before your orchids arrive in the UK by air or ferry, or a day in advance if arriving by standard freight, and upload any required paperwork (like phytosanitary or CITES documents), and select the BCP where it will be inspected. You don’t get permission from IPAFFS – you declare your import so it can be checked and cleared at the border.
5. UK Border inspection fees
All orchids entering the UK from outside the country must arrive at a BCP approved for plants. They require the documentation detailed above (as relevant to the shipment) along with clear labelling of the plants. The AHPA staff inspect the plants for pests, diseases and correct documentation. If issues are found, the plant/s can be quarantined, rejected or destroyed. However, assuming all is in order, the plants are cleared and released for delivery.
Whether or not a fee is charged by the APHA often depends on the shipment type. For example, small personal imports may sometimes be exempt or incur a minimal fee, whereas larger shipments and Appendix I orchids are almost always charged. If using a courier or postal service, some fees are included in customs handling; others may be billed separately by APHA. It is worth checking with your supplier as to whether border inspection fees are included in the postage costs.
More details about border inspection fees can be found at https://planthealthportal.defra.gov.uk/trade/imports/imports-from-the-eu/import-fees/imports-fees-overview/
Documentation requirements summary
Always check the specific plant on https://speciesplus.net and remember that a phytosanitary certificate is always required.
1. CITES
CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement between over 180 countries, including the UK. The Animal & Plant Health Agency (APHA) is the UK CITES Management Authority, designed to make sure that trade in wild plants and animals does not threaten their survival. For orchids, this is particularly important because they are the largest plant family listed under CITES. Many orchid species have been over-collected in the wild for their beauty and rarity, leading to population declines and, in some cases, local extinctions. Habitat destruction adds further pressure.
CITES works by regulating cross-border movement of orchids and other species through a system of permits and certificates. Different levels of protection are given depending on how threatened a species is (Appendices I, II, and III). This ensures that orchids in trade are either artificially propagated (grown in cultivation) or, if collected from the wild, harvested in a way that is sustainable and legal.
You (as the importer) are legally responsible for making sure the correct CITES permits are in place before your orchids cross the border. However, the seller usually applies to their country’s CITES Management Authority for the export permit. They cannot legally ship the orchids without it. When orchids arrive in the UK, you (or your courier/agent acting on your behalf) must present the CITES paperwork at a designated UK Border Control Post (BCP) where plant health inspections take place. So, even if a seller says they’ll handle the paperwork, the responsibility lies with you as the importer to make sure everything is correct.
Most orchids, including all wild species, are covered under CITES regulations. This means that international trade in orchids is controlled to prevent over-collection and illegal trafficking. Even artificially propagated orchids may, in some instances, require CITES documentation when crossing borders. This is sometimes to prevent sellers shipping specific orchid species mis-labelled as hybrids where there are significant similarities between the two.
There are two levels of CITES control that are relevant to orchids: Appendix I and Appendix II. You can look up what is covered under each Appendix or search individual plants to see if the requirement applies at https://speciesplus.net. Always remember to look up the most recent reclassifications, where appropriate – for example Prosthechea radiata as opposed to Encyclia radiata.
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CITES Appendix I: includes species threatened with extinction. Trade in these is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, such as for scientific research, with both export and import permits required. Applications are, however, rarely accepted. Natural hybrids (those that occur between two species in the wild) are treated the same as the parent species for CITES purposes. If either parent is in Appendix I, the hybrid is also in Appendix I.
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CITES Appendix II: covers species not currently threatened with extinction but that could become so if trade is not controlled; trade is allowed with an export permit (no import permit is generally needed).
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Exemptions: artificial, man-made hybrids (including complex hybrids with many parents) are generally not listed in the CITES Appendices, so they can usually be purchased without CITES documentation. Some hybrids that closely resemble Appendix I species may still be controlled to avoid laundering wild plants as hybrids. Documentation of artificial propagation is often required to prove legal origin. In addition, exemptions apply for:
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Seedlings in flask (sealed, sterile containers).
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Tissue culture in sterile containers.
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Cut flowers of artificially propagated orchids.
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Hybrids of certain genera (e.g. Cymbidium, Dendrobium , Phalaenopsis, Vanda) when traded in large-scale commercial consignments and clearly identifiable as cultivated.
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Note that it can take 1-3 months to obtain CITES certification depending on the complexity and the country where the application is made, so you will need to ensure that this is completed by the exporter before arranging shipping.
Your Options for Purchasing Plants from Overseas
1. Overseas nurseries exhibiting at UK events
One of the easiest options to access plants from overseas nurseries is to attend a UK show such as the International Orchid Show, in which a number of overseas suppliers participate. This allows you to purchase from these nurseries without the need for paperwork (which they will already have completed).
Knowing which nurseries are attending these events in advance may also enable you to request to pre-order specific plants from them for collection at the event.
2. Purchasing direct from overseas orchid nurseries
Since Brexit, far fewer nurseries ship to the UK due to the complexity and additional cost involved in the process.
A small number of European and international orchid nurseries will ship to the UK, but they will only sell artificially propagated Appendix II or exempt orchids, which fall into the “no UK import permit needed” category. They may either send them direct or via a UK intermediary. An example of this is Ecuagenera, from whom you can order a restricted range of genera online. They handle the phytosanitary certificate and any CITES paperwork on their side along with border inspection fees. Ecuagenera ship a few times a year via Spicesotic Plants. You can contact Ecuagenera directly for a planned shipping date and details of the genera covered in the shipment. Payment is generally by bank transfer on order.
3. Buying orchids at an overseas event and bringing them back yourself
If you are attending an orchid show abroad, the same rules apply. You cannot just bring plants back in your luggage.
Clearly, if you are aware that the items you wish to purchase require CITES documentation and/or import permits, you will need to apply for these in advance, and it can take many weeks.
However, many orchids will not require import permits or CITES paperwork. Check in advance as at some shows there will be a booth where they will inspect your purchased plants and provide phytosanitary certification. This should be sufficient to bring your orchids back to the UK.
You must, however, declare the plants at UK customs and this may incur a border inspection fee. The relevant paperwork is, however, essential as without this your orchids will be confiscated.
Final thoughts
For the majority of enthusiasts the easiest way to acquire exotic orchids is to purchase them from UK-based nurseries and societies or at UK shows attended by overseas suppliers.
Don’t be discouraged if those options don’t offer what you need. If you find responsible suppliers and are purchasing artificially propagated plants, the process is relatively straightforward. The key challenge appears to be finding an overseas supplier who is willing and able to support the process.