(a) Except as may be provided under a permit issued under the authority of Parks and Wildlife Code, Chapter 43. Subchapter C, no alligator may be imported into this state unless the importer possesses a valid alligator import permit.
  (1) An alligator import permit may be obtained by completing and submitting an Alligator Import Permit application on a form supplied or approved by the department and the nonrefundable fee specified in §53.8 of this title (relating to Alligator Licenses, Permits, Stamps, and Tags).
  (2) Only the holder of a valid wholesale dealer, retail dealer, or alligator farm permit may obtain an alligator import permit.
  (3) An alligator import permit is valid from the date of purchase until the immediately following August 31.
  (4) This subsection does not apply to alligators not taken or originating in Texas that are:
    (A) shipped by common carrier through this state or to a destination in this state for immediate shipment outside the state; or
    (B) transported by means other than a common carrier through this state from outside of this state to a destination within this state for immediate shipment outside this state, provided the alligators are accompanied by evidence of lawful take and/or possession.
(b) No person shall import a live alligator under a permit authorized by this subchapter unless that person has notified the department not less than 24 hours or more than 48 hours prior to each instance of importation. Notification shall be by fax or email with the department's Law Enforcement Communications Center.
(c) An alligator import permit is not required for an alligator lawfully taken or possessed in another state by sport or recreational hunting license, provided the person who possesses the alligator has not, prior to entering the state of Texas in possession of the alligator, sold the alligator or accepted anything of value in exchange for the alligator or for the transport or delivery of the alligator. A person in possession of an alligator under this section must also possess evidence of valid take and, if the person in possession of the alligator is not the person who took the alligator, valid documentation for the legal transfer of possession to that person.
(d) Legally tagged and documented alligators and alligator parts may be exported from this state by all categories of license and permit holders.
(e) Except as provided in this subchapter, no live alligators shall be exported from Texas without specific departmental authorization. No person shall export an alligator under this subsection unless the export fee specified in §53.8 of this title has been paid to the department, except for alligators accompanied by a valid department-issued hide tag.

Source Note: The provisions of this §65.362 adopted to be effective August 26, 1997, 22 TexReg 7898; amended to be effective October 21, 2003, 28 TexReg 9081; amended to be effective August 24, 2020, 45 TexReg 5923