Apply for a permit for the temporary export of national cultural property

Procedure

To apply online for a license to export national cultural property, you can use a new online service in pilot operation. The online process includes an optional pre-check to determine whether an export license is needed based on a few questions. You no longer have to select the correct application yourself; it is determined automatically based on the information provided. The pilot operation serves to further test and optimize the procedure. At the same time, the procedure is to be expanded by the end of 2022 so that it will also be possible to issue the license digitally.

To apply for a license for the export of national cultural property in writing, the following steps are necessary:

• Use the Authority Finder to find the competent authority and the form for your federal state: http://www.kulturgutschutz-deutschland.de/DE/Service/Formulare/Behoerdenfinder/behoerdenfinder_node.html
• Download the correct PDF form: Export license according to § 22, § 25 or § 26 Cultural Property Protection Act for export to third countries or for export to member states of the European Union.
• Fill out the PDF form on your PC.
• Print out the documents:
  
  • Export license according to § 22 Cultural Property Protection Act: in triplicate (export to third countries) or in duplicate (export to member states of the European Union),
  • Export licenses according to § 25 and § 26 of the Cultural Property Protection Act: each in duplicate (note: the forms for export to third countries already contain all copies).
• Sign each copy in the spaces provided, stamp it if necessary, and attach the necessary supporting documents to each copy.
• Send the documents to the competent authority.
• The authority will review your application and return it to you completed, signed and sealed, with a fee notice if applicable.
  
  • In the case of § 22 Cultural Property Protection Act (export to third countries) you will receive two copies and
  • in the case of Section 22 of the Cultural Property Protection Act (export to member states of the European Union), Section 25 and Section 26 of the Cultural Property Protection Act, you will receive one copy each.
• Copy 1 is the application and remains with the authority. Copy 2 will be returned to you (in the case of export to a third country in accordance with Section 22 of the Cultural Property Protection Act: Copies 2 and 3 will be). In the case of export to a third country pursuant to Section 22 of the Cultural Property Protection Act, you must submit copies 2 and 3 to the competent German export customs office together with the export declaration. The customs office of export fills in box 26 and hands you copy 2. After the actual exit, the German customs office of export confirms it in box 27 and sends copy 3 back to the authority that issued the license.

If the export license application is rejected, you will receive a written decision with reasons and instructions on how to appeal.

Legal bases

• § 22 und §§ 25-27 Gesetz zum Schutz von Kulturgut (Kulturgutschutzgesetz – KGSG)

More information

A permit under Section 22(1) of the Cultural Property Protection Act obtained by means of threat, bribery or collusion or obtained by means of incorrect or incomplete information shall be null and void in accordance with Section 22(5) of the Cultural Property Protection Act. This applies mutatis mutandis to licenses under Section 24(1)(1) and (2) of the Cultural Property Protection Act (Section 24(9) of the Cultural Property Protection Act).