Applying for a permit for the permanent export of cultural property to a third country

Cultural assets are of great importance for cultural understanding and for Germany's identity. They must be protected.

Cultural assets are, for example

• works of art
• archaeological objects,
• archives,
• manuscripts or
• antiques, such as
  
  • furniture,
  • musical instruments or
  • jewelry.

You can find out which objects count as cultural property and which value limits apply in Annex I of Regulation (EC) No. 116/2009 and on the website of the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media.

The financial value of the cultural object is the price paid within the last 3 years for a purchase or sale, otherwise a justified domestic estimated value at the time of application.

An export is considered permanent if it lasts longer than 5 years.

If you are the owner or an authorized third party, you can apply for an export permit from the state authority of the federal state in which the cultural property is located.

You can prove your ownership with a so-called proof of provenance. This documents the origin of your object. Suitable evidence can be, for example

• Proof of purchase or other acquisition
  
  • purchase contracts
  • invoices
  • wills
• Insurance certificates
• Excerpts from auction and exhibition catalogs
• old photographs showing the work

Requirements

• The object to be removed is a cultural asset.
• You are the owner of the cultural property or an authorized third party.
• There is no export ban at the time of the application.
• You have submitted the required documents.

What documents do I need?

• at least one photo of the cultural asset to be exported in 9 x 12 cm format
• Proof of provenance
• optional:
  
  • Catalog
  • Catalog
  • Bibliography
  • Proof of value
  • further references