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Applying for a permit for the regular temporary export of cultural property held by cultural property institutions in EU countries

  • Auslandsgeschäft

If you are an institution preserving cultural property and wish to export parts of your collection from Germany to member states of the European Union (EU) on a regular and temporary basis, you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property.

  • Basic information

    You have the option of applying for a general open license for the export of cultural goods to EU member states. This is particularly recommended if you frequently

    • take part in public exhibitions,
    • have cultural property restored or
    • researchers are to have the opportunity to examine the cultural property

    The general open license can be granted for a maximum of 5 years.

    You can apply for a general open license from the competent authority of the federal state in which your institution has its headquarters.

    Requirements

    • They are an institution that preserves cultural property.
    • They guarantee that the cultural property is reintroduced undamaged and in good time.
  • Procedure

    You can apply for a permit for the temporary export of cultural property in writing, purely online or hybrid.

    If you wish to apply for the export permit in writing:

    • Download the corresponding PDF form and fill it out.
    • Print out the PDF form once on one side.
    • The PDF contains 2 copies of the export license application.
    • Both copies must be completed.
    • Attach the necessary supporting documents to both copies.
    • If necessary, sign and stamp the copies in the specified places.
    • Send both copies and the relevant supporting documents by post to the competent authority.
    • The competent authority will check your application and decide whether to issue the export license.
    • If the decision is positive, the second copy will be provided with the license and sent back to you.
    • Please carry this license with you when exporting the cultural object.
    • If the decision on your application is negative, you will receive a written notification with a statement of reasons and information on legal remedies.

    If you wish to apply for the export license online:

    • Call up the online service.
    • Authenticate yourself to your BundID account as a natural person or via My Company Account as an organization.
    • Complete the online form and attach the required attachments.
    • Submit the online form.
    • Save the confirmation of submission provided for verification purposes.
    • The remaining procedural steps are the same as the written procedure.
    • An online decision is not yet possible.

    If you wish to apply for the export license in hybrid form:

    • Call up the online service.
    • When you are asked for the identification method, click on "Without registration".
    • Complete the online form.
    • Submit the online form.
    • Print the result PDF form once on one side in color.
    • The PDF contains 2 copies of the export license application.
    • Attach the missing documents to both copies.
    • If necessary, sign and stamp the copies in the specified places.
    • Send both copies and the corresponding supporting documents by post to the competent authority.
    • The remaining procedural steps correspond to the written procedure.

    More information

    • As an institution preserving cultural property, you can also apply for a general open license for exports to third countries.
    • Third countries are all countries that are not part of the EU.

    Legal remedy:

    • Objection or, if the administrative act has been issued by a supreme state authority, an action for annulment or an action to compel.
    • Further information can be found in the information on legal remedies of the respective administrative act in the specific individual case.
  • Necessary Documents

    • Application form
  • Competent Department

  • Online Services

  • Forms

  • Fees / Costs

    gebührenfrei

  • Deadlines & processing time

    What deadlines must be paid attention to?

    There is no deadline.

    How long does it take to process

    10 days

  • Legal Bases

  • More Information

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This page has been automatically translated by DeepL. We cannot guarantee that the translation is correct.

The official information in German is complete and correct. 22.08.2025

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