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Applying for a permit for the temporary export of national treasures to an EU Member State

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If you wish to export national cultural property less than 5 years old from Germany to a country in the European Union (EU), you require an export license.

		    


                					    

						    

							    Competent Department
						    

						    
					    

                        
					    

						    

							    Basic information
						    

						    

							    

								    
The export of nationally valuable cultural property abroad is regulated in order to strengthen protection against emigration and to combat the illegal trade in cultural property. 

You therefore require an export license for the temporary export of national cultural property from Germany to an EU member state. 

Temporary export is defined as export for a maximum period of 5 years. 

National cultural property is part of Germany's cultural heritage, regardless of its age and value. It includes all objects that belong to one of the following categories: 


  • listed in the register of nationally valuable cultural property, regardless of ownership
  • in public ownership and in the inventory of a public institution preserving cultural property, for example:
    
 
    • museums
    • archives
    • libraries
  • owned and held by an institution that preserves cultural property and is financed primarily by public grants
  • Part of a federal or state art collection

You must 


  • the owner of the cultural property or
  • an authorized third party

to be able to submit the application. You can prove this 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

You apply for permission from the highest state authority of the state 


  • in whose register of nationally valuable cultural assets the cultural asset is entered or
  • in which the cultural property is located at the time of application.
								    

									    Requirements
  • The object to be exported is a national cultural asset.
  • You are the owner of the cultural property or an authorized third party.
  • You can credibly demonstrate that the cultural property intended for export will be returned to the federal territory without prejudice and before the end of the temporary period.
  • You have submitted the necessary documents.
								    
What documents do I need?
    
    
  • at least one photo of the cultural asset to be exported in 9 x 12 cm format        
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  • Proof of provenance        
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  • optional:        
    • Catalog
    • Catalog
    • Bibliography
    • Proof of value
    • further references
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