Applying for a permit for the temporary export of national treasures to an EU Member State 
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.
-
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.
-
Procedure
You can apply for a permit for the temporary export of national cultural property by post, online or hybrid.
- If you wish to apply for the export license in writing by post:
- 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.
- Sign and stamp the copies if necessary.
- Send both copies and the relevant supporting documents by post to the competent authority.
- The competent authority will examine 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.
- If you wish to apply for the export license online:
- Call up the online service.
- Authenticate yourself using BundID (natural persons) or My Company Account (organizations).
- Complete the online form and attach the required attachments.
- Submit the online form.
- Save the submission confirmation provided for verification purposes.
- 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" and on "Continue".
- 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.
- Sign and stamp the copies if necessary.
- Send both copies and the corresponding supporting documents by post to the competent authority.
- Regardless of how you apply, if your application is rejected, you will receive a written decision with reasons and instructions on how to appeal.
- If your application is approved, you will receive a notification which you must carry with you when exporting the cultural property.
- You must re-import the cultural property to Germany without prejudice within 5 years.
More information
- You also need an export license for the temporary export of national cultural goods to third countries.
- Third countries are all countries that are not part of the European Union (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.
- If you wish to apply for the export license in writing by post:
-
Necessary Documents
- 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
-
Competent Department
-
Der Senator für Kultur, Referat 11 - Museen, Staatsarchiv Bremen, Landesarchäologe Bremen, Landesamt für Denkmalpflege, Obere Denkmalschutzbehörde, Kulturgutschutz
- +49 421 361 - 22232
- Altenwall 15/16, 28195 Bremen
- Website
- kulturgutschutz
@kultur. bremen. de
-
-
Online Services
-
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 from receipt of the complete application documents.
-
More Information
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