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

You can apply for a permit for the temporary export of cultural property in writing, 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 accordingly.
• 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 permit 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.

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

• Durchführungsverordnung (EU) Nummer 1081/2012 der Kommission vom 9. November 2012 zu der Verordnung (EG) Nummer 116/2009 des Rates über die Ausfuhr von Kulturgütern (Verordnung (EU) Nummer 1081/2012)
• § 25 Kulturgutschutzgesetz (KGSG)

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.

As an institution preserving cultural property, you can also apply for a general open license for regular exports to EU member states.

• Alles zum Kulturgutschutz auf der Internetseite der Beauftragten der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien (BKM)
• Behördenfinder auf dem Internetauftritt zum Kulturgutschutz

08.04.2025

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.