Exporting cultural property from Australia

Australian cultural property forms an important part of Australia's heritage and national identity. Objects may be considered Australian cultural property for ethnological, historical, literary, artistic, scientific or technological reasons. They may include Indigenous art, heritage machinery, precious stones, historical documents, furniture, stamps and many other objects.

Due to their age, value, rarity, representation in public collections and national significance, some objects may be considered ‘Australian protected objects’ and require a permit before export. The National Cultural Heritage Control List establishes the criteria for Australian protected objects under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (PMCH Act).

Australian protected objects

The National Cultural Heritage Control List separates Australian protected objects into:

  • Class A objects which include Indigenous human remains and secret sacred objects, Victoria Crosses awarded to Australian recipients and Ned Kelly's armour which may not be exported.
  • Class B objects which may be exported if granted a permit under Australia's PMCH Act.

Find out whether an item may meet the criteria of an Australia protected objects in the National Cultural Heritage Control List.

Some objects have been denied export because their loss would significantly diminish Australia's cultural heritage. The Australian Movable Cultural Heritage Prohibited Exports Register lists specific protected objects which have been denied export.

Find out more about the Prohibited Exports Register

Breaches of the PMCH Act can result in substantial penalties, including seizure of objects, fines of up to $200,000 or up to 5 years' imprisonment.

Freight forwarding fact sheet

Permits, general permits and certificates of exemption

Permanent and temporary permits

To export an Australian protected object you must apply in writing for a permit.

The application process involves three steps:

  • The application is referred to one or more expert examiners for assessment.
  • The assessments are reviewed by the National Cultural Heritage Committee, which recommends to the Minister for the Arts whether or not an export permit should be granted.
  • The Minister makes the final decision as to whether an export permit will be granted. The Minister may impose conditions on a permit, such as a time limit for the temporary export of the object.

To apply for a permit, please fill out the application form below.

Please note: If your application is incomplete it will be returned to you for additional information to be added. Failure to provide all required information will delay the consideration of your application.

You will receive notification if a permit is not required. This notification can be provided to Australian Customs and Protection Border Protection Service (Australian Customs) to assist with export, as required.

Export permits for fossils and meteorites

There is a streamlined procedure for expert assessment of fossils and meteorites to determine which specimens require an export permit.

General permits

Under section10A of the PMCH Act, principal collecting institutions may apply for general permits to export temporarily any Class B objects from their collections. An institution must apply in writing to the Minister for the Arts. The application is referred to the National Cultural Heritage Committee which submits a report to the Minister on the application. The Minister then makes the final decision whether or not to grant the general permit.

General Permits have the following conditions:

  • An object can be exported only in accordance with a general permit if it is exported on loan for research, public exhibition or a similar purpose for a maximum period of two years.
  • A copy of the general permit with accession details of the object affixed must accompany each object at all times while it is exported.
  • An institution granted a general permit to export Class B Australian protected objects must maintain a register of objects exported under the general permit. Institutions may be required from time to time to provide a written return detailing the objects exported. Failure to make a return on request may result in the cancellation of the general permit.

Other conditions

  • A condition of the overseas loan is that, given reasonable notice, the borrower will agree to return the object at any time during the loan so that the national heritage is protected at all times.
  • The Cultural Property and Gifts Section should be notified of any change of name or status of the institution or the occupant of the position of chief executive officer as an amendment of the general permit may be required.

Current holders of general permits are required to report annually to the department on objects exported and imported using their permit during the financial year. The report includes a description, purpose and dates for each object exported. If institutions' current records already contain this information, the report may be submitted in that format. Otherwise, the following template has been created to assist with these reporting requirements.

Reports are due by the end of July annually for the financial year immediately before.

Certificates of exemption

Certificates of exemption allow Class A and B Australian protected objects, which are currently overseas, to be imported into Australia and subsequently re-exported.

Overseas owners of Australian protected objects are encouraged to repatriate them to Australia for exhibition or sale. A certificate of exemption provides security under section 12 of the PMCH Act that Australian protected objects can be re-exported on completion of the exhibition, or if a sale to a resident of Australia is unsuccessful. You can apply for a certificate of exempting by filling out the form below.

Please send all changes of details or completed forms to Movable cultural heritage contacts.