Exporting cultural heritage objects from Australia
Movable cultural heritage objects can be of importance to Australia for ethnological, historical, literary, artistic, scientific or technological reasons. If an object meets the criteria for the National Cultural Heritage Control List, it is considered an 'Australian protected object' and therefore requires a permit before export.
Specific cultural heritage objects may also appear on the Australian Movable Cultural Heritage Prohibited Exports Register.
Permits, general permits, and certificates of exemption
To export a heritage object, you must apply for a permit in writing.
The application process involves three steps:
- the application is referred to one or more Expert Examiners for assessment
- these assessments are reviewed by the National Cultural Heritage Committee, which recommends to the Minister whether or not an export permit should be granted
- the Minister makes the final decision as to whether an export permit will be granted.
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.
Permanent and temporary permits
To apply for permanent or temporary export of objects please fill out the following form.
- Export permit application for cultural heritage objects (Word - 121 KB)
- Export permit application for cultural heritage objects (PDF - 90 KB)
The Minister may impose conditions on a permit, such as a time limit for the temporary export of an Australian protected object.
Letters of clearance are issued for objects determined not to be Australian protected objects and, therefore, do not require an export permit. These letters can be provided to Australian Customs and Protection Border Protection Service (Australian Customs) when the object is exported to assist with the objects passage out of Australia.
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.
Certificates of exemption
Certificates of exemption allow Australian protected objects, including Class A 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 that Australian protected objects can be re-exported on completion of the exhibition, or if a sale to a resident of Australia is unsuccessful.
- Application for a Certificate of Exemption from Export Control (Word - 80 KB)
- Application for a Certificate of Exemption from Export Control (PDF - 51 KB)
Please send completed forms to:
Cultural Property Section
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 787
Canberra ACT 2601
Or email to: movable.heritage@environment.gov.au
