Sporting trophies and memorabilia export controls - factsheet
The Australian Government legislates to protect Australia's unique cultural heritage objects from leaving the country and being lost to future generations of Australians.
Under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986, administered by the administered by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, cultural heritage objects may be Australian protected objects.
Export Permits
Trophies and other objects and memorabilia associated with the development of sport in Australia, which are more than 30 years old, may be Australian protected objects, requiring a permit issued under the Act before they can be exported.
Some of these may be trophies awarded to the winners of international competitions. In circumstances where these trophies would be expected to leave Australia with the winning team, an export permit must be obtained before the object leaves Australia. Failure to do so may mean that the trophy is forfeited by operation of law, and its ownership pass to the Commonwealth.
It is not usually a problem to arrange a temporary export permit to facilitate competition requirements but you should be aware that an application for export permit can take 6-8 weeks to process.
Certificates of Exemption
Similarly, if your organisation is involved with an international competition where a trophy or other objects and memorabilia is normally held overseas, but which none the less is important to Australia, is being imported into Australia, you may need a Certificate of Exemption to allow it to be re-exported.
The granting of a Certificate is usually quick and easy but it must be arranged and approved before the object arrives in Australia. Without a Certificate, an Australian protected object would require an export permit before leaving Australia or, indeed, it could mean that it cannot be exported.
