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Cultural property; application for a general open export license to third countries by churches and religious communities

As a church or religious community, you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property to third countries under certain conditions.

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Procedure details

Do you, as a church or religious community that is recognized as a public corporation, regularly export cultural property in your holdings temporarily from Germany to one or more third countries? Then you can apply for a general open license for the export of cultural property to third countries. Third countries are countries that do not belong to the European Union (EU).

The general open license is particularly recommended if you frequently

  • take part in public exhibitions,
  • have cultural property restored or
  • give researchers the opportunity to examine cultural property.

The general open license can be granted for a maximum of 5 years.

You can apply for the general open license from the competent authority of the federal state in which the headquarters of your institution is located.

  • You are a church that preserves cultural property or a religious community recognized as a public corporation.
  • You guarantee that the cultural property will be re-imported undamaged and in good time.
  • Your church or religious community has given its consent to the application for the export license.

  • Required document/s
    • Consent of your church or religious community

You can only apply for a permit for the temporary export of cultural property in writing.

  • Download the corresponding PDF form Export license for export to countries outside the EU 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 license with you when exporting the cultural object.
  • If the decision on your application is negative, you will receive a written decision with a statement of reasons and information on legal remedies.

Bavaria-wide supplement

EUR 25 to 250 (current No. 3.III.1 of the Schedule of Costs under the Costs Act)

As a church or recognized religious community that preserves cultural property, you can also apply for a general open permit for regular exports to EU member states.

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.

Status: 18.03.2026
Editorially responsible for prodecure description: Der Beauftragte der Bundesregierung für Kultur und Medien + Bayerisches Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst
Source: Federal Portal
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