A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

Chapter 3: European Union Member States
Germany
Are there different types of licence? What type of licence do I need?
There are two different types of licence:
• The export licence (under German law for protected listed cultural goods)
• The EU export licence (under EU legislation for export to countries outside the EU)
Both are called an Ausfuhrgenehmigung in German.
The EU licence can be for temporary or permanent export.
The two licences are issued by different authorities and the procedure is explained in more
detail below. For export to Russia of valuable, old cultural goods, you will normally need
the EU export licence and you may also need the German export licence.
What are my first steps? How do I plan this process and how long might it take?
If the object is listed, you must apply to the BKM for authorisation to export the cultural
goods. There is no printed application form and the licence is issued in writing. Before a decision
is made, a committee of experts, set up according to the legislation, reviews the application
and gives their opinion to the BKM Commissioner who makes the final decision.
As a rule, listed cultural goods are only granted licences for temporary export. Licences
for permanent export are the exception.
If the cultural goods fall under EU legislation because of their age or age and value, you
must apply for an EU export licence. You should identify the relevant regional licensing
authority in the Land where the goods are located. These authorities follow the normal
procedures for EU export licence applications, using the standard application form.
As an example, the EU export licence application forms and guidance notes for the Land
of Hessen are downloadable at:
http://www.hessen.de/irj/HMWK_Internet?cid=d43010fa2b8e3ad3c5bd4702225b0251
But you must always apply to the Land where the goods are located – see below for link.
There is no indication of how long it takes to deliver an export licence and it will depend
on the individual application.
How do I find out if the art object I want to export is of national significance? Is there a Public
Inventory of cultural goods of special interest or importance?
The authorities in each of the 16 Bundesländer maintain a register of cultural objects of national
importance – Verzeichnis national wertvollen Kulturgutes. This includes all relevant cultural
objects which are normally located in the particular Land. The 16 regional registers form the
National Register of cultural and archival property of national importance which is kept by the
BKM. This consolidated register is called the Gesamtverzeichnis national wertvollen Kultur-
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