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

Chapter 3: European Union Member States
Spain
Goods in the first category are under the highest degree of protection. Goods of Cultural
Interest can only be exported temporarily, with no right to sell them abroad. A cultural
good of the Historic Heritage is declared as being of Cultural Interest by an administrative
decision of the authorities, whether it is in public or private ownership.
You have to obtain a permit if you intend to export a cultural good of the Historic Heritage
that is over 100 years old or is included in the General Inventory of Movable Goods. The
General Inventory includes goods that are not “of Cultural Interest” but do have some
specific relevance.
When an object is pending classification as a Good of Cultural Interest or registration in
the General Inventory of Movable Goods, the authorities can ban its definitive export. Only
temporary export will be allowed, with no right to sell the object abroad.
For cultural goods between 50 and 100 years old and above the relevant financial threshold,
Council Regulation 3911/92 applies. Therefore an EU export licence must be applied
for. For goods of that age but under the relevant value thresholds, you must also apply for
a permit, and the Ministry of Culture issues a certificate for customs stating that the object
does not require a permit for export.
Are there different types of licence? What type of licence do I need?
According to Spanish legislation, there are three kinds of export permits:
• For definitive export
• For temporary export
• For temporary export with the right to sell the goods abroad
Temporary export permits are given for specific purposes, such as exhibitions abroad,
restoration and scientific research. In such cases goods can remain out of Spain for a
maximum of five years, although this period can be extended to ten or twenty years depending
on the category of the goods.
If you are exporting a cultural good covered by Council Regulation 3911/92, the EU export
licence form is used. The Spanish application form is used for goods protected under
Spanish legislation but not deemed to be cultural goods under Community legislation.
What are my first steps? How do I plan this process and how long might it take?
If you are the owner of the good or an authorised person, you must apply for the permit to
the Board for the Classification, Appraisal and Export of Goods that form part of Spanish
Historical Heritage, located in Madrid. The application form, together with the list of supporting
materials to be presented, can be found on the website of the Ministry of Culture at:
http://www.mcu.es/patrimonio/CE/ExpImp/Exportacion/Introduccion.html
If the object is located in one of the Autonomous Communities that has assumed competences
in Historic Heritage matters, then the application must be presented there. You can
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