Cultural Goods Import Permit

A cultural goods import permit (cultuurgoederen invoervergunning) is a permit required for importing cultural goods into the European Union. This permit or importer declaration must be requested to ensure that the import of art, antiques, and archaeological objects complies with EU regulations.

The permit is issued by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and is intended to combat illegal trade in cultural goods. Importers of cultural goods are required to apply for this permit before bringing goods into the EU.

Requirements

  • Type of goods: The permit applies to cultural goods as defined in Regulation (EU) 2019/880
  • Provenance: Documentation on the provenance and legality of the cultural goods must be provided
  • Export permit: An export permit from the country of origin may be required
  • Importer declaration: For certain categories of goods, an importer declaration is sufficient

Procedure

  • Application: Submit an application to the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science
  • Documentation: Provide all required documentation on provenance and legality
  • Assessment: The ministry assesses the application based on EU Regulation 2019/880
  • Decision: After approval, the import permit or importer declaration is issued