Cultural goods – Import licence and declaration
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Summary:
The import of certain cultural goods into a Member State of the European Union requires an import licence or a declaration by the importer.
The import of cultural goods into the European Union (EU) is governed by Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 laying down rules to prevent the unlawful introduction of cultural goods into the customs territory of the EU and to combat illicit trafficking.
At Community level, the import of cultural goods undergoes uniform controls at the EU's external borders.
When the value and age of cultural goods exceed certain limits, the temporary of permanent import of said goods becomes subject to an import licence, issued by the competent authority in the Member State in which the cultural good is released for free circulation. Temporary admission is exempt from the requirement to obtain an import licence depending on the purpose of the import. In certain cases, a declaration by the importer is sufficient.
In Luxembourg, the competent authority for issuing import licences is the Ministry of Culture.
Who is concerned
Any economic operator (natural or legal person) must apply for a licence if they plan to import (temporarily or permanently) into the EU cultural goods that require an import licence.
Competent authority
As an importer, you must apply for an import licence from the competent authority of the Member State in which the cultural goods are first placed under one of the following customs regimes:
- release for free circulation;
- storage, which includes customs warehouses and free zones;
- specific use, which includes temporary admission and specific destination;
- inward processing.
Prerequisites
The import of cultural goods referred to in Part A of Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the introduction and the import of cultural goods, which have been removed from the territory of the country where they were created or discovered in breach of the laws and regulations of that country, is prohibited.
The competent authority may reject your application for an import licence if:
- there is information that suggests, or there are reasonable grounds to believe, that the cultural object was unlawfully removed from the territory or that you acquired it unlawfully;
- you have not sufficiently proven the absence of laws and regulations in the country of origin that restrict or prohibit removal of the object from the territory;
- there are pending requests for the return of cultural goods from the country of origin.
How to proceed
- Import licence
- Importer's declaration
Cultural goods subject to an import licence
Part B of Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the introduction and the import of cultural goods lists cultural goods that require an import licence.
An import licence is not required for:
- goods returned as 'returned goods' within 3 years;
- the import of cultural goods for the exclusive purpose of ensuring their safekeeping by, or under the supervision of, a public authority, with the intent to return those cultural goods, when the situation so allows;
- the temporary admission of cultural goods for the purpose of education, science, conservation, restoration, exhibition, digitisation, performing arts, research conducted by academic institutions or cooperation between museums or similar institutions.
Application for an import licence
You must submit your import licence application to the Ministry of Culture.
They may send you several requests for additional information.
Your request will be rejected if you fail to provide the requested information.
The Ministry may, where needed, request the physical presentation of the cultural good to be imported.
From 28 June 2025, applications will only be processed digitally via the 'TRACES.NT' platform. Economic operators can already create their 'TRACES.NT' account on that platform.
Using an import licence
The Ministry of Culture issues a separate licence for each cultural good and, where necessary, several licences for a single dispatch containing several cultural goods.
The importer must present the import licence to the competent customs office in support of the import declaration (definitive or temporary) or, where applicable, the ATA carnet.
A licence reference must be entered in the 'supporting documents' box when using the Import Control System (ICS2) or on the ATA carnet.
Validity of an import licence
The validity of an import licence expires when the cultural good is released for free circulation or placed under a temporary admission procedure.
Cultural goods subject to declaration by the importer
Part C of Annex 1 to Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the introduction and import of cultural goods lists cultural goods that require a declaration by the importer.
Submitting an importer's declaration
An importer's declaration may be used for goods that require an import licence or declaration.
The importer's declaration includes:
- a declaration signed by the holder of the goods stating that the cultural goods have been legally exported from the country of origin;
- a standardised document that describes the cultural good in question in sufficient detail.
Use of an importer's declaration
An importer's declaration reference must be entered in the 'supporting documents' box when using the Import Control System (ICS2) or on the ATA carnet.
Who to contact
For all questions relating to the importer's declaration:
-
Ministry of the Economy Office for Export, Import and Transit Control (OCEIT)
- Address:
- Bâtiment "Mansfeld", 9, rue du Palais de Justice L-1841 Luxembourg Luxembourg
- Email address:
- oceit@mae.etat.lu
For all questions regarding import licences:
-
Ministry of Culture Service for heritage management and public awareness
- Address:
- 4, boulevard Roosevelt L-2450 Luxembourg
- Phone:
- (+352) 247 86 600
- Email address:
- patrimoine-mobilier@mc.etat.lu
- Website:
- https://mc.gouvernement.lu/fr.html
Related procedures and links
Links
Further information
on the website of Single Window for Logistics Luxembourg
Legal references
-
on the introduction and the import of cultural goods
-
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1079 of 24 June 2021
laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) 2019/880 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the introduction and the import of cultural goods
-
Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 of 28 July 2015
supplementing Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards detailed rules concerning certain provisions of the Union Customs Code
-
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/2447 of 24 November 2015
laying down detailed rules for implementing certain provisions of Regulation (EU) No 952/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down the Union Customs Code
-
Loi du 25 février 2022
relative au patrimoine culturel
