Applying for an export permit for cultural goods

EN - FR

Description

The Wallonia-Brussels Federation grants export licences for cultural goods.

In order to leave the territory of the European Union, all cultural goods falling within the categories described in the annex to Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 of 18 December 2008, and whose value is equal to or greater than the threshold set for their category, must be accompanied by an export licence which will be presented at the time of customs formalities.
Moreover, the decree of 11 July 2002 stipulates that a good classified as a treasure by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation cannot be the subject of a definitive export.

Only the cultural goods described in the annex of the European regulation n°116/2009 are concerned.
The goods concerned must be located on Walloon or Brussels territory.
For any cultural goods, the Government may refuse to grant an export licence if it appears that the export of the good concerned would be likely to cause serious harm to the cultural heritage of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
For cultural goods located in the Brussels-Capital Region, you can also choose to contact the Dutch-speaking Community of Belgium.

The goods concerned must meet the age and the seniority thresholds defined for the category to which they belong, as specified in the annex to Regulation N°116/2009.
The goods concerned must be located on the territories of the Walloon Region or the Brussels-Capital Region, after legal and definitive dispatch from another region, another Member State of the European Union or a third country.

Export licences are issued free of charge.
Applications for licences must be submitted to the Cultural Heritage Department. You must request the application form to be sent to Mrs Caroline MARCHANT - Attaché to the Directorate of Cultural Heritage.

Proof to be provided by the user?

Documentation providing all relevant information on the cultural goods and its legal status at the time of application. In particular, in the case of sale, the licence application must be accompanied by the invoice and all documents establishing the provenance of the goods (old invoice, authorisation to leave a territory, etc.) going back at least to 1 January 1993.
A photograph of the cultural good in question (minimum size: 8 cm x 12 cm), to be glued to the back of each of the three forms. This requirement may be replaced, depending on the case (e.g. on the occasion of participation in an exhibition abroad) and with the agreement of the responsible department, by a detailed list of the cultural objects.

How long does the procedure take?

Approximately two weeks after receipt of the completed form and the requested supporting documents.

Rule applicable in case of no response from the competent authority?

Prohibition to export the goods outside the European Union without the document.