Australian cultural material is an important part of Australia's heritage and national identity. We protect Australia's unique cultural heritage from leaving the country and being lost to future generations of Australians.

Cultural material may be considered significant for ethnological, historical, literary, artistic, scientific or technological reasons. Examples include Indigenous art, heritage machinery, precious stones, historical documents, furniture, and stamps.

The significance of an object is based on its age, value, rarity, representation in public collections and significance.

We regulate the export of Australia's cultural material under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 Act (PMCH Act). The aim is not to restrict normal and legitimate trade in this material, nor does it affect your right to own or sell it within Australia.

Australian protected objects

Objects regulated under the PMCH Act are known as Australian protected objects.

If you are unsure if material is considered an Australian protected object, there are two lists that you can consult:

If you try to export an Australian protected object without an export permit, you could have the object seized, be fined, or face jail time.

Freight companies could also be prosecuted if they export an Australian protected object even if their only role is transporting the material. Freight companies should confirm that the owner either has a permit or is satisfied that they do not need one.

Permits, general permits and certificates of exemption

You should apply for an export permit if you want to permanently or temporarily export significant cultural heritage material from Australia.

Permanent and temporary export permits

The export permit application process involves three steps:

  1. Applications are referred to one or more expert examiners for assessment.
  2. Applications and assessments are considered by the National Cultural Heritage Committee, which then makes a recommendation to the Minister for the Arts, or their delegate.
  3. The Minister, or their delegate, makes the final decision about granting an export permit which can include conditions, such as a time limit for the temporary export of the object.

An application for export permit can have three possible outcomes:

  1. The material is not an Australian protected object, therefore the PMCH Act does not apply to the material and you will not need an export permit.
  2. The material meets the criteria to be an Australian protected object and its export would not significantly diminish Australia's cultural heritage and you will be issued an export permit.
  3. The material meets the criteria to be an Australian protected object and its export would significantly diminish Australia's cultural heritage and you will be denied an export permit.

The process can take many months and you should factor this into any commitments you make when buying or selling. You can give the notice or the permit to Australian authorities when you export the object.

To apply for a permit, submit an application using the Department’s online application portal:

If you experience difficulties using the online application form, please contact the Cultural Property team on 1800 819 461 or email movable.heritage@arts.gov.au for assistance.

Export permits for fossils and meteorites

There is a separate assessment for exporting fossils and meteorites. It involves a Preliminary assessment of fossils and meteorites.

General permits

Principal collecting institutions (i.e. public galleries, museums, libraries, and archives that are established under a law of the Commonwealth, a state or territory) may apply for a General Permit under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 to assist in the temporary export of Class B Australian Protected Objects (APOs) that have been accessioned into their collection.

Certificate of exemption

Class A and Class B Australian protected objects that are in overseas collections can be brought into Australia, but they need a certificate of exemption before they arrive in Australia. This will mean that you will not need an export permit when the object subsequently leaves Australia.

Use the application form below to apply for an exemption and email your completed form to us.

Variations to permits and certificates

Use the form below to apply to vary the conditions of an existing Permit to Export a Class B Object or a Certificate of Exemption.

Acquittals

To acquit an existing Permit to Export a Class B Object or a Certificate of Exemption, fill out the acquittal forms below following the import and export of the object from Australia and email your completed forms to us.

Contacts

Cultural Property Section
Office for the Arts
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
GPO Box 2154
Canberra ACT 2601

Email: movable.heritage@arts.gov.au
Phone: 1800 819 461

 

Movable cultural heritage prohibited exports register

The Prohibited Exports Register lists cultural material that has been refused an export permit.

The National Cultural Heritage Control List

The National Cultural Heritage Control List describes the type of material that may need an export permit.

Movable cultural heritage expert examiners

You can apply to be an expert examiner and assess the significance of cultural material.

Fossils and meteorites

Fossils and meteorites must be assessed for their significance before they can be taken out of Australia.

Fine and decorative art

You may need a permit to export some works of fine or decorative art from Australia.

Sporting trophies and memorabilia

You need a permit to take some trophies, sporting objects and memorabilia that are more than 30 years old out of Australia.