Export Permit Applications

This document contains the form to apply for a permit to export a Class B Australian Protected Object (APO) under the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Act 1986 (the Act). Your application must be completed in this form in order to be processed.

We will process your application in accordance with the Act and the Protection of Movable Cultural Heritage Regulations 2018 (the Regulations). The standard timeframe for processing applications is between 8-10 weeks.

Provision of complete and accurate information will allow your application to be processed as quickly as possible.

Please complete a separate application form for each object that you wish to export.

For assistance, contact the Cultural Property Section on 1800 819 461 or email movable.heritage@arts.gov.au

Australia’s movable cultural heritage is protected by our laws. The Act and the Regulations protect Australia’s movable cultural heritage by regulating the export of APOs.

There are some APOs that you are not permitted to export (Class A objects).

There are other APOs for which you need a permit to export the object (Class B objects). That permit may by granted subject to conditions.

The National Cultural Heritage Control List (the Control List) sets out the criteria for determining whether an object is an APO and whether it is a Class A object or a Class B object.

An Export Permit granted under the Act only authorises the export of a Class B object for the purposes of the Act. There may be other laws or restrictions which apply to the export of the object. Exporters are responsible for ensuring that they meet all other export permission requirements for private and commercial purposes.

You must provide clear colour photographs of the object(s). Further information on these requirements can be found in Part B of this application.

You may provide any further additional information to support your application, including magazine articles, valuations, and sale listings.

An application for an Export Permit must be in the form approved by the Minister for the Arts under the Act. In order to process your application, we need to collect some of your personal information through this form (such as your name and contact details). The Act also specifically requires a person applying for a permit to provide an address in Australia for the service of notices.

The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts (the Department), which administers the Act, will use this information to progress and communicate with you about your application, and to otherwise administer the Act. If you do not provide the information requested, the Department may not be able to process, communicate with you about, and notify you of the outcome of, your application.

The personal information you provide may be shared with the Minister for the Arts, persons holding or occupying a number of Senior Executive Service positions in the Department, Departmental officers who are involved in dealing with your application.

Your application is also required under section 10 of the Act to be shared with expert examiners (examiners) and the National Cultural Heritage Committee (the Committee) for assessment in accordance with the Act. Personal information provided in the application form will not be redacted prior to sharing your application with examiners or the Committee.

Information provided in this application may be published on the Department’s website, including the name of the object(s), as well as any unique identifiers such as serial numbers. The Department will not otherwise disclose your personal information to any third parties, other than where disclosure is permitted or required by law. Do not provide personal information of any third parties, for example the owner of the object/s, without their permission and understanding.

For further information about our privacy obligations (including in relation to how to access or correct personal information or make a complaint) and our contact details for privacy matters, please see the Department’s Privacy policy.

All other information provided in this application form will be treated as confidential and will not be further disclosed except to the extent required in order to administer the Act or by law, a Minister or the Parliament.

Giving of false or misleading information is a serious offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995. Penalties may apply for the making of false or misleading statements in, or the giving of false information in connection with, your application. You should ensure that the information included in your application and any documents you provide are complete and accurate to the best of your knowledge.