Sending artworks abroad has its own peculiarities. In this article, we uncover important aspects to help you transport and deliver artworks beyond Ukraine with ease.

Estimated reading time: 4-5 minutes.

Regardless of the method by which a painting crosses the border—by mail, personal transport, or via couriers—it is essential to have three documents.

Permit for Exporting Paintings Abroad

This document is often referred to as an expertise, permit, certificate, or reference. Legally, it is an expert's conclusion stating that the artwork does not represent a national cultural value.

For transporting paintings, graphics, sculptures, and icons, a permit from the Ministry of Culture, its departments, or authorized state museums is required. The full list of items is outlined in Order of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine No. 400 dated July 25, 2023. This order approves the List of state institutions, cultural organizations, and other entities authorized to conduct state expertise of cultural values.

The legislator's position is to preserve cultural values so that they remain on the territory of Ukraine and serve as cultural heritage for the Ukrainian people. The Law of Ukraine "On Export, Import, and Return of Cultural Values" No. 1068-XIV provides a definition of what constitutes cultural value:

- objects of material and spiritual culture with artistic, historical, ethnographic, or scientific significance, subject to preservation, restoration, and protection in accordance with Ukrainian law, including:

-- original works of painting, graphics, and sculpture, artistic compositions and montages made of any materials, works of decorative and applied art, and traditional folk art; 

-- items associated with historical events, societal and state development, the history of science and culture, as well as those related to the lives and activities of prominent figures in the state, political parties, public and religious organizations, science, culture, and art;

-- items of museum significance discovered during archaeological excavations, among others.

Simply put, if an artwork was created after 1950, it can be exported outside Ukraine. If a painting or sculpture was created before 1950, it is considered an antique and, therefore, cannot be exported abroad.

The expert's conclusion certifies that your artwork does not have national cultural significance. This document establishes that your painting:

- does not have significant cultural value for Ukraine;

- is not included in the list of cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people;

- is not part of the list of artworks lost by Ukrainian museums.

Additionally, the permit includes a photo of the painting and an estimated value.

It is also prohibited to export artworks created after 1950 if the author is a prominent figure in Ukrainian culture. These include:  - Mykola Petrovych Hlushchenko - People's Artist of the USSR;  - Serhiy Fedorovych Shyshko - People's Artist of the USSR;  - Tetyana Nilivna Yablonska - Professor of Arts, People's Artist of the USSR;  - Maria Avksentiyivna Prymachenko - People's Artist of the USSR; - Kateryna Vasylivna Bilokur - People's Artist of the USSR. Yes, these artists created paintings after 1950. Therefore, it may seem that their works can be exported abroad. However, in practice, it is impossible to obtain a permit for exporting these artists' paintings, as these distinguished figures are integral to the cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people.

➦ Received a permit for exporting a painting - you can do so remotely with our experts in just 1-2 days. Once ready, documents will be sent via Nova Poshta.

Call us at +38 063 247 8102

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A short video about the documents required for exporting paintings abroad ↓

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Interesting Offers:

Free permit for exporting paintings Order "turnkey" delivery, and we will handle everything for you. We will: - arrange the expert's conclusion; - prepare export documents; - send them by mail or courier; - provide a tracking number within 2-4 days.

Discount -15% on boxes for delivering paintings When ordering an export permit - get a 15% discount on packaging (box, crate) for international delivery. We have developed a reliable design to protect valuable and fragile items throughout the journey.

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How to Export Artworks Created Before 1950?

If a painting, sculpture, or icon was created before 1950, it is considered an antique. If an artwork was created by a prominent Ukrainian artist after 1950, it is regarded as a national cultural value. Such items are prohibited from being exported from Ukraine. 

However, Ukrainian legislation provides for the temporary export of such items, for instance, for exhibition purposes. The procedure for issuing documents to obtain a certificate is described in the Instructions on the Procedure for Granting the Right to Export, Temporarily Export Cultural Values, and Control Their Movement Across the State Border of Ukraine, approved by the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine under Order No. 258 dated April 22, 2002.

To obtain a temporary export certificate, you will need:

- an application (petition) from the owner of the item requesting such a permit;

- an expert's conclusion establishing cultural value and granting permission for movement;

- a signed cargo insurance agreement;

- a deposit and a guarantee letter confirming that the owner intends to return the artwork to Ukraine within the specified period.

Customs Declaration for Crossing the Border

The second required document for exporting or mailing artworks is a properly completed customs declaration. 

When sending through postal operators (Ukrposhta, DHL, Meest), you need to fill out a CN23 declaration form. If the painting crosses the border by land transport, a MD-2 form declaration must be completed.

This step is not overly complicated; you just need to enter all the data correctly:

- sender’s details: full name, address, phone number, email;

- recipient’s details: full name, address, phone number, email;

- description of the contents (number of items, their estimated value, weight);

- type of shipment (documents, gift, commercial sample, returned goods, or other).

Additionally, the declaration should include the item code according to the HS Code (UKT ZED). In our previous article, we provided a list of popular item codes commonly chosen by users.

If you have more than 10 items, you will need the assistance of a customs broker. A large quantity of goods or items is generally considered a commercial shipment by customs authorities. In such cases, a different procedure applies, including customs clearance and additional documentation.

Need advice? We are here to help at +38 063 247 8102

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Invoice, Receipt, or Other Document Confirming the Value of the Painting

If you are sending or transporting up to 10 items with a low estimated value, a receipt or invoice is not mandatory. However, it is better to have one to avoid delays at customs. If the item is of high value or there are more than 10 paintings, a document confirming their value is mandatory. 

Such documents include:

- a sales or fiscal receipt, invoice, or bill of sale;

- an invoice or certificate.

The key is that the document must indicate the market or estimated value of the item. Based on this value, customs officials in Ukraine and other countries will decide whether customs duties should be applied. If there are up to 10 items with an estimated value below €50, the declarant is generally exempt from customs clearance procedures. Since there are over 240 countries in the world, each with its own customs policy, it is advisable to clarify these matters before shipping or traveling abroad.

Order a certificate of authenticity from the Art Dom gallery to obtain a document in English specifying the estimated value. This will significantly ease customs clearance and ensure that customs duties are calculated based on the provided document.

Art Dom Gallery is happy to assist you with the required documents.

✔️ We process export permits within 1 day at a cost of 500 UAH.

✔️ Remote document preparation is possible. You do not need to bring paintings to our office; we will send the completed documents to you via Nova Poshta.

✔️ Reliable packaging for valuable and fragile artworks. Manufacturing takes 1-3 days, starting at 300 UAH.

✔️ "Turnkey" delivery within 2-4 days. You hand over the paintings, and we will take care of everything, providing you with a tracking number for monitoring the shipment.

Have questions? We are happy to consult at +38 063 247 8102

Contact us via Telegram, Viber, or WhatsApp

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Sources:

- Order of the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine "On Approval of the List of State Institutions, Cultural Organizations, and Other Entities Authorized to Conduct State Expertise of Cultural Values" No. 400 dated 25.07.2023;

- Law of Ukraine "On Export, Import, and Return of Cultural Values" No. 1068-XIV dated 21.09.1999;

- Order of the Ministry of Culture and Arts of Ukraine "Instructions on the Procedure for Granting the Right to Export, Temporarily Export Cultural Values, and Control Their Movement Across the State Border of Ukraine" No. 258 dated 22.04.2002.