Ordering documents for exporting paintings abroad

Today, Ukraine has tightened control over the movement of cultural property. In this regard, customs services are closely monitoring paintings, graphics and decorative and applied art objects that people want to take abroad.

We have described the procedure and legal regulations for obtaining an export document (expert opinion) for art objects on our page earlier. Today we will look at the current situation at Ukrainian customs checkpoints.

The position of the Ukrainian legislator is to leave all Ukrainian cultural property on the territory of Ukraine. Today the preservation and protection of Ukrainian cultural property is especially one of the top priorities. Therefore, when sending parcels, transporting paintings, sculptures across the border, customs services require an expert opinion, which will contain identifying data of the art object (e.g., canvas, oil, 60x80 cm) and the appropriate wording "the painting is authorized for export and crossing the border".

The fact is that customs officers do not have the authority to release art objects abroad without the authorization of an expert. Also, customs inspectors do not have the specialized knowledge that art experts have. The expert of the Ministry of Culture has the authority to decide which art objects can be exported and which cannot.

To issue an export authorization, the expert checks in several registers:

- the register of art objects prohibited for export;

- the register of cultural heritage of the Ukrainian people;

- register of lost objects of art.

The legal name is "Expert Opinion", but in life it is often called "Export Permit". Having received such a document you can safely travel with the painting abroad, send it by mail or give it to drivers for transportation.

If you need advice, you want to know how to get permission to export a painting - call us and we will advise you.

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Other articles on the topic:

- Packing and shipping of paintings to the USA

- Transportation of paintings to Paris