Verified as of 28 September 2026.
Moving a work between countries can trigger heritage rules, customs, taxes and controls on illicit trade. 'It's mine' or 'I'm only taking it temporarily' does not remove those requirements.
Leaving Spain
Items more than a hundred years old and those entered in the General Inventory may require authorisation. For exports outside the European Union, certain items between fifty and a hundred years old require a licence when they exceed the category thresholds set by EU rules. The Ministry publishes, among others, 15,000 euros for drawings, prints and photographs; 30,000 for watercolours, gouaches and pastels; 50,000 for sculptures and 150,000 for paintings.
Assets of Cultural Interest, items declared non-exportable, publicly owned items and other protected cases cannot be exported permanently; temporary authorisations may be available depending on the case.
Types of permit
Distinguish between permanent export, temporary export with the option of sale and temporary export. The application is made electronically and must identify each item with a description, valuation and images. Do not treat an application as submitted until it has been signed and registered.
Entry into the European Union
Regulation (EU) 2019/880 prohibits the introduction of cultural goods that were removed illicitly from the country where they were created or discovered. It requires a licence for certain archaeological objects and parts of monuments at least 250 years old, whatever their value, and an importer statement for certain categories more than 200 years old with a value above 18,000 euros.
Customs and taxes
Cultural authorisation does not replace customs or tax formalities. Keep the invoice, provenance, tariff classification, value, transport, insurance and export documents from the country of origin.
Loans and fairs
A temporary export must set out the destination, duration and return. If the piece may be sold, use the right type of permit. Tell the carrier, the insurer and the organiser about the permit conditions.
Before the move
- identify the item;
- establish its age and value;
- check protection status and inventories;
- confirm the destination country and the return;
- apply for authorisation well in advance;
- coordinate customs, transport and insurance;
- keep all the documents with the work's record.
On the open conversation
Classification depends on age, value, category, protection, origin and destination. Check the current procedure before each move.
If you spot an error, a broken link or a relevant change, write to me.