Export Permits

As outlined in the Cultural Property Export and Import Act, a cultural property export permit is required to export controlled cultural property from Canada. This applies regardless of:

  • why the cultural property is being exported;
  • whether the export is permanent or temporary; or
  • how long the property has been in Canada.

It is a criminal offence to export or attempt to export controlled cultural property without the appropriate export permit. Penalties include fines, imprisonment or both.

Controlled Cultural Property
In Canada, cultural property may be subject to export control if:

  • it is more than 50 years old; or
  • its creator is no longer living.

The Canadian Cultural Property Export Control List defines cultural property subject to export control. An export permit is necessary for all cultural property on the List.

The List includes the following eight groups of cultural property:

Group I Objects Recovered from the Soil or Waters of Canada (archaeological objects, and fossils and minerals)
Group II Objects of Material Ethnographic Culture (ethnographic objects including Aboriginal, Métis and Inuit objects)
Group III Military Objects
Group IV Objects of Applied and Decorative Arts
Group V Objects of Fine Arts
Group VI Scientific and Technological Objects
Group VII Textual Records, Graphic Records and Sound Recordings (archival material including documents, photographs, maps, sound recordings and films)
Group VIII Musical Instruments