An export licence is an official permit required to send certain antiques, works of art and cultural objects out of a country. In the United Kingdom, licences are issued through the Export Licensing Unit of Arts Council England, and the need for one depends on the object's age, value and category, with different arrangements applying to exports from Northern Ireland.
The British system aims to keep objects of outstanding national importance in the country while allowing legitimate trade. When an application concerns an object that may be of national importance, it can be referred to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, which assesses it against the Waverley criteria. If the committee recommends deferral, the export can be temporarily barred to give UK institutions or buyers the opportunity to raise a matching price. Separately, objects containing protected materials such as ivory, tortoiseshell or certain rosewoods may need CITES permits or other documentation, regardless of their cultural value. Dealers and shippers usually handle applications on behalf of buyers, and anyone planning to export valuable antiques should allow time for paperwork and seek advice on current thresholds and requirements.
