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Cyprus

Contracting State since
1997.10.19
Lastly updated
2022.08.02

Contact for consular services

German Embassy
Bilateral relations and German missions
homepage: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aussenpolitik/laenderinformationen

National legal bases

  • Antiquities Law
  • Export of Cultural Goods Law No. 182(1) of 2002 (based on Council Regulation (EC) No 116/2009 on the export of cultural goods)

Official English version of both laws

Customs Code Law of 2004, No. 94(I)/2004 (Greek Version)

EU regulations
The licence for the export of cultural goods from the European customs territory is subject to Council Regulation (EC) No. 116/2009 of 18 December 2008 on the export of cultural goods (OJ L 39, 10.2.2009, p. 1). Exports to the internal market, however, are subject to national regulations, which may differ from the Council regulation with respect to the value and age thresholds of the categories of the protected cultural property.

Further information on the legal situation can be requested from the EUR-Lex Datenbank. The EU also maintains a special database for the regulations regarding the protection of cultural property.

The multilingual UNESCO Database of National Cultural Heritage Laws provides access to the relevant national legal bases. Another source of information on national cultural asset protection laws is the Sharing Electronic Resources and Laws On Crime (SHERLOC) of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Definition of cultural property

Cultural property is defined in Cyprus' 'Antiquities Law' (Article 2) as follows:

"Antiquity means any object, whether movable or part of immovable property  which is a work of architecture, sculpture, graphic art, painting, or generally any form of art which has through human effort been produced, sculptured, inscribed or painted or generally made in any manner whatsoever and from any material,  one hundred or more years ago and which has been found, discovered or excavated in Cyprus or recovered from the sea within the territorial waters of Cyprus and includes any such object or part thereof which has at a later date been added, reconstructed,  readjusted or replaced subsequently.

Provided that for works of ecclesiastical or folk art of great archaeological or artistic or historical value, the year 1940 AD shall be taken into account irrespective of the place of manufacture or origin."

Export ban

Export licenses are mandatory for:

The export of antiques from the northern part of the island is prohibited without exception; this generally includes stones, pieces of clay, fossils and old-looking objects.

Sanctions

  • According to Art. 27 (4) of the Antiquities Law, "any person who shall export or attempt to export or who shall aid, counsel or procure any other person to export or attempt to export any antiquity without such a licence, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable to imprisonment not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding 45000€ or to both and any antiquity the property of such person in respect of which the offence has been committed may be forfeited by order of the Court trying the
  • Severe penalties are provided in section 30 of Law 182(1) of 2002 on the export of cultural goods, in case of illegal export of cultural goods. Specifically, this section provides for a fine not exceeding 2000 Cyprus pounds (equivalent to approximately 3400 €) or imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years, or both.
  • According to the Customs Code Law of 2004, No 94(1)/2004, when a person with an act or omission contravenes prohibitions or restrictions provided by the Customs or other legislation that person shall be guilty of a criminal offence and shall be liable to a fine not exceeding three thousand four hundred euro or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years, or both.

Authorities responsible for issuing export permits

The Director of the Department of Antiquities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works
Museum Street
1516 Nicosia
CYPRUS
Kontakt
Phone: +357 22 865807
Fax: +357 22 303148
E-Mail: antiquitiesdept@da.mcw.gov.cy
homepage: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf/DMLindex_en/DMLindex_en?OpenDocument
The Director of the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
Environment Service
1498 Nicosia
CYPRUS
-
The Director of the Department of Geological Studies of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
Cyprus Geological Survey
1415 Nicosia
CYPRUS
-
The Director of the State Library of the Ministry of Education and Culture
Cyprus Library
1011 Nicosia
CYPRUS
-
The Registrar of the Public Records Office of the Ministry of Justice and Public Order
State Archives
1461 Nicosia
CYPRUS
-
The Director of the Cultural Services of the Ministry of
Education and Culture
Kimonos and Thoukididou Street
1434 Nicosia
CYPRUS
-

Procedure

Duration
Aprox. 3 weeks
Costs
256 € per application for an export license

Forms

The UNESCO-WCO Model Export Certificate for Cultural Objects is not applied.

The relevant certificates / licenses are:

  • Export certificate for third countries (as per the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 116/2009 and national Law No. 182(1) of 2002).
  • License to export antiquities (issued as per the provisions of the Antiquities Law)

Further Information

Informative posters in Greek and English concerning the export of antiquities are placed at Cyprus' airports and ports.

Department of Antiquities
1, Museum Avenue
Niosia 1097
P.O.Box 22024,1516
CYPRUS
Tel.: +357 22865801
Fax. +357 22303148
Email: antiquitiesdept@da.mcw.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mcw.gov.cy/mcw/da/da.nsf/DMLindex_en/DMLindex_en?OpenDocument

The Department of Antiquities provides a collection of national and European legislation with regards to antiquities and cultural goods on the official website.

Customs and Excise Department
Headquarters
1440 Nicosia
Tel.: +357 22601713 bzw. +357 22 601 714
Fax: +357 22302031
Email: headquarters@customs.mof.gov.cy
Website: http://www.mof.gov.cy/mof/customs/customs.nsf/index_en/index_en?OpenDocument

Further Information is available in German language.

Disclaimer:
The above information is based on the information available and deemed trustworthy at the time indicated, in particular the information provided by the State and the information as available in the UNESCO database. No guarantee can be given for the correctness and completeness of this information, nor can any liability be accepted for any damage that may occur. Legal regulations may change at any time without the Minister of State for Culture and the Media being informed. The decision to acquire, import, export or place cultural property on the market is your sole responsibility. It is therefore recommended that you contact the relevant diplomatic or consular representation and/or the export authorities of the respective foreign country.