Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory)
Can I take Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory) across a border? Yes in many places, with conditions. Of the 3 country-rules we've indexed for Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory), 2 are allowed (often with limits), 1 are restricted (permit, declaration, or quantity cap), and 0 are prohibited outright. Customs rules depend on the destination, the purpose (travelling, posting, importing personally, or importing commercially), and the quantity.
Objects over 100 years old that are not classified as cultural property requiring export permit from the country of origin. Most personal-traveler movements of ordinary antiques (vintage furniture, old porcelain, decorative art) pass without issue when accompanied by a purchase invoice and an age declaration. Countries with protective cultural-heritage regimes — Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Peru, India, China — require an export permit even for items purchased from a dealer, and the permit application process can take weeks. The importing country may separately require proof of lawful export from the origin. Duty treatment is usually preferential (HS heading 97, cultural category) but VAT/GST may apply at entry.
Common mistakes with Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory)
- Assuming the rules at the origin apply at the destination — they don't. The destination customs authority is the binding rule.
- Travelling and posting are treated differently: an item you can carry may be prohibited by post (and vice versa).
- Personal vs commercial intent: above a quantity threshold, customs may treat your shipment as commercial regardless of intent.
- Undervaluing on the customs declaration to avoid duty — treated as fraud in most jurisdictions.
- Vague item descriptions on CN22/CN23 — biggest single cause of postal customs holds.
- Missing required certificates (phytosanitary, veterinary, CITES, prescription, product compliance).
Always verify against the destination's customs authority before acting. Not legal advice.
HS codes
Regulatory trend
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32019R0880 — EU Reg 2019/880 on import of cultural goods applies from 2021; US Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act
General notes
Status by country (traveling)
Rules by country and purpose
Carrying in personal luggage
Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory)
🇮🇹 Italy
Bringing antiques INTO Italy is generally allowed, but exporting Italian cultural goods OUT of Italy requires a government export licence.
Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory)
🇪🇬 Egypt
Bringing antiques INTO Egypt is generally permitted, but Egypt's Law 117/1983 makes exporting genuine antiquities a criminal offence.
Antiques (100+ years old, non-ivory)
🇹🇷 Turkey
Antiques may be brought into Turkey but must be declared; export of Turkish cultural property is prohibited without government permission under Law 2863.