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GOODS ACROSS BORDERS
DEPARTURE RULE🇮🇹 ITALY

Taking antiquities out of Italy

STATUS · PROHIBITED

Export of Italian cultural heritage items over 50 years old without a Ministero della Cultura attestato di libera circolazione is prohibited under D.Lgs. 42/2004.

Details

Italy's D.Lgs. 42/2004 (Codice dei Beni Culturali e del Paesaggio) prohibits permanent export of items over 50 years old and of significant cultural interest without the attestato di libera circolazione (free circulation certificate) from the competent Soprintendenza. The State may exercise pre-emption (diritto di prelazione) for items of outstanding national interest. Temporary export for study or exhibition requires a prestito d'opera licence. Penalties: up to EUR 150,000 fine and 4 years imprisonment.

Quantity limits

Each item assessed individually by the Soprintendenza territoriale

Documentation required

  • Attestato di libera circolazione (MiC export licence) for permanent export
  • Prestito d'opera licence for temporary exhibition loans
  • Soprintendenza territoriale assessment certificate

The other direction

INBOUND

Bringing antiquities into Italy(prohibited)

Sources

VERIFIED · 2026-04-25Report a correction
RULES5,339COUNTRIES85ITEMS111CARRIERS28GUIDES37UNIQUE SOURCES614LATEST VERIFICATION2026-05-13MethodologyChangelog