Country Summary for FINLAND

Export License

The following cultural goods may not be exported from Finland without a license:

 

(1) objects related to Finnish national history and prominent persons, irrespective of their age, country of origin, and length of time present in Finland;

(2) archaeological objects referred to in the Protection of Antiquities Act (295/1963), discovered on land or water;

(3) archives and collections that are valuable for scientific or other particular reasons, irrespective of their age, country of origin, and length of time present in Finland;

(4) cultural objects mentioned in the Annex. (Act No. 933, § 3)

 

Annex:

1. Objects that are over 100 years old or have been in Finland for at least
100 years

2. Works of original art, crafts, or design created over 50 years ago or that have been in Finland for at least 50 years, if they are:

(a) Unique objects or objects made in a limited number

(b) nationally significant prototypes

3. The following written products, which have been in Finland for at least 50 years:

(a) manuscripts and compositions over 50 years old

(b) Books printed or handwritten in Finland, or present in Finland, before 1800

(c) Books printed or handwritten abroad before 1600

(d) Maps printed in Finland, or present in Finland, before 1800, and Maps
depicting Finland before 1800

4. The following vehicles and means of transport:

(a) Finnish vehicles and vehicles of more than 75 years old

(b) Foreign vehicles and vehicles of more than 75 years old, which have been in
Finland for at least 50 years

5. The following money or medals, which have been in Finland for at least 50 years:

(a) Medieval coins minted before 1560 in Finland and other medieval coins used in
Finland

b) Swedish banknotes printed before 1809 and banknotes printed in Finland before
1809

c) Imperial merit and prize medals awarded to Finns, Swedish medals issued
before 1809 and Russian medals awarded before 1881, and Mannerheim
crosses

6. Images made by different photographic methods in Finland before 1860, or their original negatives

7. The following objects created in Finland over 100 years ago, or present in Finland for at least 100 years:  

(a) buildings and parts thereof, and articles meant to be affixed to
                 buildings

(b) furniture and lighting fixtures

(c) garments and textiles

(d) jewelry and products of goldsmiths and silversmiths  

(e) watches and timepieces  

(f) musical instruments, toys and games

(g) religious and belief-related articles

(h) Finnish cultural heritage

(i) technical equipment such as tools and machines, weighing and measuring
    instruments, photographic equipment and optical devices, and their prototypes

(j) weapons and equipment, as well as military machinery, equipment, and
    accessories

(k) glass, metal, ceramic and wooden articles

Exceptions to the Export License Requirement:

(1) Items belonging to a public collection or archive, to Evangelical Lutheran or Orthodox Churches, or their congregations, which are taken out of the country temporarily for exhibition, conservation, or scientific research and then returned to Finland;

(2) State cultural objects (other than those referred to above) which remain State-owned after exportation;

(3) Instruments and other tools of a performing artist or other performer used for his/ her work which will be returned to Finland after an appearance or performance.  (Act No. 933, § 4)