Customs, cultural goods and CITES formalities handled in Luxembourg.
Declarations, transit documents, ATA Carnet, CITES and cultural goods licences. We issue them, or we manage the documents you provide.
We will respond within 24 hours on business days
Why work with Fortius
Neutral by design
No corporate group behind us. Your client stays your client.
Toolkit à la carte
Take only what you need, with no forced bundles.
CUSTOMS
Customs for import, export, transit, plus ATA Carnet and CITES.
We issue the documents your shipment needs, or manage and discharge the ones you provide.
01
Import
We lodge the import clearance at Luxembourg Airport and follow it until the freight is released.
02
Export
We prepare and lodge the export declarations so the freight is cleared before departure.
03
Transit (T1)
We issue the T1 transit documents, or manage and discharge the ones you provide.
04
ATA Carnet
We handle temporary admissions for fairs and exhibitions, and the carnet at each passage.
05
CITES
We obtain certificates for protected plant or animal materials, required whatever the cultural value of the object.
CULTURAL GOODS
2025 EU import authorisations, European and national licences.
We obtain the import and export authorisations your cultural goods need.
01
EU import authorisation (2025+)
Required since 2025 when age and value thresholds are met. Two levels exist, an import licence for the most sensitive categories and an importer statement for the rest. We identify which one your shipment needs.
02
European export licences
Working with the competent authority, we obtain the export licences needed for artworks currently located in Luxembourg. We also handle EU export licences issued in other Member States, present them to customs for export and make sure the paperwork is cleared before departure.
03
National cultural goods licences
Most EU countries protect cultural goods at the national level. Before they can be transferred to another EU country or abroad, they first need a national cultural goods licence (for example "Ausfuhrgenehmigung" in Germany or "certificat de bien culturel" in France). We advise on the applicable rules and obtain the necessary documents in collaboration with our local partners.
FAQ
Quick answers about customs and compliance.
These cover what forwarders ask us most often about customs and cultural goods. Every shipment is different, so if something specific is on your mind, ask us directly and we will come back to you within 24 hours on business days.
Is my artwork concerned by the 2025 EU import authorisations?
It depends on two thresholds, age and value, which must both be met. When they are, the shipment needs either an import licence for the most sensitive categories or an importer statement for the others. Send us the basics of the work and we will tell you which regime applies.
Which comes first, the national or the European export licence?
In several countries the national licence must be obtained before the European one can be requested. We check what the country of origin requires and sequence the two accordingly.
How do I know if an object falls under CITES?
If your artwork or collection item is made of animal or plant matter (such as wood, leather or ivory), it might be subject to CITES restrictions, whatever its value. You can check the status on the CITES website (www.cites.org). When in doubt, send us the material description and we will check what the shipment requires.
Can you work from customs documents we already hold?
Yes. We either issue the documents ourselves or manage and discharge the ones you provide, T1 transit documents included. Both routes are standard practice here.
Do you handle customs alone, without the transport?
Yes. Every service in the toolkit stands on its own. You can hand us only the customs and licence work and keep the rest of the operation with your own partners.
THE REST OF THE TOOLKIT
Often combined with customs.
Air Transport
Road Transport
