Purchase and sale of cultural monuments or objects of cultural value
Field of activity No. 10 under the Trade Licensing Act.
What you need: Specific expertise set by law (education, experience, certification).
- Vázaná živnost
- Field No. 10
- See conditions below
- 8 activity examples
A regulated trade (field no. 10) authorising trading in antiques, works of art and other objects of cultural value. It requires documented professional qualification under Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act.
Professional qualification under Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. – it is sufficient to meet one of the variants:
1) University education in a study programme and field of study focused on fine arts, restoration or art history (no practice is required).
2) Higher professional education in a field of study focused on fine arts, restoration, conservation or arts-and-crafts creation + 1 year of practice in the field.
3) Secondary education with a school-leaving examination (maturita) in a field of study focused on fine arts, restoration, conservation, arts-and-crafts creation or trading in antiques + 1 year of practice in the field.
4) Secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate in the relevant field of study focused on fine arts, restoration, conservation or arts-and-crafts creation + 3 years of practice in the field.
5) A retraining certificate or another document evidencing professional qualification + 4 years of practice in the field.
In the case of a regulated trade, the professional qualification – unlike a craft trade – cannot be replaced merely by general practice; it is set out directly in Annex 2.
The professional qualification may also be evidenced through a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act. A responsible representative may perform this function for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
Examples of activities
- a shop with antiques and a second-hand antiques outlet
- sale and intermediation of the sale of works of art (paintings, sculptures, graphics)
- operation of a gallery trading in objects of cultural value
- holding auctions of works of art and antiques
- purchase and commission sale of collector's items
- trade in historical furniture and artistic crafts
- sale of numismatic and philatelic collections of cultural value
- online sale of antiques and works of art
What this trade is and what it is for
The trade Purchase and sale of cultural monuments or objects of cultural value is a regulated trade listed in Annex 2 to the Trade Licensing Act under field no. 10. It authorises you to do business in the field of trading in antiques, works of art and other objects that have cultural, historical or artistic value.
The subject of business is in particular the purchase, sale, buying-in, commission sale and intermediation of the sale of objects of cultural value. Part of the activity is also assessing an object in terms of its age, origin, attribution, material and state of preservation and setting an appropriate price. Because this is a sensitive area where there is a risk of illegal trade or damage to cultural heritage, the Act requires documented professional qualification – the dealer should recognise the authenticity, age and value of an object as well as any protection it enjoys under special regulations.
What falls under this trade (and what does not)
The trade covers trading in the following objects:
- antiques and objects of artistic craft,
- paintings, sculptures, graphics and other works of art,
- historical furniture, collector's items, numismatics and philately of cultural value,
- holding auctions and commission sale of these objects,
- operating a gallery or antiques shop focused on objects of cultural value.
Boundaries with neighbouring activities:
- Restoration and conservation of cultural monuments, works of fine art or arts-and-crafts works is not a trade; it is a separate regulated activity that may be performed only on the basis of a permit from the Ministry of Culture under Act No. 20/1987 Coll., on state monument preservation. Here it is about trade, not about interventions in the object.
- Ordinary sale of goods without cultural value (ordinary used furniture, second-hand) falls under the unqualified (free) trade “Wholesale and retail”.
- The export of objects of cultural value is subject to a special certificate under Act No. 71/1994 Coll. – a trade licence on its own is not sufficient for export.
If you have doubts about how to classify a specific activity, turn to the Trade Licensing Office.
Statutory conditions for obtaining it
You must meet the general conditions under Section 6 of the Trade Licensing Act: full legal capacity and a clean criminal record. Medical fitness and liability insurance are not required for this trade.
You must also evidence professional qualification under Sections 6 to 8 and Section 24 of Act No. 455/1991 Coll. In the case of a regulated trade – unlike a craft trade – it cannot be replaced merely by general practice; it is set out directly in Annex 2. It is sufficient to meet one of the variants:
| Education | Required practice |
|---|---|
| University – fine arts, restoration or art history | no practice |
| Higher professional education – fine arts, restoration, conservation or arts-and-crafts creation | 1 year |
| Secondary education with the maturita – fine arts, restoration, conservation, arts-and-crafts creation or trading in antiques | 1 year |
| Secondary education with an apprenticeship certificate – the relevant field (fine arts, restoration, conservation or arts-and-crafts creation) | 3 years |
| a retraining certificate or another document evidencing professional qualification | 4 years |
If you do not meet the professional qualification yourself, you may appoint a responsible representative under Section 11 of the Trade Licensing Act – a person who meets the conditions and is responsible for the proper operation of the trade. One person may be a responsible representative for no more than 4 entrepreneurs.
How to notify the trade step by step
- Fill in the Unified Registration Form (URF) for notifying the trade.
- Submit the notification at any municipal Trade Licensing Office, electronically via the rzp.gov.cz portal, or at a Czech POINT office.
- Evidence professional qualification (a diploma, certificate, retraining certificate) and documents of practice, where required.
- Pay the administrative fee – CZK 1,000 for the notification, or CZK 800 for electronic submission.
- The Trade Licensing Office enters the trade in the Trade Register, usually within 5 working days. The licence arises already on the day of notification, provided all conditions are met.
You will find the detailed procedure in the guide How to start a trade.
Documents and fees
- a completed Unified Registration Form (URF),
- proof of identity,
- documents of professional qualification (education or retraining) and of practice, where required,
- for a responsible representative, their consent and documents of their qualification,
- administrative fee of CZK 1,000 (notification) / CZK 800 (electronically).
Frequently asked questions
Can I trade in antiques only on the basis of an unqualified (free) trade?
No. Trading in objects of cultural value and antiques is a regulated trade and requires documented professional qualification under Annex 2. The unqualified (free) trade “Wholesale and retail” covers only ordinary goods without cultural value.
What if I have neither artistic nor restoration education?
You may use the variant with a retraining certificate and 4 years of practice in the field, or appoint a responsible representative (Section 11) who meets the professional qualification.
Does this trade also authorise me to export objects abroad?
Not automatically. The export of objects of cultural value is subject to a special certificate under Act No. 71/1994 Coll., on the sale and export of objects of cultural value.
When can I start trading?
The licence arises on the day of notification, provided you meet the general conditions and the professional qualification. The office enters the trade in the Register usually within 5 working days.
Do I need a medical examination or insurance?
No. For this trade, neither medical fitness nor liability insurance is required.