Immunity from Seizure

Last updated: August 2023

For further enquiries please write to:
Rosie Wilson
Head of Exhibitions
National Portrait Gallery
St Martin’s Place
London WC2H 0HE
[email protected]

Part 6 of the Tribunals, Courts and Enforcement Act 2007 provides immunity from seizure for cultural objects which are loaned from overseas to temporary public exhibitions in approved museums or galleries in the UK where conditions are met when the object enters the UK.

The conditions are:

• The object is usually kept outside the UK
• The object is not owned by a person who is resident in UK
• The import of the object does not contravene any law
• The object is brought into UK for purpose of a temporary public exhibition at an approved museum or gallery
• The museum or gallery has published information about the object

For further information about the act and the regulations please refer to the DCMS website and to the National Portrait Gallery's Due Diligence policy.

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