Artifacts. Authenticated. Protected. Forever.
The International Artifacts Registry & Certification Bureau is the foremost intergovernmental body for the registration, authentication, and legal protection of cultural artifacts and art collections across every nation on earth.
Founded in 1974 under the Geneva Cultural Heritage Protocol, IARCB operates as a fully independent intergovernmental body serving all 195 United Nations member states. We maintain the world's most comprehensive cross-referenced archive of cultural artifacts.
From ancient archaeological discoveries in sub-Saharan Africa to Renaissance paintings in Europe, from pre-Columbian artefacts in Latin America to imperial-era objects in East Asia — every registered artifact receives equal protection under our certification framework.
Full archival registration for individual artifacts and entire collections from any country, with issuance of unique IARCB Registry Numbers valid across 195 nations.
Apply Now →Internationally recognised certificates issued upon verified registration, accepted by museums, auction houses, customs, and courts worldwide.
Learn More →Official IARCB collector identity cards linking registered owners to their certified collections within our global database, with QR-linked verification.
Learn More →Search the global registry to verify ownership, provenance, and certification status of any artifact registered in our system from any member nation.
Search Now →In-depth investigations for disputed or unverified artifacts, cross-referenced with INTERPOL, Art Loss Register, Getty Provenance Index, and 90+ partner databases.
Learn More →Expert advisory and documentation support for the legal protection of artifacts under international conventions including UNESCO 1970, UNIDROIT 1995, and the Hague Convention.
Learn More →A streamlined six-step process from application to certified issuance, typically completed within 10 business days.
Complete the registration form online or at any regional office with full artifact details.
Officers review all materials and cross-reference against 90+ international databases.
Verification against INTERPOL, Art Loss Register, and UNESCO databases.
Regional specialists authenticate category classification and origin details.
Unique IARCB Registry Number assigned and archived in the global database.
Certificate and Collector Card dispatched within 5–10 business days of approval.
IARCB maintains formal cross-referencing agreements with the world's foremost heritage, law enforcement, and cultural organisations.
IARCB's registry gave our museum the internationally recognised documentation needed to repatriate three artifacts from overseas auction. Without their certification framework, this would have taken decades of legal action.
As a private collector operating across Europe and the Middle East, IARCB certification has been indispensable. Customs officers, auction houses, and insurance companies all recognise and accept it without question.
We registered our entire pre-Columbian collection with IARCB in 2018. The process was thorough, professional, and the certificates have been accepted without challenge at every international institution we have dealt with since.
Founded in Geneva in 1974 under the Cultural Heritage Protocol. An independent intergovernmental body serving 195 member nations with offices across 6 continents.
To ensure the permanent documentation, authentication, and legal protection of the world's cultural artifacts irrespective of origin, age, medium, or value — through rigorous registration and internationally recognised certification available to all nations equally.
A world in which every cultural artifact is documented, every collection protected, and every act of looting or illicit trafficking rendered impossible through comprehensive international registration — from the cave paintings of Lascaux to the bronzes of Benin.
Integrity in documentation. Rigour in verification. Equity across all cultures. We hold the heritage of every civilisation to be equally sacred — from the rock art of the Sahara to the temple sculptures of Angkor Wat.
IARCB's operations are grounded in and aligned with the following internationally binding legal instruments.
| Convention | Year | Scope | IARCB Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| UNESCO Convention on Cultural Property | 1970 | Prohibits illicit import, export and transfer of cultural property internationally | Cross-reference all registrations globally |
| UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen Objects | 1995 | Restitution of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects between signatory states | Documentation support for restitution claims |
| Hague Convention — Cultural Property | 1954 | Protection of cultural property in situations of armed conflict | Emergency registry activation; conflict-zone protocols |
| UNESCO Underwater Heritage Convention | 2001 | Protection of submerged cultural heritage worldwide | Specialist underwater artifact registry division |
| Convention on Biological Diversity | 1992 | Natural heritage specimens and ethnobotanical collections | Natural history artifact registration compliance |
| Niamey Cultural Agreement (Africa) | 1969 | Cultural property cooperation among African Union member states | African Heritage Division primary framework |
| European Convention on Offences — Cultural Property | 1985 | Criminal law cooperation for protection of cultural heritage in Europe | European registry cross-reference protocol |
Comprehensive artifact management for collectors, institutions, museums, and governments across all 195 member nations — from first registration through lifelong legal protection.
Two internationally recognised documents issued upon successful registration.
Internationally recognised, accepted in 195 nations. Features holographic seal, unique registry number, QR verification, and biometric-ready owner ID. Issued in English, French, Arabic, Spanish, and Chinese upon request.
Links registered owners to their certified collections in the global database. Includes biometric-ready fields, unique collector ID, QR code linking to full registry profile, and direct access to the digital dashboard.
IARCB maintains dedicated regional divisions across 6 continents, serving 195 member nations with culturally sensitive, locally staffed registration offices.
Search the IARCB global registry across 195 member nations. Verify registration status, ownership, provenance, and certification of any registered artifact.
Search by name, registry number, country of origin, category, or collector ID
Latest news from IARCB — registration updates, partnership announcements, recovered artifact alerts, and policy developments from across the world.
A landmark agreement will see IARCB and the African Union's Heritage Commission establish a joint database covering pre-colonial artifacts from all 54 African states, significantly expanding protection for the continent's cultural patrimony.
Following successful repatriation negotiations, twelve Benin Bronze sculptures have been officially registered in the IARCB system under the National Commission for Museums and Monuments of Nigeria, with certificates issued to the originating institutions.
IARCB announces an expanded fee-waiver programme for cultural institutions from the 46 UN-designated Least Developed Countries, effective from Q2 2026. Applications for the programme are now open through regional offices.
The Bangkok regional office announces dedicated satellite operations for 14 Pacific Island states, with travelling registration teams visiting each nation quarterly to facilitate on-site collection documentation.
In coordination with INTERPOL's Works of Art Unit, IARCB has issued alerts for seven Syrian cultural artifacts reported stolen from a private collector. Registrants are asked to report any sightings through the registry verification portal.
IARCB has been recognised with UNESCO's annual Excellence in Heritage Protection Award for its pioneering work in cross-border artifact registration and the development of the multilingual certification framework.
Reach our headquarters, any regional office, or specialist division. We respond to all enquiries within 3 business days.
Whether you are registering your first artifact, verifying an existing certificate, seeking provenance research, or requesting legal advisory — our team is here to assist. All communications are handled with full confidentiality under the Geneva Data Protection Framework.
International Registration Form — Valid for all 195 IARCB Member Nations · Form Ref: IARCB-INT-2026
Enter your IARCB application reference number to see real-time status updates, reviewer notes, and estimated completion date.
Your reference number was issued when you submitted your registration. Format: IARCB-XXX-XXXX-XXXX
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Instantly verify the authenticity of any IARCB Certificate of Authenticity. This service is free, public, and available 24/7 — for customs officers, auction houses, museums, insurers, and collectors worldwide.
Estimate your registration and certification fees instantly. IARCB operates on a cost-recovery basis. Discounts apply to institutions and least-developed nations.
Cross-referenced alerts from IARCB, INTERPOL Works of Art Unit, and the Art Loss Register. Updated continuously. If you have information on any listed item, contact us immediately.