CUSTOMS REGULATIONS
Customs requirements for Russia are complex and must be followed closely. Household goods and personal effects should not be shipped from origin by air, sea or road without first submitting required documents and receiving confirmation that everything is in order from the Destination Agent.
- The customer has to arrive in Russia before his/her shipment arrives.
- Russian customs have the right to inspect the customer’s household goods shipment while it is in bonded storage. Apart from customs examination fees, this may result in additional handling and storage charges
- Almost all import shipments will be charged Russian duties and taxes. There are some minor exceptions if the customer is planning on becoming a permanent resident, if they have diplomatic status in the country from where they are returning or if the customer has been out of the Russian Federation for more than one year. Please contact the destination agent in Russia for more information.
Please be aware that from July 1, 2010, Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan have joined in a new ‘customs union’. The immediate effect of this is to significantly increase the costs of imports of HHG shipments whether over land, air or sea into those countries.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
- Copy of the customer’s Russian travel passport (“zagran passport”) - pages containing the customer’s photo and entry/exit customs stamps, visa of the country from where he is returning
- Copy of the customer’s internal Russian passport (“vnutrenny passport”) - first page and page with the customer’s permanent or temporary registration in Russia);
- Power of Attorney; must be obtained by the customer and must be notarized by a Russian notary
- Letter to Customs – this document can be prepared by the customer OR the letter for Customs can be prepared by the employer. If the letter comes from the customers employer it must be printed on company letterhead, signed by an authorized representative of the company and stamped with the company’s stamp.
Note on Inventories: Detailed inventories are now required into Sakhalin. The Customs House wants the entry to include every item (description, color, quantity, etc.). This may involve our agent unpacking every carton and every item at the customs bonded warehouse in order to prepare the required detailed customs entry. Without this very detailed inventory, there is the potential for the Customs House to impose fines for an incorrect declaration and hold any undeclared or mis-declared items for further customs review. Other locations in Russia are experiencing varied degrees of the above.
MOTOR VEHICLES
- The import of non-diplomatic motor vehicles to Russia is very difficult and expensive. Cars that are over ten (10) years old cannot be imported to the Russian Federation. Contact the destination agent for full requirements
PETS
- Contact destination agent for full requirements
DUTIABLE AND RESTRICTED ITEMS
The following items are restricted for import and may attract duties. Do not include them in your shipment without first obtaining written approval from our agent at destination.
- Artwork or Antiques/Items of Cultural Value – see note below
- Artwork and antiques
- Currency and coins (no longer in circulation)
- Foodstuffs
- Jewelry
- Pet Food
- Plants
Russian authorities are concerned to protect national items of cultural value. This includes items over 50 years old such as antique furniture, drawings, paintings, books (older that 100 years), icons, musical instruments, precious metals, precious or semi-precious stones, samovars, sculptures and statues, stamp collections or collections of flora and fauna. Such items require special clearance and should not be included in your shipment without written approval.
PROHIBITED ITEMS
- Alcohol – prohibited for unaccompanied luggage, but each adult may take up to 3 liters of alcoholic beverages for free. In excess of 3 liters but under 10 liters is subject to import duties of EURO 10.00 per liter.
- Medications– prohibited for unaccompanied luggage, but a customer may take certain amount of medication in accompanied luggage.
- Tobacco– prohibited for unaccompanied luggage, but each adult may take 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 grammas of tobacco or a combination of these not to exceed 250 grammas for free.
- Animal trophies (excluding fur coats and fur hats)
- Explosives and fireworks
- Guns, weapons, and ammunitions (including knives/swords/daggers)
- Poisonous and radioactive materials
- Pornography
- Seeds and soil