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Customs control

  • Customs control procedures for airline passengers in Russian Federation

All goods moved across the customs border of the Russian Federation are subject to customs clearance and control.

Customs clearance and control of goods carried by individuals across the border of the Russian Federation involve the Red and the Green corridors. Corridors shall have proper marking in Russian and in English: “Товаров, подлежащих обязательному письменному декларированию, нет” and “Nothing to Declare” for the Green corridor, and “Товары, подлежащие обязательному письменному декларированию” and “Goods to Declare” for the Red corridor.

Passengers who have nothing to declare, or carry exclusively goods exempt from customs duties and taxes (i.e. exempt from export/import restrictions and bans) should take the Green corridor. Passengers who carry goods subject to mandatory declaration (i.e. subject to customs duties, cost and quantity restrictions, etc.) should take the Red corridor.

Customs Declaration Form

(click to enlarge)

Movement of personal goods at Sheremetyevo Airport is regulated by Government Decree No. 715, dated 27.11.2003, Government Decree No. 718, dated 29.11.2003 and Government Decree No. 29, dated 23.01.2006.

Movement of foreign exchange across the State Border of the Russian Federation is regulated by Federal Law No. 90-FZ, dated 18.07.2005—"Amendments to Certain Legislative Instruments of the Russian Federation", which changes the rules of movement of foreign exchange, Russian rubles (RUR) and securities across the customs border of the Russian Federation, effective since 31.07.2005.

Customs Control Procedures

Passengers may take the Green Corridor without filling in any customs declaration:

  1. Individuals may bring in their accompanied luggage, without any declaration, customs duties and taxes:
    • items and goods free of any import bans and/or restrictions;
    • imported goods for personal use;
    • goods (excepting, however, vehicles) with total value not exceeding RUR 65,000 and weighing up to 35 kg;
    • cash assets (foreign exchange and RUR, foreign and domestic securities in physical certificated form, and travelers checks) to a sum total equivalent to USD 10,000 at the exchange rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation on the date of the State Border crossing;
    • 2 l of alcoholic beverages (for individuals aged 21+), up to 250 g sturgeon roe in the original packing and tobacco products (for individuals aged 18+) up to: cigars—50 ea, cigarillos—100 ea, cigarettes—200 ea, tobacco—0.25 kg;
    • for tobacco products of one type only, permissible import amounts are as follows: cigars—100 ea, cigarillos—200 ea, cigarettes—400 ea, and tobacco—0.5 kg (imports/exports of these goods are subject to restrictions imposed by applicable laws of the Russian Federation).

Assets on plastic cards require no declaration, regardless of whether the passenger is a resident or otherwise. Imports of the assets on plastic cards are subject to no restrictions.

Passengers shall take the Red Corridor and fill in the customs declaration (in 2 copies), if their hand baggage contains:

  1. Goods subject to the uniform duty rates:
    • for goods with aggregate value exceeding RUR 65,000 and/or total weight in excess of 35 kg (however, no more than RUR 650,000 and 200 kg). Any excess amounts or values are subject to the uniform duty rates and taxation at the rate of 30% of customs value of the said goods, however not exceeding EUR 4 per 1 kg;
  2. Goods subject to duty rates and taxation in accordance with general terms and procedures of tariff regulation and taxation, envisaged for participants of foreign economic activities:
    • the aggregate value of imported commodities and goods for personal use is over RUR 650,000 and/or total weight in excess of 200 kg;
    • alcoholic beverages imported in the amounts 5 times over the existing restrictions are subject to customs duties and taxes applicable to excess amounts (uniform duty rates shall apply to amounts less than 5 times over the existing restrictions);
    • for goods imported by an individual who crosses the customs border of the Russian Federation at least twice a month.
  3. Imported goods subject to permits from the relevant authorities of the Russian Federation;
  4. Foods subject to mandatory declaration;
  5. Cash foreign exchange, Russian rubles (RUR), travelers checks, foreign and domestic securities to a sum total exceeding the equivalent of USD 10,000. Please note, these valuables are subject to no quantitative restrictions, if imported by individuals;
  6. If you intend to take out foreign exchange, currency valuables and other goods imported to Russia on your return flight.

Foreign individuals may import goods (excepting, however, vehicles) for personal use in the Russian Federation during their stay in this country on a temporary basis, free of customs duties and taxes. To this effect, foreign individuals shall declare the said goods, take the Red Corridor and present the filled out declaration on their return trip. If the said goods are not removed from the customs territory of the Russian Federation upon the expiry of the established term, they shall be subject to customs duties and taxes in accordance with Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 718, dated 29.11.2003.

Individuals recognized as refugees or forced migrants, or foreigners immigrating to the Russian Federation for permanent residence in accordance with established procedures, are allowed to import goods (excepting, however, vehicles), previously used and purchased prior to their arrival in the Russian Federation, exempt of any customs duties and taxes.

Important: lost customs declarations are subject to no redemption and no official copies thereof shall be issued.

Short List of Goods Permissible for Import into the Russian Federation Subject to Prior Approval of Relevant Authorities

(type of goods, permits and the issuing authorities in Russia)

  1. Firearms and ammunition: Import Permit issued by the bodies of internal affairs.
  2. Electronic devices (cordless telephones, radio stations, satellite communication systems, etc. (excepting, however, pack radio sets (cordless telephones) of federal and regional cellular networks, imported in the Russian Federation on a temporary basis): permit of GosSviazNadzor with the Ministry of Communications of the Russian Federation.
  3. Sturgeon roe in amounts exceeding 250 g (original packing): License of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.
  4. All sturgeons and products made of them: License of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Russian Federation.

Goods Subject to Mandatory Declaration

Mandatory declaration in writing applies to:

  • Russian rubles (RUR) and foreign exchange;
  • securities (instruments of payment, travelers checks):
  • precious metals in any form and state, unless brought with the purpose of temporary import/export of personal jewelry and other household goods;
  • gems (diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, alexandrites, natural pearls), unless brought with the purpose of temporary import/export of personal jewelry and other household goods;
  • weapons, ammunition, explosives;
  • narcotic substances, psychotropic substances and their analogues;
  • items of artistic and cultural value (pictures, sculptures, icons, ancient coins, orders, medals, stamps, etc.);
  • toxic and poisonous substances, including superpotent drugs (sleep-inducing medicine, painkillers, etc.);
  • radioactive materials;
  • endangered species of wildlife, parts thereof and/or product made of them;
  • technical devices comprising of one or several radio transmitters or receivers, or combination thereof and auxiliary equipment (radio stations for radio navigation and radio positioning systems, cable TV systems and other devices operating within radio spectrum over 9 kHz);
  • printed media, cinema-, photo- and video materials representing official and/or state secrets, popularizing fascism, inciting racial, national and religious hatred, or of pornographic nature;
  • goods subject to quantitative (weight) or cost restrictions imposed by applicable laws of the Russian Federation, transported across the customs border without payment of customs duties, in a simplified, privileged mode, which are not designated for production or commercial activities—in the event of breach of the said restrictions;
  • goods designated for production and other commercial activities;
  • vehicles;
  • goods transported in unaccompanied (shipped separately) baggage;
  • exported chemicals, which may be used as components of chemical weapons;
  • products of a military nature;
  • all and any materials and stock, which may be used in production of weapons of mass destruction, its delivery vehicles, and production of any other weapons.

Note: A Customs Declaration shall be filled in by each individual aged 16+. Goods of individuals aged under 16 shall be declared by the accompanying parent, adoptive parent, foster parent or guardian, and for organized exit/entry and return trip of a group of underage individuals unaccompanied by any such parents, adoptive parents, foster parents or guardians—by the supervisor of any such group.