Duty-free import of goods to Russia

A shopping tour to Milan or a grocery trip to Finland has long been a surprise. Many Russian tourists are attracted not only by holidays abroad, but also by the opportunity to go shopping in foreign shops. But do not forget that upon returning home, Russian customs awaits all travelers. And it is quite possible that you will have to pay double the price for the things of world brands purchased at the sale. To avoid this, Let's try to understand the customs rules of Russia, which are relevant in 2017.

What is customs?

Customs is a specialized government agency that controls the transportation of various types of goods across the Russian border, including baggage and mail, and collects fees and duties for certain goods. It is forbidden to bring some items into the country, while others are allowed only within certain limits or for a separate fee in favor of the state.

Customs is located at checkpoints across the state border: in air and sea ports, at railway stations and automobile checkpoints. Organizations involved in international transportation, or ordinary individuals, for example, tourists traveling abroad, one way or another will have to deal with customs officials.

Export from Russia

When traveling outside the Russian Federation, Russians do not fill out a declaration if they are transporting:

Cash up to $ 3,000 (rubles and currency equivalent to this amount). There is no need to declare money on a bank card, their amount is not limited. Amounts up to $ 10,000 must be declared, the export of more cash is possible with the permission of the Central Bank;
Personal jewelry and valuables that are temporarily removed. However, it is recommended that expensive items (gold jewelry, furs, watches) be included in the declaration. Otherwise, when returning back, you will have to prove that their purchase was not made abroad;
Up to 5 kg of fish or seafood and up to 250 g of sturgeon caviar.

It should be borne in mind that luggage can always be checked, including to clarify the amount of cash carried. If it turns out that even a few dollars more than allowed is being exported, the currency can be seized, a protocol drawn up and a case on violation of the customs rules of Russia opened. That's why amounts over $ 3,000 must be included in the declaration. This limitation is easy to get around: it is enough to carry not cash, but a bank card. Nobody will check the amount of non-cash funds.

The export of alcohol from the Russian Federation is not limited, but its import to other countries is strictly regulated, this must not be forgotten. You can withdraw as much alcohol as you like from the Russian Federation, but it is unlikely that it will be possible to introduce it into another state. In addition, a large volume of alcoholic beverages will be of interest to customs officers, who can cite an excerpt from the rules as an argument. It says that You can only export goods for personal use, and not for commercial purposes.

Duty-free import of goods to Russia

Without paying customs duties, you can carry items worth up to 1,500 euros (for land transport) and 10,000 euros for air transport, while their total weight should not exceed 50 kg.

If things brought from abroad cost more than the specified norms, but less than 650,000 rubles, and their weight ranges from 50 to 200 kg, then for exceeding the limit you will have to pay 30% of the cost, but not less than 4 euros for each kilogram. It should be borne in mind here that similar things, for example, several pairs of shoes, may be considered by customs officers as a consignment of goods for commercial purposes, which are subject to other customs rates. When importing more than 200 kg, the fees established for participants in foreign economic activity are levied.

So, duty-free import of personal belongings is possible subject to the following conditions:

All items are intended for personal use (which are not related to the implementation of commercial activities) of the passenger himself or his family members, this applies to both used things and household appliances.
The total weight of the baggage does not exceed 50 kg;
The total cost of things is no more than 1,500 euros (for land transport) and 10,000 euros (for air transport).

There are exceptions to these import regulations. This applies to some categories of the population, which are:

Voluntary settlers participants, as well as their family members, can import personal items that were previously in use, without restriction and without duties. But such a benefit is valid only once upon the first entry into the country. Confirmation is a certificate of a participant in the State program;
Refugees and internally displaced persons... They can bring an unlimited number of personal items, excluding their value. Documentary proof of status will be required;
Russians who have lived abroad for a long time (more than half a year), also upon returning home, import personal belongings without restrictions on their weight and value.

Import of alcohol and tobacco to Russia

The norms for the import of alcohol into Russia are strictly regulated. It is forbidden to bring from abroad more than 5 liters of alcoholic beverages. In this case, alcohol over 3 liters will have to be entered in the declaration, and for each liter in excess of the norm, you will have to pay 10 euros. This applies to weak alcohol and beer. If more than 3 liters of vodka are transported, payment is made at the rate of 22 euros for each liter.

It doesn't matter if the alcohol was purchased in another country or in the Duty Free zone... The import of alcohol is allowed only for adult citizens.

It is allowed to carry up to 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco per person through the customs of the Russian Federation.

Import of products to Russia

The import of products to Russia for personal use is limited to 5 kg. If the customs officers find "extra pounds", then the confiscation of goods and penalties against the offender is possible. It is allowed to transport animal products (meat, cheese, milk) only in factory packaging with factory details, otherwise the customs will ask you to show a quality certificate.

Established a permanent ban on the import of goods nat. persons:

Products without factory packaging, for example purchased on the market;
Potatoes;
Seeds (including bulbs such as tulips from Holland);

The ban periodically includes products from a number of countries where outbreaks of dangerous diseases have occurred, but such restrictions are temporary. More details about these products can be found on the Rosselkhoznadzor website (.fsvps.ru / fsvps / importExport), specifically for each country from where you enter the Russian Federation.

"Sanctioned" products

The food embargo, introduced as a response to the sanctions of a number of countries, does not apply to individuals if the goods were purchased for personal use.

Simply put, a Russian tourist can legally bring any of the products prohibited for import by sanctions, provided that their quantity does not exceed 5 kg and they are in their original packaging. That is, traveling in Italy, cheese lovers can bring a couple of triangles of Parmesan without breaking the law. But here again, one should not forget that customs officers can consider several kilograms of the same type of product as a product of a commercial nature, and not products for personal use.

Import of medicinal products

Import of medicinal products (MP) that contain potent or toxic substances is allowed only with documents or certified copies confirming them medical prescription for a specific person... For example, such drugs include: androstanolone, clozapine, tramadol, chloroform, etc.

Procedure for declaring goods

There are two ways to cross the customs zone: along the “red” or “green” corridors.

As in all international practice, “green” is followed by travelers whose luggage does not contain items to declare. From the point of view of the law, crossing the border of this corridor is equivalent to verbal confirmation by a citizen that he does not transport goods that should be entered in the declaration. But the customs officer can always check what the person is carrying. If he finds things to be included in the declaration, it will be a violation of the law. The degree of punishment depends on the goods transported and their quantity. In some situations, a fine is possible, and in others - criminal liability.

The "red" corridor is provided for persons importing goods into Russia, the entry into the declaration of which is mandatory. This means that in their luggage there are things or items subject to duty or there are restrictions on their value. By the way, in some international airports in Europe there is also a "blue" corridor, but only citizens of the European Union pass through it.

For smuggling, Russian law provides for severe fines with seizure. In some cases, the size of the penalties can reach double the value of the goods.

Customs declaration

The Federal Customs Service (FCS) clarifies that all information specified in the declaration must be accompanied by documentary evidence. At the request of the customs officer, the goods being transported must be presented for customs control.

The declaration is filled out from the age of 16; for young children, information is entered by parents or persons responsible for them. The paper is drawn up in two copies, the information should be entered legibly without errors. One copy is taken by the customs officer, the other is left to the traveler. Simultaneously with the declaration, the following is transmitted:

International passport;
Receipts and sales receipts for the purchased goods, confirming their value;
Travel tickets;
Confirmation of customs relief, if any.

It is worth considering that if there are no checks, customs officers can calculate the cost of the goods based on the catalogs they have with similar goods.

What do you need to declare?

Information must be entered into the declaration if you are carrying:

Cash over $ 3,000;
Securities;
Traveller's checks up to $ 10,000;
Precious metals and stones;
Medicines containing potent and toxic substances, as well as medications of a psychotropic and narcotic nature. For the transportation of such medicines, a prescription from a doctor and an extract from the medical history should be prepared in advance;
Nuclear materials and their components;
Cultural values. Cultural objects are not subject to state duties, but their declaration is mandatory. Moreover, after being imported into Russia, such items must be registered with the regional ministry of culture;
State awards of Russia;
Vehicles (cars, mopeds, motorcycles);
Weapons and ammunition. When transporting, you need permission from the competent authorities;
Fuel over 10 liters in a separate container (not included in vehicle tanks);
Scientific products and materials related to state secrets.

A more complete list can be found on the FCS website (customs.ru). There must be documentary evidence for goods from the above list. We need certificates and permits proving that the items are being transported legally.

Goods for personal use are transported without a declaration: toiletries, clothing, jewelry, photographic and film equipment, as well as accessories to them.

Import of animals

The import of animals into the Russian Federation is regulated by customs regulations. When transporting them across the border of Russia, you will need an international animal passport issued by the veterinary authority of the country from which the entry is made. Such a passport can replace an international veterinary certificate. Information about rabies vaccinations is entered into the documentation and a mark is made about the clinical state of health of the pet. Vaccination is carried out no earlier than 30 days before departure, but no later than 12 months ago. In the future, these international papers are exchanged for Russian veterinary certificates.

The weight of the animal is taken into account in the total weight of the carried baggage. The overweight is paid separately.

Forbidden to import into Russia

Goods prohibited for import into Russia:

Printed, photo or video products of a pornographic nature, as well as materials in any form containing elements of state secrets, propaganda of racism, Nazism, terrorism, ethnic or religious hatred;
Representatives of flora and fauna that are on the verge of extinction;
Narcotic substances;
Vegetables and fruits without phytosanitary certificate;
Weapons, their components and ammunition without special permission (this includes some types of pneumatic, cold and gas weapons);
Human organs, biological tissue, blood and its components.