Job Discussion Forums

[yorkshireterrier]

I'm coming to Moscow next month to work and am planning to bring a few bags of personal belongings, mainly books, clothes, a camera and a laptop. Probably will be about 5 bags in total, maybe 100kg.

Would I be asked to pay import duties on these items? I've been told, and read elsewhere, that Russian customs charge 4 euros per kilo on all imported goods, but does this only apply to goods for commercial use?

Do they charge duties on everything - down to threadbare items of underwear?

Are they more likely to charge import duties on goods sent through a shipping company?

I've also seen references to a "temporary import regime", but can't find details.

Any help would be much appreciated!

[Velocipedaler]

100kg?! Holy feces!

Amazingly, the Russian Federal Customs Service has a website in English, with the information you need posted here:

http://www.russian-customs.org/ftravelers/cofgpp/index.html

[yorkshireterrier]

Great link. Thanks! I'm guessing at 100kg - having started packing and chucking out books (and clothes, old gifts and nearly my birth certificate) may knock it down to 50kg!

The website uses an interesting form of English which needs a lot of interpretation to make any sense of it. If I'm right, it seems to be saying:

"Natural persons" (I'm fairly natural, but do they mean only Russians?) may import goods with total weight not more than 35 kg (implying duty free, I think).

If your goods weigh between 35kg and 200kg, you're charged at 4 euros per kilo (not sure if this is on the whole weight, or just the excess over 35kg)

Over 200kg there is another tariff.

This sound about right? Hopefully they just charge duties on the excess, so will keep chucking stuff out and maybe scan a few books!

[yorkshireterrier]

Another page on the same site
http://www.russian-customs.org/ftravelers/Undergoingcustomsinspectionproceduresforairtransportconveyance/index.html
suggests the duty free (?) limit is 50kg and, to answer my own question, states that it's only the excess that's subject to tax and duties (but it also talks of "exporting" goods "when entering Russia" which doesn't help!)

It also says that "foreign physical entities" can import duty-free "personal demand items" for a temporary stay in Russia as long as you do something when the temporary period expires.

Can anyone who's been to Russia clarify, especially the last bit?

[spiral78]

I took in obvious, significant excess baggage and paid zero, except to the airline. It was amazingly easy to exit the secured area past millions of very official looking guys - who seemed utterly unbothered about me and my mountain of stuff including domestic animal barking his head off.

Also got free stamp for my dog, though I realise that's likely not very helpful info to you - sorry

[kazachka]

I was living here part time before moving in 2005. I slowly brought extra crud over the course of 2 yrs and left it. On the last 2 trips in, I had 5 bags and never had a prob. On the last run in June 2005, I had my snowboard and gear in a bag and the officer just asked if it was skis,"No, snowboard:)." He chuckled and I was on my way. Yes, bringing in a snowboard in JUNE:D might seem funny, but boards and gear are grossly overpriced here and it was worth it to bring it in. I'll probably take it back with me too since it would run me a grand to buy it all new in the US.