If you're relocating to Russia, no matter what the reason, your international move will require much more than packing up your belongings and buying an extra winter coat. There will be a lot of meticulous planning and proper documentation to ensure a stress-free experience. The last thing you want is to end up arriving in Russia only to have your goods held or confiscated. Read on for information on required documents, custom regulations and shipping requirements to have you ready for your Russian relocation in no time!
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR ENTRY
You won't get far when relocating to Russia without proper immigration and shipping documentation when clearing customs. These documents should be received a minimum of 20 to 30 days in advance of the arrival of your shipment to avoid any additional charges of demurrage. You should speak to your Destination Agent if you are unsure about anything involving your paperwork.
When moving Russia, you will need:
- Valid passport (copy)
- Russian visa (copy)
- Power of Attorney, three copies (for moving company/Destination Agent to carry out clearance formalities)
- Letter to customs from Russian employer, three copies (prepared by shipper's employer)
- Russian TD10 Customs Form (Declaration for Unaccompanied Luggage)
- Packing list
- Temporary import obligation (for duty free import of surface shipments only)
SHIPPING REGULATIONS
When moving to Russia, be aware of the complicated customs process and any shipping rules before you start planning your move.
Things to keep in mind:
- Russian customs rules are subject to change at any time and without prior notice
- You should not go through customs on your own unless you speak fluent Russian and are familiar with the process
- All shipments are subject to inspection, which can result in extra terminal handling and storage charges
- Household goods can be imported to Russia duty free (excluding items on the prohibited and restricted list)
PROHIBITED ITEMS
Most countries have a list of items that are not allowed in the country whatsoever. In Russia, you cannot import:
- Fish and products made of fish
- Narcotics
- Fruits and vegetables
- Dairy and meat products from Armenia and Georgia
- Military weapons and ammunition
- Photos or printed materials against the Russian Fed
- Pornographic material
RESTRICTED ITEMS
Each country has specific items that are subject to duties and taxes, have limitations on weight and/or quantity, or require special permission. When moving to Russia, some of these items include, but may not be limited to:
- Live animals (requires import permit)
- Dairy and meat products (quantities are limited, must be in original factory packaging)
- Cigarettes:
- 400 cigarettes, 200 cigarillos, 100 cigars or 500 grams of tobacco are allowed duty free - any more will be taxed
- Only one type of tobacco product may be imported (otherwise only half of the above mentioned qualities will be allowed)
- Alcohol:
- Only allowed for persons over 21 years old
- Limited to 2 liters duty free
- Caviar:
- Cash in foreign currencies (limited amounts)
- Medication (requires prescription)
MOTOR VEHICLE REGULATIONS
If your daily travel in Russia requires a vehicle, you'll probably want to consider taking your car with you. Import duties and taxes for shipping vehicles to Russia will vary based on the model, year and engine volume. Foreign citizens are allowed to use a temporary permit for their owned vehicles for one year without being taxed - vehicles must be re-exported from Russia after this timeframe.
If you plan on shipping your vehicle to Russia, you will need:
- Power of Attorney, three notarized copies (after arrival in Russia)
- Letter to customs, three copies
- Copies of passport, visa and registration
- Vehicle registration document (originals)
PETS AND ANIMAL REGULATIONS
You won't have to worry much about leaving your pets behind when moving to Russia -dogs, cats and birds, specifically— but you will need to have the proper documents to ensure your little companion makes it through customs safely:
- Vaccination records
- Veterinary health certificate bearing a seal of the local Board of Health (issued no more than 10 days prior to arrival)
- Import license
- Identification (tattoo or microchip)
- Animals other than dogs and cats require special import permission from the Ministry of Agriculture
INTERNATIONAL MOVES
International moves are much more complex than a local or long distance move, and come with numerous expenses and strict custom regulations. The most important part of your move will be finding full-service international movers or freight forwarders that have proper licensure and insurance.
Need help finding international moving companies to help you with your move to Russia? You can get started here at Movers.com by submitting our free quote form,which will connect you with up to seven qualified movers in your area.
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