Russian Customs

Are you afraid of Russian customs? After all, may be a Russian bear with vodka will be checking your luggage and asking you questions about amount of cash that you are bringing to Russia. You never know. I will disappoint you, no Russian bear at the customs, only human beings.

So, what are the items you need to declare?
Let's find out.

Can I bring my US dollars to Russia?
Of course you can. Just remember anything above $10 000 you have to declare. If it's above $100 000 , you need to show the source of money, for example purchase and sales agreement if you sold the house. This is sample of Russian customs declaration.

Do I need to declare Travelers Cheques, stocks and securities?
Yes you do. Regulations require you to declare any stocks or securities you are bringing into the country. This now includes, for some reason, travelers checks to any value. As they are also pretty difficult to change even in major Russian cities, this is yet another reason not to bring travelers checks with you.

What Items incur import/export duty?
The following items cannot legally be imported/exported without paying duty, and must therefore be declared:
Tobacco
Individuals (18 years or over) are allowed to import/export up to 100 cigars, 200 cigarillos, 400 cigarettes, or 0.5kg of tobacco undeclared (if you wish to import/export more than one type of tobacco product, those allowances are halved).
Alcohol
Individuals (21 years or over) are allowed to import/export up to two liters of alcoholic drinks undeclared.
Caviar
Individuals are allowed to import/export 250g of caviar undeclared, provided it is packed in a sealed factory tin.
Goods intended for production or commercial activity
This includes anything which you are planning to sell or use in the course of paid employment while in Russia. The regulations are complex, but anything that is obviously not for personal use (particularly several examples of one item in packaging or major technical items such as professional film cameras) should be declared and justified as being for personal use if you do not wish to pay duty. If you do not declare such items, you risk having them seized on departure.

Are there any items that require special permission to import/export?
Yes. Please see below:
The following items are subject to mandatory declaration and you must obtain permission from particular departments of Russian government if you wish to carry them across Russian borders:
Firearms, ammunition and explosives
Radioactive substances
Endangered species of flora and fauna
And any goods made from them or their parts. Note that this includes sturgeon and caviar. You are only entitled to take 250g of caviar per person in or out of Russia.
Precious metals and precious stones
Except as part of personal jewelry.
Narcotics, psychotropic substances, toxins, and powerful drugs
If you have any prescription medicines that might fall into this category, make sure you carry a valid prescription with you.
Radio technology
Except cellphones, but including GPS systems and any equipment operated at frequencies higher than 9Hz.
Extremist film, photography, and publications
This category covers fascist and racist propaganda; material designed to incite racial, nationalist, or religious hatred; material containing state secrets; and pornography.
Objects of cultural significance
This broad category refers to any item that is of unique importance culturally, artistically, scientifically, or historically. It includes anything manufactured over 50 years ago, rare books (note that any printed material over 50 years old automatically falls into this category), rare stamps, rare scientific specimens, rare musical instruments, rare coins, elements or fragments from historic monuments, and significant artworks and icons. It does not include mass-produced souvenirs or common memorabilia. If you are buying anything that might fall into this category during your stay in Russia, it is recommended that you ask the vendor to complete the necessary paperwork for you.