Moving to Russia

IMPORT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

For expat families, the process of moving to a new country, finding a suitable accommodation or good school for their kids is just one of the many things they have to deal with as they prepare to start life in their new environment. Managing the whole process alone can be stressful and time consuming, and so the help of relocation experts is highly recommended. At Move One Relocations we understand the importance of making a seamless transition when settling in your new destination, and are committed to making this possible.

When moving to Russia, the following documents are needed for foreigners to import household goods into Russia:

• Copy of passport
• Copy of visa
• Copy of registration in Moscow
• Letter from the company
• Proforma invoice (except for air shipments)
• Packing list
• Power of attorney (issued by a Russian notary) and notarized copy of the power of attorney authorizing Move One to act on shipper’s behalf (template will be provided)
• Temporary import obligation, if the client would like to avoid payment of duties and taxes – for surface shipment only (template provided)*

* Since July 1, 2010 temporary import of household goods and/or personal belongings has been limited to certain items only. Please find the list of these goods at the end of this document. Since duties and taxes are calculated per kg and weight of the listed items is small, the total amount of duties which will be deducted from the amount for the whole shipment will be marginal. Therefore, we suggest you to consider carefully whether it is worth the time, money and effort put in arranging and extending the TIO.

The goods that are not listed as allowed for temporary import are dutiable. Import air shipments can be customs cleared under duties and taxes only.

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Documents needed for the customs clearance are the following:

• Copy of foreign passport (in case of import with duties and taxes) and original passport (in case of duty free import)
• Copy of domestic passport
• Copy of visa of the country the client is arriving from
• Copy of registration in Moscow
• Proforma invoice (except for air shipments)
• Packing list
• Power of attorney (issued by a Russian notary) and notarized copy of the power of attorney authorizing Move One to act on shipper’s behalf
• T6 Customs Declaration Form (required for duty free custom clearance)

Returning Russian citizens can import goods duty free if value of the goods (accompanied luggage, air and surface together, regardless the size of the shipment) does not exceed equivalent of 1500 EUR and weight is not more than 50 kgs. Russian citizens who had been registered with the consulate of Russian Federation in a foreign country for not less than one calendar year are eligible for bringing personal effects with value of not more than equivalent of 5000 EUR without paying duties and taxes. In this case it is necessary to provide a document from a respective diplomatic or consular institution proving the fact and terms of such registration. The excess luggage is subject to duties and taxes.

Also returning Russian citizens can bring their personal effects duty free if there is a clear proof that these specific goods were exported from Russian Federation previously. If a shipper fails to provide such a proof duties and taxes will apply. In order to obtain the signed and stamped T6 form, upon arrival the client has to go through the red channel at Moscow airport and declare household goods and personal effects arriving to Russia as unaccompanied luggage (sample is available if needed). The customer must ensure the T6 form is stamped and signed by customs officer at the Moscow airport. Please do not let the customs officer keep the T6 form! In case the customer cannot produce a signed, stamped T6 form declaring household goods and personal effects shipments, duty-free clearance is impossible and applicable duties and taxes are to be paid.

Only one set of T6 form is needed regardless how many shipments the client has, but it has to be detailed on the form e.g. 1 CTR + 10 pcs by air. Besides, Russian citizens have to show to customs copy of transport document (AWB or OBL) by which the unaccompanied shipment will be sent to Russia.

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Documents needed for the customs clearance:

• 2 copies of Letter from the Embassy
• 2 copies of the diplomatic card stamped by the Embassy
• 2 copies of the power of attorney on the Embassy’s letterhead
• Proforma invoice (except for air shipments)
• Packing list

Notes
The packing list should be very detailed, indicating type, model and serial number of all electrical appliances. Please avoid to include PBO boxes in the shipment, unless there is very detailed inventory enclosed for these.

Photos for cultural items are necessary in order to register them with customs at the time of clearance. Please do not attach the inventory list used for the insurance purposes with the documents enclosed with the shipment.

Duties and taxes for personal effects and household goods are equal to 30% of the declared value but not less than equivalent of 4 EUR/kg.

Individuals other than diplomats and returning citizens must register themselves in Moscow within 3 days upon their arrival. If the client stays in a hotel, the registration procedure can take 30 minutes. If the client’s company has a rented flat, the procedure takes about 3 days. The immigration card has to be filled for registration. The client gets this card during his/her flight to Moscow and it will be checked after landing during the passport control. The client is not allowed to leave the terminal without it. If the client doesn’t register himself/herself within 3 days, a fine of RUB 1000/day should be paid (Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Passport and Visa Department).

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The following items cannot be imported to Russia:

• Any kind of food, species, coffee, tea, fruits and vegetables
• Weapons, rifles of all kinds
• Plants
• Pornography
• Narcotics
• Medicines
• Toxic material
• Radioactive material
• Photographs and printed materials directed against the Russian Federation
• Aerosols (pressurised container)

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Foreign citizens can import a personally owned vehicle registered in a foreign country without paying duties and taxes for the whole term of the individual’s staying in Russian Federation, but not more than for 1 year. A necessary condition for temporary import is that the vehicle shall not be used for production or other commercial activity, or transferred for use or possession to the others. Temporarily imported vehicles are to be removed from the territory of Russian Federation right after the expiration of temporary import obligation by presenting the vehicle at a check-point on the Russian state border.

If the owner stays in Russia more than a year, temporary import obligation must be closed first and a new TIO should be opened. Temporary import extension can be done by presenting the vehicle at the custom point assigned to the region where the individual is registered.

Within 15 days after expiration date of the temporary import obligation customs point where such obligation was issued must receive information on closure of the obligation, extension of the term or violations of custom laws discovered by other custom points. In case such information is not received data on the vehicle is entered into a common data base of Russian customs. In case if after the expiration date of the temporary import obligation the vehicle is not removed from the territory of Russian Federation nor such obligation is extended the vehicle becomes subject for custom duties and taxes.

Russian citizens can import vehicles registered in a foreign country without paying duties and taxes for the cumulative period of time equal to 6 months within one calendar year. A necessary condition for temporary import is that the vehicle shall not be used for production or other commercial activity, or transferred for use or possession to the others. A guarantee of payment of custom duties and taxes has to be made by one of the accepted means: money deposit, bank guarantee or contract of guarantee.

In case of import with payment of duties and taxes, these are calculated by Russian customs authorities, based on make, engine type, volume, horsepower, year of production, etc.

All vehicles registered on the territory of Russian Federation and previously exported from the country can be re-imported duty free. Motor vehicles belonging to foreign diplomats can be imported to Russia duty free.

Documents needed for the import customs clearance:

• Technical card of the vehicle (original)
• Purchase invoice (showing the value of the car)
• Original plate of the car
• Power of attorney (issued by a notary office in Russia) and notarized copy of the power of attorney authorizing Move One to act on shipper’s behalf
• Copy of owner’s passport
• Copy of owner’s visa
• Copy of registration in Moscow
• Letter from the Embassy (diplomats)
• Diplomatic card stamped by the Embassy (diplomats)

Notes

If the household goods and the car are sent together the truck or container needs to arrive under 1 TIR Carnet but 2 proforma invoices (one for the household goods and one for the car) and 2 CMRs (in case of returning Russian citizens).

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All items such as rugs, art, paintings, musical instruments, and other items of cultural value need to be registered upon arrival (for detailed list please check the last page of this file). Registering your goods upon arrival is needed to receive export permits when the time comes. The process takes from one day to one week.
This is particularly useful for cultural objects of more than 100 years old (these can not be taken out otherwise) and of more than 50 years old (it’s a long procedure to receive a permit for those).

For registering them on arrival we need the following:

• The list of cultural objects and their description (author, size, date of creation and manner of performance, for example – oil / aquarelle for pictures)
• 2 photos (color) of each cultural object (from the same angle).Photos should be numbered according to the list. If you use digital cameras, please use photo papers for printing, because the black and white photos on normal paper cannot be accepted.

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Rifles
Rifles are prohibited to be imported to Russia unless there is a special permit obtained which allows the import of it. Before sending any rifle to Russia, please contact us in order to check the documentation and permit requirements for that particular piece.

Stuffed animals
For import of stuffed animals, antlers, trophies, animal skins we need:

• CITES certificate
• Animal health certificate issued by a vet at origin country

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Allowance for import of alcoholic beverages and tobacco products for personal consumption is:

• Alcohol: maximum 5 liters, from which amount 3 liters can be imported duty free. For the
  quantity exceeding the duty free allowance equivalent of 10 EUR/liter is to be paid
• Tobacco: 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars (or cigarillos), or 250 g of tobacco (duty free)

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EXPORT OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS

Regulations, charges or restrictions may apply to household goods exports as they leave Russia and when they arrive at their destination country. Specialists at Move One Relocations are experts in local rules and industry regulations and will handle your transaction on both sides. At Move One Relocations we understand the importance of making a seamless transition as your foreign assignment in Russia is coming to an end, and are committed to making this possible.

Documents needed for export of household goods:

• Packing list
• Proforma invoice
• Copy of passport or diplomatic card (stamped by the company/Embassy)
• Copy of Russian visa (stamped by the company)
• Copy of Moscow registration (stamped by the company)
• Power of attorney (issued by a notary office in Russia or on Embassy’s letterhead) and notarized copy of the power of attorney authorizing Move One to act on shipper’s behalf
• Letter from the company/Embassy
• Temporary import obligation (if the shipment was imported earlier under temporary import)

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• Weapons of all kinds
• Plants
• Pornography
• Narcotics
• Toxic material
• Radioactive material
• Export of antiques, such as carpets, paintings, books, icons or any other items which is considered to be of cultural and historical value (without Ministry of Culture permission)
• Lottery tickets
• Electrical appliances
• Some computer hardware
• No more than 2 liters of vodka or strong alcohol
• Precious metals and furs
• Only 250 grams of black caviar per person may be exported, export of red caviar is limited by needs for personal consumption

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Vehicles for export have to be deregistered to get transit number. We are able to apply for export customs clearance after this only. For de-registration we need the followings:

• Copy of client’s passport
• Copy of client’s visa
• Technical card of the vehicle (original)
• Purchase invoice (showing the value of the car)
• Copy of Moscow registration
• Power of attorney (issued by a notary office in Russia) and notarized copy of the power of attorney authorizing Move One to act on shipper’s behalf
• Letter to customs from the client’s company (company in Russia)
• Temporary import obligation and documents (if the vehicle was imported earlier under temporary import)

Export duties are not charged on personal motor vehicles. The procedure for exporting cars from Russia is always changing and depends on the status of the car and the exporter.

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Exporting antiques (items older than 100 years) from Russia is prohibited unless the shipper has MOC (Ministry of Culture) registration at customs which was obtained during the import process.

Exporting artwork is a very long process and it can take up to 6 months to obtain export permits. It can be very difficult or even impossible to export some icons – they must be physically presented to the MOC and undergo an examination as to whether they have been stolen.

Permits are required for all artwork and antiques regardless of where they were purchased or imported from. The MOC in Russia grants the export permits.
Export permits are required for icons, paintings, carpets, rugs, samovars, instruments and firearms (for detailed list please check below). In addition, any item over 50 years old requires an export permit.

Documents required to get an export permit from the Ministry of Culture are:

• 2 photos (from the same angle) of every item requiring a certificate
• Copy of passport
• Copy of Russian visa
• Copy of Moscow registration

Books need to be taken to the Main Public Library in Moscow where it will be determined whether an export permit is needed for them. Any book published over 100 years ago cannot be taken out of Russia. Books with a publishing date greater than 50 years ago, all dictionaries and art books purchased in Russia should also be cleared for customs and we need permission from the Ministry of Culture. It is easier to clear books than other cultural items, but there are no rules governing it.

Notes
Some galleries will clear artwork through customs for the shipper if he/she gives them at least two days to do so.
A small number of items can be exported without any kind of export permit, including:

• Souvenirs (matryoshka dolls, wooden souvenirs, lacquer boxes, Gzhel and other porcelain items, etc.)
• Contemporary books (no older than 50 years)
• Contemporary posters, reproductions, lithographs (no older than 50 years)
• Electrical devices (their serial numbers must be recorded on the packing list)

However, these items need to listed specifically as objects that do not bear any cultural value and allowed for export.

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Rifles
Rifles are prohibited to be exported from Russia unless there is a special permit obtained which allows the export of it. Before sending any rifle from Russia, please contact us in order to check the documentation and permit requirements for that particular piece.

Stuffed animals
For export of stuffed animals, antlers, trophies, animal skins we need:

• CITES certificate
• Animal health certificate issued by a veterinarian

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There are no strict regulation for export of alcohol. Quantities allowed for export are determined by needs for personal consumption.

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