Customs officials are generally reasonable people and most guests pass through entrance customs without difficulty if they observe the regulations specified below. Enlist their help in solving any problems. Exit customs can occasionally be a problem.
TYPNote: At Sheremetevo-2 there is now a "Green Lane" for arriving passengers with just a few small suitcases and nothing to declare. Note that if you have baggage that "looks" like it might exceed 50 kilograms, you must go through the regular customs clearance and pay "4 ECU" for each kilogram above 50 kg. Similarly, if you have items or money you wish to take out with you, it may be useful to get a stamped "deklartsiya". There is a green lane for departing passengers meeting similar conditions.
Customs Procedures: Customs regulations change frequently. This summary of Customs Regulations for Tourists was reviewed on March 29, 2002. See our web site, The Traveller's Yellow Pages On-Line www.infoservices.com for more up-to-date information.
Commercial Customs Regulations: For exact information on imports and exports, consult a CUSTOMS CLEARING broker, or call 578-21-20 or visit the Customs Office.
TYPNotes:
1. If the commercial value of your baggage exceeds a specified amount or 50 kilograms, the standard procedure is to determine the amount of duty on the excess and give you a bill. You must pay ".4 ECU". for each kilogram above the 50 kg limit. You can pay the bill immediately at the Airport at the Cashier (Kassa) next to passenger check-in at Arrivals. If you do not have enough money, then they will store your baggage or cartons in a customs warehouse until you can return with a paid receipt for the amount of the duty.
2. When exporting paintings, graphics, carpets, sculpture, antiques, etc., you must get an appraisal and official export permit from The Culture Committee. See APPRAISALS, ART, ANTIQUES, JEWELRY for exact procedure.
3. The export of a small amount of caviar is now permitted (250 g black caviar and 250 g of red caviar).
4. In theory, you may export ruble currency in the amount of up to 500 times the minimum monthly pay at the given time plus the amount of currency listed on your "deklaratsiya" and/or recorded on your bank transfer slips. Higher amounts require permission of the Central Bank. You may export other currencies up to the amount listed on your "deklaratsiy".

Here is a summary of customs regulations for travelers ("physical persons") as in contrast to corporations ("judicial persons").
The main purpose of the import regulations is to prevent the import of goods for resale without payment of duties and value added taxes (NDS).
TYP Note: The rule is not clear on the value of goods which may be brought into the country. It is our impression that the value limitations do not refer to personal goods which you will be taking out with you when you leave. Our current information (November 24, 1999) is that if you bring in more than $10,000 worth of items for personal use, you are subject to a 60% tariff on the amount above $10,000 only if you do not take them out with you. Computers are considered "freight" and are subject to a import fee equal to 1% of the ticket value for each kilogram. The rule is aimed more at returning Russian tourists who go on shopping expeditions abroad or visitors bringing in large numbers of "gifts". Try the foollowing short booklet boutght in Moskva bookstore on Tverskaya "Regulation on the Transport of Goods by Physical Persons Crossing the Border of the Russian Federation"

Duty-free allowance for arriving tourists: Physical persons may import goods duty- free if all of the following conditions are observed:
1. The imported goods are not designated for productive or other commercial activities.
2. The goods are imported together with the person crossing the customs border of the Russian Federation, whether contained in accompanied or unaccompanied baggage.
3. The imported goods do not exceed in quantity the limits described as follows:
Alcoholic beverage (age over 21) 2 liters
Tobacco products (age over 15) 400 units
Natural leather clothing 3 items/sets
Fur pelts, collars, trim 3 articles or sets
Fur clothing and accessories 3 articles/sets
Decorative rugs 2 units
Fur headgear (except children's) 3 units
Crystal 3 items or sets
Diamonds .5 karats
Jewelry or parts thereof made of or plated with precious metals, as well as works made with gems, precious or semiprecious stones (both natural and artificial) 5 objects
Clothes
Personal toilet articles
Photo and movie cameras with a reasonable amount of film and accessories
Portable slide and movie projectors with accessories and a reasonable amount of slides and film
Video cameras and portable video players with a reasonable amount of film.
Portable music instruments
Portable players with discs
Portable recording equipment (including dictaphones) with tape
Portable radio sets
Portable TV sets
Portable PCs
Binoculars
Perambulators
Invalid chairs
Sports equipment such as tents and other hiking equipment, fishing-tackle, alpinist equipment, scuba diving equipment, sports arms with accessories, bicycles, kayaks and canoes 5,5m in length, skies, tennis rackets, surfing and windsurfing boards, golf equipment, gliders, delta planes.
Portable medical sets with refills
Other goods for personal needs
The total value: The total value of all goods may not exceed 1000 US dollars. Items in excess of this will be subject to a tariff of 30% ad valorum (See TYP note above).
Tariff: Goods imported into the customs territory of the Russian Federation which either exceed the above-described limits (not more than by 3 times) or cross the customs border separately from their owner are assessed a uniform tariff set at 60 percent of their cost.
Forbidden Items: You may not import (without permission):
Arms and ammunition
Narcotics and mind-altering substances
Printed or recorded matter or other information-carriers, which might endanger the security of the state or the health and morals of the population.

Physical persons may export goods (in addition to those listed on their arrival "declaration") duty-free if all of the following conditions are observed:
1) The exported goods are not designated for productive or other commercial activities;
2) The goods are exported together with the persons crossing the customs border of the Russian Federation, both in accompanied and unaccompanied baggage.
3) The exported goods may not exceed in quantity the limits described as follows:
Sturgeon (black) caviar: 250 grams
Salmon (red) caviar: 250 grams
Pharmaceuticals: one retail packet per type
Home appliances made of non-ferrous metals 1 or 2 items (for personal use)
Jewelry or parts thereof made from (or plated with) precious metals and gems:
Gold and platinum: 5 items, less than 30 grams total weight.
Silver: 5 items, less than 120 grams total weight.
Precious or semiprecious stones: 5 items.
Total value of exported goods. The value of the exported goods can not exceed 500 times the minimum monthly wage as set by law. Excess amounts are simply confiscated. The minimum wage in January 2002 was 100 rubles (=$3.33/mo) at 31,30 rbls=$1
Residents moving permanently abroad. Physical persons moving their place of permanent residence abroad (excluding former republics of the USSR) from the Russian Federation may export goods, the cost of which does not exceed 500 times the minimum monthly wage as set by law.
Physical persons (non permanent residents) leaving the country. Persons (non residents) leaving the country can carry a sum of up to $1,500 without stating it in the "deklaratsiya", plus $8,500 stated in the "deklaratsiya"
Restricted articles Dangerous goods and articles can be carried only subject to special conditions. For safety reasons, articles or materials which are dangerous or subject to special transport conditions may be carried only under carrier's approval. These regulations apply principally to: compressed gases (flammable/ non- flammable), corrosive materials, explosives, ammunition, weapons, easy flammable materials, oxidizing materials, magnetized materials, radioactive materials and other materials as listed in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Sporting and hunting weapons can only be accepted as registered baggage. Weapons must be unloaded, with safety catch engaged and suitably packed.