Finland

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 422.

Russia

Customs System

Russian customs system is pretty much the same in terms of allowing some things and not allowing others. Naturally, weapons, drugs, and dangerous chemical substances are not allowed aboard. Everything you can bring in, but the quantities should make it apparent the item is not brought here for sale. These quantities are: not more than 250 cigarettes, one bottle of liquor, and two cameras. If you want to bring in more, be ready to pay duty on them. It is useful to declare all valuable things you bring in, that is jewelry, computers, electronic devices, etc. Your baggage should not be more than 50 kilograms (110 pounds), otherwise you will have to pay custom tax. It is usually $5 per kilogram. This rule works not all the time, but just do not forget about that. If you plan to bring in medication that is not intended for personal use, you may face certain problems at the customs, for there are serious limitations on that. If you bring in a prescription medication, be sure to take your prescription with you. If you decide to bring in more than $500 in cash, you should officially declare the sum (it is not allowed to take more than $1500 outside the country if the money was not declared before that).

When you arrive in a Russian airport, you will get two forms. You should fill out one of them then and there, and you must keep the other one with you until your departure to declare the things you are taking out. Please keep the receipts of valuable things you buy in Russia. A person may not leave Russia with items which all in all are more than $3000 in value. It is not recommend to buy any antiques or items of historical and cultural value, because in this case you will have to provide the supporting documents to the customs officers. Since the requirements of these supporting documents are not defined exactly, you may have some unpleasant moments. So it is better to avoid buying things like that unless you absolutely must. Religious icons and paintings are items which cause the greatest number of problems.

Customs regulations in Finland for both EU and non-EU travelers are controlled by the Finland Customs Department. To make sure your arrival in Finland goes smoothly, here are the current customs regulations in Finland:

- Typical travel items like clothes, cameras, and personal goods for the purpose of your visit can be taken through customs in Finland duty free, without having to be declared (green customs line upon arrival in Finland, blue customs line for EU citizens). Going through one of those customs lines is for travelers without anything to declare, but customs does random checks. If they find something that should have been declared, you may be charged double the import tax.

- Finland customs allows travelers to bring as much currency as they would like. There are no restrictions.

- The allowable limit per adult is 200 cigarettes or 250 gr of tobacco for non-EU citizens. Travelers living in the EU have no restrictions on tobacco, as long as it's a sensible amount for personal use.

- Customs lets less than 22% alcohol if you're 18 or over, and more than 22% alcohol if you're at least 20. Limit: 1 liter of spirits or 4 liters of wine or 16 liters of beer can be brought into Finland.

- Finland allows travelers from the European Economic Area to bring personal prescription medicines (up to a one year supply) without a customs declaration. All others can bring a 90-day supply of personal prescription drugs to Finland. A formal doctor's note may be requested by customs officials.

- They don't allow to bring illegal drugs, prescription medicines not for personal use or in large quantities, weapons (includes knives) and ammunition, copyright infringing works, plants, fireworks, endangered animals' furs, exotic animals and items made from such.