Alaskan Region - FAA

International Operations Home > Section 7: Russian Customs and Entry Requirements

CUSTOMS

All aircraft entering the Russian Federation are subject to customs examination. Cargo, international mail, cabin carried articles, currency and crew and passenger valuables are subject customs clearance. Disembarkation of cargo, baggage and international mail from aircraft and their embarkation into aircraft at international airports in the Russian Federation shall be carried out with the permission of a customs officer.

For customs clearance purposes the pilot in command of the aircraft must:

1. Present a completed ICAO General Declaration to the customs representative-4 copies.
2. Indicate and open for examination all aircraft compartments

Passengers must complete a Russian Customs Declaration Form for all articles and baggage not exempt from customs examination. Click on the link and print two copies front to back and then cut out forms. You will need to fill one out for entry and one for exit. Although forms are availble in Provideniya Bay from Russian customs, having the form filled out in advance will save you time clearing customs.

Prohibited cargo or baggage:

• Military supplies or military equipment
• Explosives, toxic agents, radioactive materials, narcotics, as well as articles of contraband
• Animals suffering, or suspected of suffering from an infectious disease, as well as produce and/raw material of animal origin and forage that may be carriers of infectious disease.
• Quarantinable materials, soil or living plants with soil from countries whose territory is not free from quarantine pests and diseases, as well as quarantinable materials, soil or living plants with soil infected by quarantine pests and/or diseases.
• Portable GPS used on your aircraft- Must be left in the aircraft and may not be imported through customs. They require a special permit for import otherwise they may be confiscated and other serious consequences may result.. ([BROKEN LINK] Further info)
• Sporting guns, ammunition and hunter's knives may be carried with consent of the carrier as registered baggage, provided they are have been placed in baggage-cargo compartments of aircraft inaccessible to passengers (hard to do in most light aircraft). Sporting guns and/or hand fire-arms shall be unloaded and ammunition appropriately packed separately.
• Cameras and cinecameras carried onboard the aircraft must be kept in suitcases. photographing from the air is prohibited.
• Radio sets, including those of small dimensions, may be carried only if packed into baggage.

IMMIGRATION

Effective February 10, 2003 all foreign nationals entering the Russian Federation are requested to fill in a Migration Card and present it to the Border Control Officer along with their passports, Russian visas, and for Chukotka, thier border permit. Click on the link above and print two copies front to back and then cut out forms along border. Having this filled out will save you time at passport control. Fill out both top and bottom of form (Entry and Exit). The Border Control Officer will keep the Entry half and stamp the remaining half, which you must present clearing passport control when you leave Russia. Don't Loose it!