What changes are waiting for Russians at customs in 2019?
Tourists returning to Russia on “land and water” modes of transport, customs officials warn that from January 1, 2019 will change the weight and value of goods allowed for duty-free transportation.
The allowed weight will be less than twice, and the amount will be three times.
Now without paying customs duties, you can import goods for personal use (weight up to 50 kg for up to 1,500 euros). From January 1, the norms will be 25 kg and 500 euros, respectively, for exceeding them you will need to pay a duty (30 percent of the price of the goods, but not less than 4 euros per kilogram).
On average, the norm does not exceed the average weight and price of goods that a tourist carries with him - but questions to the new norms still arise, and in geographically different parts of Russia. For example, on the border with Finland, where “shop tourism” from the Leningrad region continues to go, and on the Russian-Chinese border in the city of Blagoveshchensk, tourists are worried about the transportation of expensive equipment and luxury goods, like mink coats.
The changes will not affect the import of alcohol and cigarettes. One tourist is still allowed to import duty-free 3 liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes. When importing goods by air from January 1, 2019, the norms will remain at the old level - up to 10,000 euros and up to 50 kg.