To SPIBA members:

The order of temporary importation of personal property by foreign persons arriving in the Russian Federation for a long time period. (Prepared by the head of SPIBA working group on customs, CEO of Casto, Igor Petrov)

Please note that as of July, the customs legislation of the Customs Union of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Belarus and the Russian Federation made substantial changes in regulations of temporary imports of goods for personal use by foreign individuals into the Russian Federation. Earlier foreign persons could only import the goods (except for vehicles) that are necessary for private use temporarily without payment of the customs duties and taxes.

There were no price or quantity restrictions, as well as lists of goods that could be imported temporarily. At present, the procedure of the temporary import of goods for personal use by foreign persons is governed by the provisions of Chapter 49 of the Customs Code of the Customs Union (in particular, Articles 358, 360), as well as an international agreement on how to move goods by individuals for personal use with the annexes . According to the first paragraph of Article 12 of this Agreement, customs fees are not paid unto goods for personal use, transported across the customs border. Thus Annex 3 provides a rule on the issue without payment of customs duties of goods for personal use costing up to 1,500 euros and up to 50 kg, while Annex 4 provides a closed list of goods that may be imported temporarily without payment of customs duties.

Please note that there are no such goods as furniture, refrigerators, washing machines, kitchen appliances, household appliances, big-screen TVs, desktops, books, clothing, footwear, bedding, cooking utensils, crockery in this list. According to Annex 5 of the Agreement, goods for personal use, the cost of which exceeds the equivalent of 1,500 euros, and (or) the total weight over 50 kg are subject to customs charges at a single rate of 30% of their customs value but not less than 4 euro per 1 kg of weight in excess of the weight norm or value standards. Thus, foreign individuals who enter the Russian Federation for long term (eg, employment) and bringing along a property, now face the need to pay large sums of customs payments (in some cases up to 10-15 thousand euros).

Please note this information in your company’s operation, in particular, when you have plans to attract foreign specialists to work at Russian enterprises.

Also, we inform you that the association will send a letter on this subject to the Federal Customs Service of Russia. (see attached)

If you have any comments and offers, please send them by email office@spiba.ru ....

If we receive any clarification or new information on this issue we will bring it to your attention.

Attachment: Draft letter to Federal Customs Service of Russia (in Russian)