Customs Clearance in Russia
Import entries into Russia are administered by Federal Customs Service of Russia (EAEU regime). Cargo typically sits 3–10 days at the gateway before release, and most of that window is documentation rather than physical inspection. We handle the entry itself — classification, valuation, duty and tax settlement, and the release — either as part of a delivered duty-paid movement or as a standalone brokerage service on cargo somebody else is shipping.
Clearance profile — Russia
| Customs authority | Federal Customs Service of Russia (EAEU regime) |
|---|---|
| Duty and tax | VAT 20%; EAEU common external tariff, typically 0–20%, plus recycling and excise levies on some categories |
| De-minimis | EUR 200 for personal parcels under EAEU rules |
| Certification | EAC conformity mark valid across the Eurasian Economic Union; Russian-language labelling required |
| Typical port dwell | 3–10 days |
| Sea gateways | Vladivostok, Vostochny, Novorossiysk, St Petersburg |
| Air gateways | SVO (Moscow Sheremetyevo), DME (Moscow Domodedovo), LED (St Petersburg) |
Compiled from the destination customs authority and port operators as a buyer-planning reference. It is not a customs ruling — the binding position depends on your HS heading and the consignee's status.
What we do on the entry
- Classification. We agree the HS heading before the cargo sails, not after it lands. A heading argued at the border costs storage every day it runs.
- Valuation. We build the customs value the way Russia expects it — including or excluding freight and insurance according to the local rule, with the supporting evidence attached.
- Entry filing and duty settlement. Lodged in the consignee's name or, where the market allows it, under our own importer arrangement.
- Release and onward delivery. Terminal release, any inspection attendance, and delivery to the door if you want the movement quoted duty-paid.
What actually holds shipments here
Export-control and sanctions screening is essential — dual-use goods, electronics and machinery require careful classification and counterparty checks before shipment. EAC certification and Russian labelling are mandatory. Payment routing should be confirmed before booking.
None of that is unusual, but all of it is easier to resolve before the container sails than after it arrives.
How the lane behaves
Russia is served three ways from China and the choice matters more here than anywhere else: Vladivostok by sea in under a week then rail west, direct block trains through Manzhouli or Zabaikalsk to Moscow in about 14–20 days, or the long Suez routing to St Petersburg. Rail and Far East capacity are both frequently oversubscribed, so book earlier than the transit time alone would suggest.
Documents we will ask for
- Commercial invoice and packing list matching the goods exactly
- Bill of lading or air waybill
- Certificate of origin where a preference is claimed
- Consignee registration or tax identifier for the market
- Product certification, permits or licences where the commodity requires them
Mismatches between the invoice and the transport document are the single most common reason an entry is queried. We check them before filing rather than after a query lands.
Clearing agents in Russia
Our entries in Russia are filed by licensed local brokers, not sub-contracted blind. If you hold a customs broker licence or AEO authorisation here, we are open to adding capacity — we send referred volume from an ocean freight book that already discharges at your gateways.
The network is vetted rather than open: licence verification with the issuing authority, insurance, two contactable references and supervised trial entries before any unsupervised volume.
Apply to become our Russia clearance partner →Freight rates into Russia
Clearance is quoted alongside the freight. These are the priced lanes we currently run into this market.
- Ningbo to Novorossiysk FCL Ocean Freight Rates | 20GP & 40HQ
- Ship Shanghai to Novorossiysk — FCL Container Cost from China
Destination guide
Gateways, inland legs, port behaviour and seasonal pressure for Russia — the background this clearance page assumes.
Russia destination guide →Common questions
Who administers customs clearance in Russia?
Import entries are administered by Federal Customs Service of Russia (EAEU regime).
How long does clearance take in Russia?
Cargo typically sits 3–10 days at the gateway. Complete paperwork lodged before arrival is what keeps a shipment at the short end of that range.
What duty and tax applies in Russia?
VAT 20%; EAEU common external tariff, typically 0–20%, plus recycling and excise levies on some categories The rate that applies to your shipment depends on the HS heading — send the specification for a firm figure.
Can you clear cargo in Russia that you did not ship?
Yes. Brokerage is available as a standalone service on cargo moved by another forwarder, as well as bundled into a duty-paid movement we carry ourselves.
Do you work with local brokers in Russia?
Yes — our clearance network is built on vetted local licence holders. Brokers in this market can apply to join through our partner programme.