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Going through the Customs

The rules for passengers who are going abroad are similar in most countries but sometimes there might be a slight difference in formalities.

If, for instance, you are supposed to begin with going through the Customs, you'd better fill in the Customs declaration before you talk to the Customs officer. An experienced customs officer usually smells a smuggler, but he may ask any passenger routine questions, for instance, 'Have you got anything to declare?' or 'Any spirits, tobacco, presents?' The usual answers would be, 'Yes, I've got some valuables, but I've put them all down in the declaration', or 'I've got two blocks of cigarettes for my own use' or something of that kind.

Then you go to the check-in counter where your ticket is looked at, your things are weighed and labeled, a claim-check for each piece of luggage is inserted in the ticket and you are given a boarding pass, which has a seat number on it. Of course, if your luggage weighs more than twenty kilos, you have to pay extra. The next formality is filling in the immigration form and going through passport control. The form has to be filled in block letters. You write your name, nationality, permanent address and the purpose of your trip.

In most countries there is also a security check when your luggage is inspected. This is an anti-hijacking measure, and anything that might be dangerous or disturbing to other passengers must be handed to one of the crew and only returned to the owner after the plane has reached its destination.

After fulfilling all these formalities you go to the departure lounge where you can have a snack, read a paper, buy something in the duty-free shop and wait for the announcement to board the plane.

Some of these formalities are repeated when you arrive at your destination. The customs declaration and the immigration form are often filled in on board the plane. At the airport you may be met by a specially trained dog who will make sure that you are not carrying drugs, and the immigration officer might want to know at whose invitation you are coming and whether you have a return ticket.

There is another inconvenience you have to be prepared for when travelling long distances by plane. It's the jet-lag, a difference between the time you are accustomed to and the new time. At first you won't be feeling very well because of it, but don't worry – it won't take you long to get used to it.

Customs System

Russia

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 you 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.

Finland

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.

Great Britain

For the Russian citizens the visa is necessary for entrance on territory of Great Britain. Import is forbidden: weapons, drugs, knives, false coins and banknotes, meat, birds and bird's eggs, plants, medicines, etc. You can take out duty-free:1 l of strong spirits, 2 l of wine, 200 cigarettes, either 50 cigars, or 250 gr. of tobacco.

Canada

As the tourist, you can import some things into Canada, as your personal luggage. The personal luggage includes clothes, accessories to productive leisure (tent, a backpack, etc.), sports equipment, the chamber, the tape recorder and even the personal computer. Cars, vessels and planes also enter into concept “personal luggage”. If your age is enough for alcohol you can import 1.5 l of wine or 1 l of liquor, or 24 x 355 ml of beer. If you are full of age, you can take 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars and 200 gr. of tobacco.

Germany / France

You can import tobacco products: 200 cigarettes, or 100cigarillos or 50 cigars, or 250 gr of tobacco; 1 l of spirits over 22 % vol. or 2 l of fortified wine or sparkling wine or 2l of still wine; 50 gr of perfume. Travelers must be aware that certain wildlife animals or plants are protected by the Convention of Washington (CITIES). The importation of these specimens is strongly restricted following the Community rules implementing the CITIES-Convention. Pet owners have to respect the Community rules on movements of pet animals. Prohibitions and restrictions in the following areas are covered by national legislation: drugs, medicines, weapons, explosive materials, pornographic materials. Travelers holding a valid ticket for a destination outside the EU can buy goods free of duty and tax in so-called “tax-free shops” in airports and ports. There are no limits as to the quantity or value of the goods that can be purchased duty and tax free.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 2095