Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
46
Clearing Customs
Most souvenirs can be taken out of the country, but be careful when buying art
or antiques. You will need an export permit for any item made more than 50
years ago, and items produced more than 100 years ago are unlikely to be
cleared for export.
You will not need an export permit for:
contemporary souvenirs, eletric
samovars, or any books, posters, or reproductions produced within the last 50
years. You may export up to 250g of red caviar. Export of black caviar is forbidden.
You will need an export permit for any of these items, regardless of
when they were made: icons, paintings (even recent works), carpets and
rugs, samovars (non electric).
Most galleries and auction houses will assist in obtaining export clearance.
If you need independent advice in Moscow, contact the Assessment Commit-
tee of the Ministry of Culture (Neglinnaya Ul. D. 8;
&
495/692-1532
) or refer to
the Moscow Service for the Preservation of Cultural Property at
&
495/244-
7675
(
www.culture-expert.ru
). The Customs Service has advice desks at Both
Sheremetyevo II and Domodedovo airports in Moscow.
If you need independent advice in St. Petersburg, contact the Ministry of
Culture at Malaya Morskaya Ulitsa d. 17 (
&
812/117-3496
). The Customs
Service has an advice desk at Pulkovo airport, terminal II.
3
up to 100% and the process is tedious.
Demand receipts when buying anything
valuable, even items from open-air markets.
Until recently, visitors were prohibited
from taking rubles out of the country. Now
a small amount can be taken, but the limit
is indexed to the official minimum wage
and therefore changes often, so stick to
small sums to be safe. Bear in mind that you
may have a hard time exchanging them for
dollars when you get home, since the ruble
only recently became internationally con-
vertible and is still not traded in most banks.
Returning
U.S. citizens
who have been
away for at least 48 hours are allowed to
bring back, once every 30 days, $800 worth
of merchandise duty-free. You'll be charged
a flat rate of duty on the next $1,000 worth
of purchases. Any dollar amount beyond
that is dutiable at whatever rates apply. On
mailed gifts, the duty-free limit is $200. Be
sure to have your receipts or purchases
handy to expedite the declaration process.
Note:
If you owe duty, you are required to
pay it upon your arrival in the United
States, by cash, personal check, government
or traveler's check, money order, or, in some
locations, Visa or MasterCard.
With some exceptions, you cannot
bring fresh fruits and vegetables into the
United States. For specifics on what you
can bring back, download the invaluable
free pamphlet
Know Before You Go
online
at
www.cbp.gov
. (Click on “Travel,” and
then click on “Know Before You Go.”) Or
request the pamphlet from the
U.S. Cus-
toms & Border Protection (CBP),
1300
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20229 (
&
877/287-8667
).
For a clear summary of
Canadian
rules,
write for the booklet
I Declare,
issued by
the
Canada Customs and Revenue
Agency
(
&
800/461-9999
in Canada,
or 204/983-3500; www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca).
Canada allows its citizens a C$750 exemp-
tion, and you're allowed to bring back
