By leaps and bounds, Russia covers more of the world's landmass - one-eighth - than any other country. And from that springs a long list of impressive facts. Russia boasts:
Spanning 11 time zones from Europe to the Pacific Ocean
Bordering 18 different countries
An abundance of mineral resources, oil, and natural gas
A long history of notable artistic, sporting, and scientific achievements
Like its other large claims, Russia is becoming an e-commerce heavyweight. In the first 6 months of 2019 that market grew by 26%! And with 65% of its population internet users (95 million people), mother Russia's future is bullish.
Easily compare the best and cheapest shipping options to Russia through a variety of carriers using Secureship
Secureship provides safe and affordable shipping from Canada to Russia. Whether you are an everyday shopper or a business,
you can easily save up to 50% on your international shipping costs by way of accessing our group buying power.
Shipments through Secureship come with full, easy to read tracking information to Russia
Tracking #:780123123123
Tel: 1-800-463-3339
Signed By: Pikwalia @ Residence
Jun 2, 2023
8:49 am
Omsk, OS, RU
Delivered
Jun 1, 2023
7:18 am
Novosibirsk, NO, RU
In transit
May 31, 2023
9:03 pm
Saint Petersburg, SA, RU
International Clearance
May 31, 2023
8:14 am
Moscow, MO, RU
In transit
May 31, 2023
12:17 am
Toronto, ON, CA
In transit
May 30, 2023
4:30 pm
Ottawa, ON, CA
Pickup Scan
Disclaimer!
While we have made every effort to ensure that the information on this page is accurate, Customs laws and procedures change regularly so it is
important to consult a licensed broker in Russia before shipping any goods.
Types of Shipments
Not all types of shipments are created equal. Shipping a television will require different
paperwork, duties, and taxes than shipping an accounting statement, for example.
Here is a list of the most common types of shipments:
Shipments of documents to Russia should include the receiver's taxpayer personal identification number. If it is not included, Russian customs will likely hold the shipment until the number is supplied by the receiver.
If a shipment weighs more than 30 kg, it is considered as a non-document shipment. It will require a commercial invoice.
Typical shipments of non-commercial documents, i.e. they involve no monetary exchange, include:
Architectural plans
Bids
Blueprints for bid invitations
Diplomas
Tickets for stage performances, concerts and football (soccer) matches
Newspapers
Visa applications
Certain categories of documents have restrictions as shown in the table below.
Document Type
Restriction
Airline tickets
Must be validated.
Annual Reports
For shareholders or inter-company use only.
Brochures
For inter-company use only.
Cheques
Only if personalised.
Event tickets (shows, sporting matches)
If the source is a printing company or being shipped to the event's organiser, they are not considered documents.
Greeting cards and invitations
Must be personalised to be documents.
Manuals (technical)
The number shipped must be appropriate for the situation.
Newsletters
For inter-company use only; if shipped from a publisher, they are non-documents.
There are no tax or duty exemptions on gifts shipped to Russia from Canada.
Shipments from Individual-to-Individual
There are no tax or duty exemptions on gifts sent to Russia from Canada.
Shipments from Business-to-Business
A business in Canada cannot send a gift to a business in Russia. All shipments will incur duties and taxes. This includes a gift sent to an individual care of a business address.
Shipments from Business-to-Individual
No information about shipments from a business in Canada to an individual in Russia is available at this time.
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Personal Shipment / Gift Shipment
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift Shipment: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$79.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $79.99
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Multiple Gifts in One Shipment
No information regarding multiple gifts in one shipment is available at this time.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Gifts
Ship To
Invoice
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Unsolicited Gift: Consolidated Gift Package
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Gift - Roger: LEGO Star Wars Rebel UWing Fighter, 659 piece set
CA
$39.99
1 Each
Gift - Erica: Handwoven French Canadian Catalogne Blanket
CA
$49.99
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Gifts Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $89.98
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Shipping Personal Effects
If you move to Russia from Canada with a work permit, shipping your personal effects will be exempt from duties and taxes. Your personal effects must be:
Used goods
for your use only
Your personal effects may include items such as archival documents and culturally valuable artefacts.
Moving Temporarily
No information regarding moving temporarily to Russia is available at this time.
Moving Permanently
If you are moving permanently to Russia, the personal effects you may bring with you include:
Clothing, footwear, headwear, umbrellas, jewellery, and personal hygiene items
Baby strollers and baby seats
Equipment and accessories for sports
Portable medical devices and consumables in the amount necessary for personal use
No more than 2 mobile phones, smartphones or other similar devices
Portable musical instruments
Portable personal computers and tablets, and game consoles
Portable equipment for recording sound and video (1 unit of each)
Personal Effects Checklist
Commercial invoice must clearly indicate "Personal Effects" on the Commercial Invoice
(see sample)
Sample Commercial Invoice for Food, Chocolate, Candies
Ship To
Invoice
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Food Shipment - Assorted chocolate bars in their original manufacturer's packaging
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Box
Nestle Chocolate Bars in original packaging expiring May 2021 (shelf life of 6 months or longer)
CA
$20.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent / Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $20.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Samples
Commercial samples are sent to encourage orders for products. Commercial samples may be shipped from Canada to Russia duty and tax free for a period of up to 2 years.
At this time we have little information about further details, however, as a best practice it is best to deface, perforate, or indelibly mark your samples. This will reduce the chances of them incurring duties and taxes.
NOTE: Medical and biological samples must be accompanied by the appropriate import certificates.
Commercial Sample Checklist
A Commercial Invoice must be included with your shipment
Clearly indicate 'Commercial Samples' on the commercial invoice in the General Description & Detailed Description of Goods (see sample)
The item shipped has tearing, perforation, slashing, defacing, or has permanent marking clearing indicating the item as commercial sample
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Commercial Sample - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Box
Commercial Sample - Advanced reading copy of Dan Brown's novel.
CA
$20.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Commercial Sample Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $20.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Advertising Material
No information is available regarding shipping advertising material to Russia from Canada.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Promotional Material
Ship To
Invoice
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Promotional Material - Not for Resale
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Promotional Material: Not for Resale. Product pamphlets to hand out at trade show.
CA
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Promotional Material Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Repairs
Equipment and goods may be sent to Russia as temporary imports so that repair and maintenance procedures may be performed. This does not include overhauls or modernisations.
Temporary imports are exempt from duties and taxes.
Items Under Warranty
No GST will be charged for equipment and items under warranty that are repaired in Russia and returned to Canada.
Items No Longer Under Warranty
GST will be charged if an item is sent to Russia for repairs and is no longer under warranty. GST will be applied to the value of the repair work plus any parts added for the repair, and on any duties charged.
Sending Product for Repair to Russia
Equipment for repair can be sent to Russia and are exempt from duties and taxes.
The importer is responsible for paying duties and taxes. Be sure to state clearly on the invoice: Goods for Repair.
Returning Repaired Product to Russia
If a piece of equipment has been repaired in Canada under warranty, no duties or taxes will be incurred.
Repair Checklist
Commercial Invoice must clearly state 'REPAIR & RETURN' under the General Description or Remarks section; include the estimated time of return
(see sample)
Include repair contract with shipment
Serial or product number and the cost of repairs should be indicated under the Detailed Description of Goods section
Include the original shipping documents or tracking number from when the item was first exported to Russia or exported to Canada (depending on which case applies)
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Repair and Return - Watch being sent for repair
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
1 Each
Fossil Watch being sent for repair - Model E5, serial # 789456FG7E2 - Repair Cost $76.00
US
$163.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Warranty Repair Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $163.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Temporary Imports
Goods may be temporarily imported into Russia without payment of duties and taxes for a period of up to 2 years, though certain items must abide by different timelines.
Goods that are allowed this exemption include:
Qualifying for Duty & Tax Free Temporary Import
In order to import your goods duty and tax free into Russia, you can pick from 1 of the 2 Temporary Import Methods listed below.
Each option has its pros and cons. Regardless, each of the following methods requires you to complete a commercial invoice. More details are shown
below.
Option #
Temporary Import Method
Risk of paying Duties and taxes
1
Commercial Invoice only
Very Low
2
Commercial Invoice
+
ATA Carnet
Very Low
1. Complete a Commercial Invoice Only
This is the simplest and quickest option. See example.
NOTE:
You should be aware that shipping using this method doesn't guarantee that your items will be imported duty and tax free. Not all brokers will clear goods
as temporary imports (i.e. UPS, Fedex, DHL), nor is it a guarantee that customs won't charge any duties and taxes.
2. CI + an ATA Carnet
This option is great for items that frequently travel in and out of the country. It's also great because once you have an ATA Carnet, it is accepted by 176 countries worldwide making the application process a one-time thing.
In addition to declaring your commercial invoice as a temporary import, you can get an ATA Carnet for the items that are of temporary nature.
ATA Carnets are beyond the scope of this article. You can however, contact your local chamber of commerce and they will be able to guide you along. You can also find more information here:
http://www.chamber.ca/carnet/
In addition to choosing option 1 or 2, the following conditions must also be met in order to qualify for a duty and VAT free exemption:
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than 2 years in Russia, except for sporting equipment used for competitions, training, or demonstrations, which may only stay for 1 year
Temporary Imports Checklist
Commercial Invoice clearly stating 'Temporary Import'. This must be written in the General Description section and the Detailed Description of Goods.
(see sample)
The goods arrive and leave in the same condition, i.e. they undergo no repairs nor are they used in manufacturing
Stay no longer than the period listed above
Include your ATA Carnet with your shipment (if applicable)
Include the expected return date or the date that it was originally received within the country (whichever applies)
Any above listed items not listed in this checklist
NOTE:
If you are a member of a Canadian mass media organisation, be aware of the rules of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia regarding temporary importation of equipment. Click
here
and
here
for more information.
Sample Commercial Invoice for Permanent/Sold Goods
Ship To
Invoice
Ivan Pavlov 390 000 Ryazan Region Ryazan Str. Pavlova Russia
Phone: +7 (4912) 25-40-72
Carrier tracking number: 736534736
General Description:
Permanent/Sold: Parts and accessories for Canon B78n camera
Invoice number: 123456MGEP4916926 Customs Broker: UPS Date: 30 May 2023
QTY
Description of Goods
C/O
SubTotal
15 Each
Camera Lenses: Canon EF 50mm, Canon EF 85mm & wide-angle lenses.
CA
$132.00
Terms of Sale: None
Total number of packages: 1
Reason for export:Permanent/Sold Contact Name: James Smith
Total Invoice Amount: $1980.00
Total Weight: 10.0 lbs
Declaration Statement: I hereby certify that information provided is true and complete to the best of my knowledge
Required Documents
Shipping packages internationally requires a lot of documentation. This process alone can be confusing and time-consuming.
So we’ve narrowed down what documents you might need and ranked them based on likeliness of being needed.
Document Type
When?
Details
Shipping Label / Bill of Lading
Always required
This is a label provided by the carrier (UPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.). Always required because the carrier needs to know the parcel's destination.
Commercial Invoice
Required for all non-document shipments
For all non-document shipments, you will require 3 copies of the commercial invoice (to be included with your shipping labels).
These are for customs purposes and need to be included inside a document pouch outside of the box.
When creating a shipment through the Secureship website, the system will help you create this document automatically.
B13a
Required if value exceeds $2,000 per shipment or is a controlled good
A B13a is required if your shipment exceeds $2000 CAD or is a controlled good
and is destined to a country other than the US, Puerto Rico, or the US Virgin Islands
Canada has a preferential trade agreement with Russia. A COO proves that an item has been produced, manufactured or processed in Canada.
When an item with a COO is imported into Russia, it will incur a reduced or zero-rated import duty.
Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Infrequently required
Shows that the shipment has been insured.
Banks may request a certificate of insurance when providing letters of credit for the goods. Otherwise,
it is generally your choice whether to purchase insurance for the shipment.
ATA Carnet
Infrequently required
Used to avoid duties and taxes on shipments of temporary nature.
If you ship goods of temporary nature to and from a country, you can obtain an ATA Carnet to expedite the customs clearance process and
ensure that anything of temporary nature is not charged duties and taxes.
Prohibited goods are those that may not enter Russia while restricted goods may enter if they are less than a defined quantity or abide by other criteria.
Prohibited Goods
Media information in printed, audio-visual or other formats
Weapons and their parts, ammunition
Ozone-destroying products and substances
Narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances
Toxic and poisonous materials and chemicals
Herbicides and pesticides
Unpolished precious metals
Devices designed for spying or obtaining information secretly.
Restricted Goods
Sturgeon caviar
Live or frozen fish and crustaceans
Alcoholic beverages, including beer
Tobacco and tobacco products
Natural diamonds, (i.e. not fake, synthetic or simulated)
Medical equipment
Equipment used in photographic laboratories
Machine-operated games of chance requiring coins, tokens, etc.
Import duties and taxes in Russia are calculated based on the CIF value of the shipment (the total of the customs value, insurance, and freight).
CIF Value = Customs Value + Insurance Amount + Freight Costs
VAT charges are calculated on the customs value of the goods, generally at a rate of 20%, though some goods will be eligible for a 10% rate.
Certain goods, such as medical products and goods for diplomatic personnel and equipment not available in Russia, will be exempt from VAT charges.
Thresholds
Russia has a customs threshold of RUB 5,000 (about $105 CDN). This is called the de minimis value, and means that a shipment below this value will not incur duties and taxes.
Medicines for humans imported for the use of an individual will be exempt from import tax up to the value of $10,000 USD (about $13,000 CDN).
(A prescription may be required to prove the individual requires the medication.)
Currency
Russian rouble (RUB)
Duty Exemption
(De minimis Value)
RUB 5000 (about $105 CDN)
Duty Calculation Method
CIF
TAX (VAT)
20%
Tax Exemption
(De minimis Value)
RUB 5000 (about $105 CDN)
Tax Calculation Method
CIF
Duties on Imports
Candy20% Not less than €0.25 (about 40¢ CDN) per kg
Chocolate5%
Spirits and Wines20%
Tobacco30% Not less than €3 (about $4.50 CDN) per 1000 pieces
Books0%
Documents0%
Video Games & Consoles20%
Computers & Laptops10%
Tablets10%
Mobiles5%
Cameras15%
Accessories for Electronics10%
Coats20% Not less than €2 (about $3 CDN) per 1 kg
Beauty Products & Cosmetics15%
Jewellery20%
Shirts & Pants20% Not less than €2 (about $3 CDN) per 1 kg
You can purchase
insurance
through Secureship and it is provided by the carrier that will be transporting your shipment.
Each carrier will charge a different amount per $100 of declared insurance. If you indicate that you need insurance for your shipment our system will automatically include the insurance costs for your shipment.
Insurance is great to have in case your package is accidentally lost or damaged by the carrier. But be careful, not everything you ship is insurable. Worse - even if your package contains items that are insurable, if it doesn’t meet the ISTA 3A packaging standard, the insurance purchased through the carrier would not be available to you.
Here are some items that cannot be insured by the carrier:
Personal belongings
Antiques
Artwork
Liquids (including alcohol)
Televisions
Jewellery in excess of $500
Perishable goods
Glass or Ceramic
And many more items
For more information, please see the carrier's terms and conditions.
Shipping to Russia from Canada can take between 3-8 business days through the fastest carriers available on the Secureship platform.
More economical services, such as Canada Post, can take up to 2 months to complete the delivery.
