With this, Estonia follows the additional interpretation of the sanctions imposed on the Russian Federation published by the European Commission on 8 September, according to which motor vehicles registered in the Russian Federation are no longer allowed to enter the territory of the European Union.
“The goal of the sanctions against Russia is to force the aggressor country to retreat to its borders. Since the European Commission has just clarified the current sanction and Estonia considers it necessary to use all opportunities to raise the price of aggression for Russia, we found in consultation with the Latvian and Lithuanian authorities that the restrictions are most effective when sanctions are imposed jointly,” said the Minister of the Interior Lauri Läänemets.
The ban on entering with a motor vehicle applies regardless of the basis of its owner's or user's stay in Estonia or the European Union.
Motor vehicles bearing a registration plate of the Russian Federation are allowed to leave Estonia through its external border or cross the internal borders of the European Union.
When a vehicle with a registration plate of the Russian Federation arrives at a border point, the Tax and Customs Board will carry out the relevant procedures. The user or owner of a motor vehicle must return to Russia with the car or cross the border without it.
All customs declarations submitted for the purpose of declaring vehicles will be processed case by case. Persons who want to declare their vehicles to customs are advised to check beforehand whether it is possible to register the vehicles in Estonia. Otherwise it can happen that you pay customs duties, but the vehicles cannot be registered in the Estonian traffic register.
1. Can you come to Estonia from Finland, Sweden or, for example, Latvia with a vehicle with Russian registration plates?
Estonia does not prevent the movement of vehicles with Russian registration plates within the EU. Latvia has announced that it will allow vehicles with Russian license plates to move in its territory only to travel through the country. A vehicle registered in Russia can pass through the territory of Latvia only once. Before entering the country, persons must use e-services to provide the Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate with information on the vehicle, the driver and the period during which the vehicle is participating in traffic in Latvia. This time must not exceed 24 hours.
ERR news: "Läti keelab Venemaal registreeritud sõidukid" (Latvia bans vehicles registered in Russia)
2. Is it possible to go from Estonia to Finland, Sweden or Latvia with a vehicle with Russian registration plates?
Estonia does not prevent the movement of vehicles with Russian registration plates within the EU. Latvia has announced that it will allow vehicles with Russian license plates to move in its territory only to travel through the country. A vehicle registered in Russia can pass through the territory of Latvia only once. Before entering the country, persons must use e-services to provide the Latvian Road Traffic Safety Directorate with information on the vehicle, the driver and the period during which the vehicle is participating in traffic in Latvia. This time must not exceed 24 hours.
ERR news: "Läti keelab Venemaal registreeritud sõidukid" (Latvia bans vehicles registered in Russia)
3. Which means of transport are subject to sanctions? Passenger cars, buses, trucks, motorcycles, etc.?
B and C category vehicles with Russian registration plates are prohibited from entering the European Union. The entry of vehicles with Russian transit numbers is also prohibited.
Buses with more than 10 seats (including 1+9), and motorcycles are permitted.
The existence of regular service authorisations for the carriage of passengers by bus is not decisive, the number of seats is important.
4. Are ambulances or other special purpose vehicles with registration plates of the Russian Federation allowed to enter the EU?
Ambulances and other special purpose vehicles may continue to cross the border between the European Union and the Russian Federation. In the case of border crossing of special purpose vehicles, the purpose of the specific journey is checked.
5. What does it mean to declare for free circulation?
“Declaration for free circulation” means the lodging of a customs declaration for free circulation with payment of duties for the vehicle. A person who has a permanent residence is in the EU and who transports a vehicle from a third country to the EU must declare the vehicle for free circulation immediately after crossing the border, pay duties and register the vehicles with the Transport Administration. If a third country person entered the EU temporarily, but became a person of the EU by obtaining a residence permit or changing his or her residence, the person must immediately declare the vehicle for free circulation. The vehicle must be registered in accordance with the Road Traffic Act.
6. Do you always have to pay taxes when declaring something for free circulation?
As a general principle, a person is required to pay customs duties and VAT. Persons who meet the conditions of a settler will be able to apply for exemption. The customs duty rate for passenger cars is 10% of the customs value of the goods and VAT must also be paid.
7. Is it possible to pay the duties and taxes in instalments?
Yes, please read more about it on our web page “Payment of tax liabilities in instalments”'.
8. What to do with a vehicle that you do not want to declare for free circulation?
Such vehicles will have to be returned to Russia.
9. What to do if the vehicle belongs to a Russian person who is not a permanent resident in the EU?
It is not possible to declare or register this vehicle and we recommend returning it to Russia.
10. Who is allowed to transport vehicles in the register of the Russian Federation to the EU?
Only vehicles with diplomatic number plates, motorcycles, buses with more than 10 seats and special vehicles (e.g. ambulance providing assistance) are allowed to cross the border. No other exceptions for persons have been introduced.
11. What to do with a vehicle that is intended to be declared for free circulation and entered in the Traffic Register?
Vehicles which have been transported to Estonia before 15 December 2023 may be declared for free circulation under the following conditions:
- the owner of the vehicle is a person of the EU (EU citizen or a person holding an Estonian residence permit)
- the vehicle must be located in Estonia
- the person presents to the customs authorities a document proving the ownership of the vehicle
- the transfer of ownership took place before 15 December 2023
- the person has the data necessary for the completion of the customs declaration (including the customs value)
The person submits the customs declaration to the Estonian Tax and Customs Board and pays the necessary taxes. The person is then obliged to register the vehicle not later than within 5 days. We recommend the person to first make sure that the vehicle meets the technical requirements of the EU.
We recommend using the assistance of customs agencies to submit the customs declaration.
Instructions on how to fill in a customs declaration (in Estonian)
NB! If the goods should have been declared on first entry, the customs authorities have the right to demand interest in addition to customs duties.
12. What to pay attention to when filling in a customs declaration?
- Customs value — indicate the price actually paid for the vehicle or the price that should have been paid had the vehicle been purchased (e.g. if it was a gifts). NB! The customs authorities have the right to determine the customs value of the vehicle if doubts arise as to the declared value.
- Enter the additional codes Y859 and Y920.
- Select submitting a declaration retrospectively and indicate the date of arrival in the EU as the date of presentation of goods or, if the arrival in the EU took place before 1 July 2021, indicate the 1 July 2021 as the date.
- Commodity code 8703.
