From Estonia to a third country

1. When will the ETCB introduce full customs control?
Full customs control is implemented as of 8 August.

2. Which legislation provides the basis for full customs controls?  
The bases for carrying out customs controls are laid down in the Union Customs Code (Article 46). The extent of customs control is determined by the ETCB as the supervisory authority for the import and export of goods.

3. What does full customs control mean for a traveller?
Full customs control means that customs officials check all people and goods moving to the Russian Federation via the border crossing points of Narva, Luhamaa and Koidula. Controls are carried out pursuant to the requirements of the Customs Act and the Law Enforcement Act.

• For a traveller crossing the border on foot, full customs control means the examination of the traveller and the luggage he or she carries. If a traveller crosses the border by car, both the car and the goods in it are examined.
• Control of goods means checking the correctness of the booking of the truck, scanning the truck, opening the doors of the cargo area and control.
• Passengers travelling by regular buses are asked to step out of the bus with their luggage and undergo similar customs controls as pedestrians.

All persons crossing the border who leave the Republic of Estonia via the eastern border are asked to be prepared for a longer border crossing process and to make sure that they do not carry prohibited (sanctioned) goods before crossing the border.

4. Are people and goods moving from Russia to Estonia also checked?
These checks are carried out on the basis of risk analysis. If there is reason to think that the goods should not be brought to Estonia or the goods are undeclared, customs officials will choose the appropriate control measure (inspection, screening, etc.) according to the risks identified.

5. What happens to the prohibited goods discovered during customs controls? 
If a traveller is carrying goods subject to sanctions, crossing the border with the goods is prohibited. A person crossing the border with prohibited goods has committed a violation which may be punishable. If it is not possible for a person to return to Estonia (or Russia upon entry into Estonia) with the goods, it is possible to voluntarily surrender the prohibited goods to state ownership upon crossing the border. If criminal proceedings are initiated in respect of the violation, the confiscation of the goods will be decided within the framework of the proceedings.

6. How long can it take to cross the border?
Carrying out full customs control is time-consuming and could reduce the capacity of the border towards the Russian Federation by half. Therefore, we ask to set aside more time for crossing the border. 

7. Who is given priority access to customs controls?
Priority is given only in the case of time-sensitive goods. Time-sensitive goods are defined by the regulation of the Minister of Finance.

8. Will all means of transport be examined?
Yes, all vehicles crossing the border – trucks, cars and buses – are examined.

9. What happens if I obstruct the work of a customs official, including the examination?
In such cases, the ETCB customs officials can use direct coercion on the basis of and pursuant to the procedure provided for in the Law Enforcement Act. If you obstruct the exercise of state supervision, i.e. by your behaviour you create a situation where an official does not have the opportunity to exercise supervision, § 279 of the Penal Code prescribes a fine or detention as a punishment.

10. As a traveller, do I always have to submit a written customs declaration?
As a traveller, a written declaration of the goods and the determination of the tariff classification are necessary if the goods are carried in commercial quantities. In other cases, travellers declare the goods they carry orally.
Upon declaring goods, care must be taken to ensure that the correct information is entered in the declaration, because by validating the declaration you confirm the correctness of the information and are responsible for the information.

11. What happens if I violate customs law? For example, if I fail to declare the goods, submit false information to the customs authorities, try to hide the goods or try to take prohibited goods across the border? 
The Customs Act provides for misdemeanour liability and, upon violation of the Act, a natural person is punishable by a fine of up to 300 fine units, i.e. 1,200 euros, or by detention, and a legal person by a fine of up to 3,200 euros.
In connection with the sanctions imposed on Russia, we would like to point out that if an attempt is made to move goods subject to sanctions across the border or the goods are classified with an incorrect commodity code in order to circumvent sanctions, this is a crime, the investigation of which is carried out by the Estonian Internal Security Service.

12. What amount of euros can I bring with me for personal use?
The export of banknotes denominated in euro and other official currencies of the Member States of the EU to Russia or Belarus is prohibited. 
As an exception, the prohibition does not apply to exports of euro banknotes intended for:

1. the personal use of natural persons travelling to Russia or Belarus or their immediate family members travelling with them; or
2. the official activities of diplomatic missions or consular posts or international organisations operating in Russia or Belarus enjoying immunities in accordance with international law.

The amount intended to cover the needs of a traveller and the member of his/her family during the trip is deemed to be personal use. No threshold has been established for the amount to be considered as personal use. Therefore, any amount that does not fulfil the conditions of the derogation may be subject to sanctions, regardless of whether a cash declaration is required or not. The export of banknotes to other recipients, such as friends, acquaintances, parents, is not considered as personal use. A person travelling to Russia or Belarus must be prepared to justify and/or prove the circumstances why the export of banknotes is necessary, e.g. hotel/accommodation bookings, etc. We would also like to point out that the fact that Russia or Belarus have a more favourable exchange rate is not a sufficient justification.

More information

13. Does the new arrangement also apply to people who come to Estonia from Russia?
The focus of full customs controls is on the control of passengers, luggage and goods destined for Russia, but the current practices of customs officials, i.e. risk-based customs controls based on thorough risk analysis and automated controls, complemented by the expert knowledge of the customs officials, remains. People crossings the border in both directions must take this into account.