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Info
titleSource: World Tourism Organization UNWTO

19.07.2022

Source: https://www.unwto.org/tourism-data/unwto-iata-destination-tracker-easy-travel



Info
titleSource: Federal Agency for Tourism - https://tourism.gov.ru/en/contents/turistam/transport

01.07.2021

Restriction of entry to the territory of the Russian Federation

According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation №635-R of March 16, 2020 for the purpose of ensuring state security, protecting public health and non-proliferation of a new coronavirus infection entry to the territory of the Russian Federation is restricted until further notice. 

List of countries with which Russian Federation resumes international air service:


  1. Abkhazia

  2. Austria

  3. Azerbaijan

  4. Albania

  5. Armenia

  6. Belarus 

  7. the United Kingdom

  8. Hungary

  9. Venezuela

  10. Vietnam

  11. Germany

  12. Greece

  13. Egypt

  14. India

  15. Iceland

  16. Kazakhstan

  17. Qatar

  18. Kyrgyzstan

  19. Korea

  20. Cuba

  21. Lebanon

  22. Luxembourg

  23. Mauritius

  24. Maldives

  25. Malta

  26. Morocco

  27. Mexico

  28. United Arab Emirates

  29. Portugal

  30. Saudi Arabia

  31. Seychelles

  32. Serbia

  33. Singapore

  34. Syria

  35. Tajikistan

  36. Tanzania (suspended till June 21)

  37. Turkey (suspended till June 21)

  38. Uzbekistan

  39. Finland

  40. Croatia

  41. Switzerland

  42. Sri Lanka

  43. Ethiopia

  44. Japan


Visas of all categories shall be issued only to citizens of these countries, as well as to persons who have a residence permit or any other document proving the right of permanent residence. 

Entry to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens of other countries, as well as stateless persons, is restricted until further notice. The issuance of tourist visas, including visas in the form of an electronic document, has also been temporarily suspended.

Tour operators operating in the field of international inbound tourism, in the current situation, are able to postpone the dates of travel of foreign tourists with their consent.

TRANSPORT

According to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation №635-R of March 16, 2020 for the purpose of ensuring state security, protecting public health and non-proliferation of a new coronavirus infection entry to the territory of the Russian Federation is restricted until further notice. 

List of countries with which Russian Federation resumes international air service:


  1. Abkhazia

  2. Austria

  3. Azerbaijan

  4. Albania

  5. Armenia

  6. Belarus  

  7. Belgium

  8. Bulgaria

  9. the United Kingdom

  10. Hungary

  11. Venezuela

  12. Vietnam

  13. Germany

  14. Greece

  15. Egypt

  16. India

  17. Iceland

  18. Ireland

  19. Jordan

  20. Kazakhstan

  21. Qatar

  22. Kyrgyzstan

  23. Korea

  24. Cuba

  25. Lebanon

  26. Luxembourg

  27. Mauritius

  28. Maldives

  29. Malta

  30. Morocco

  31. Mexico

  32. North Macedonia

  33. United Arab Emirates

  34. Portugal

  35. Saudi Arabia

  36. Seychelles

  37. Serbia

  38. Singapore

  39. Syria

  40. Tajikistan

  41. Tanzania (suspended till July 19)

  42. Turkey

  43. Uzbekistan

  44. Finland

  45. Croatia

  46. Switzerland

  47. Sri Lanka

  48. Ethiopia

  49. Japan

Visas of all categories shall be issued only to citizens of these countries, as well as to persons who have a residence permit or any other document proving the right of permanent residence. 

Entry to the Russian Federation of foreign citizens of other countries, as well as stateless persons, is restricted until further notice. The issuance of tourist visas, including visas in the form of an electronic document, has also been temporarily suspended.

Tour operators operating in the field of international inbound tourism, in the current situation, are able to postpone the dates of travel of foreign tourists with their consent.


Air transport

The State Register of Civil Aviation Airfields and Heliports of the Russian Federation contains 247 facilities including 77 international airfields with open border crossing points.

The busiest airports of Russia by passenger traffic:

1)      Sheremetyevo (Moscow) SVO/UUEE

2)      Domodedovo (Moscow) DME/UUDD

3)      Vnukovo (Moscow) VKO/UUWW

4)      Pulkovo (Saint Petersburg) LED/ULLI

5)      Sochi (Sochi) AER/URSS

6)      Tolmachevo (Novosibirsk) OVB/UNNT

7)      Koltsovo (Yekaterinburg) SVX/USSS

8)      Simferopol (Simferopol) SIP/UKFF

More than a half of all international and domestic passenger traffic is handled by 5 Russian airlines:

1)      Aeroflot Russian Airlines

2)      S7 Airlines

3)      Rossiya Airlines

4)      UTair

5)      Pobeda

Key performance indicators of Russian airlines, including statistical information, are regularly published by the Federal Air Transport Agency.

Rail transport

The largest operator of the railway network engaged in passenger transportation in Russia is Russian Railways Joint Stock Company. This type of transport is the most popular and most affordable for travelling within the country. The length of operated railways is 85.3 thousand kilometers. Russian Railways JSC is positioned in the world top three leading railroad companies.

Currently, most railway passengers in Russia travel on suburban and intraurban trains. In Russia, there are several dozens of suburban passenger companies, most of which are subsidiaries of Russian Railways JSC.

Intermodal passenger transportation between Moscow downtown and the three airports of the Moscow aviation hub (Sheremetyevo, Domodedovo and Vnukovo) is carried out by Aeroexpress LLC.

There is a regular train service to the countries in Europe and Asia:

1)  Austria (stations on the route of the train Moscow _ Nice)

2)  Germany (Moscow – Berlin)

3)  China (Moscow– Beijing, Grodekovo – Sujfjen'hje, Chita – Manchuria)

4)  Poland (Moscow – Warsaw)

5)  Finland (Moscow – Helsinki, Saint Petersburg – Helsinki)

6)  France (Moscow – Paris, Moscow – Nice)

7)  Czech Republic (Moscow – Prague, Saint Petersburg – Prague)

8) Estonia (Moscow – Tallinn)

9) Italy (stations on the route of the train Moscow – Nice)

10) Latvia (Moscow – Riga)

11) Lithuania (Moscow – Vilnius, Saint-Petersburg – Vilnius, Adler – Vilnius, Chelyabinsk – Vilnius)

12) Mongolia (Moscow – Ulanbaator, Irkutsk – Ulanbaator)

13) North Korea (Moscow – Pyongyang, Moscow – Tumangan, Khabarovsk – Pyongyang, Ussuriysk – Tumangan)


Train tickets can be purchased on the official website of Russian Railways. You can see more detailed information about the routes via the link

 

Public transport

Urban ground transport in Russia includes buses, trams, trolleybuses, minibuses, and other vehicles. The bus is the most popular transport used by over 11 billion passengers a year, trams and trolleybuses are used by a significantly lesser number of passengers totaling an average of 2 billion passengers a year.

Municipal enterprises usually act as urban ground transport operators in urban areas.

Mosgortrans State Unitary Enterprise is the urban ground transport operator in Moscow.

There is a taxi service in all major Russian cities. Passenger taxis must have a permit (license) to carry passengers and baggage.

The largest online taxi booking services in Russia are

1)      Yandex.Taxi

2)      Gett Taxi

3)      Uber

About 3.5 billion passengers annually use the metro in Russia. There is a metro in seven cities:

1)      Moscow

2)      Saint Petersburg

3)      Nizhniy Novgorod

4)      Novosibirsk

5)      Samara

6)      Ekaterinburg

7)      Kazan

The Moscow Metro is the fifth in the world in terms of passenger traffic after Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, and Shanghai. Many stations of the Moscow Metro are considered as monuments of architecture.



Water transport

The length of operated inland waterways in Russia is about 100 thousand kilometers. Maritime transport is mainly used for cargo transportation. River transport in Russia is mainly concentrated in the Volga-Kama basin. The main centers of traveling on inland waterways are Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara, where the major part of the cruise fleet and tour operators who specialize in these forms of tourist services is concentrated.


The leading river cruise companies are members of River Alliance.

Further Information: https://tourism.gov.ru/en/contents/turistam/transport/

Info
titleSource: WCO/Federal Customs Service

18.05.2020

1. Measures aiming to Facilitate the Cross-border Movement of Relief and Essential Supplies

1.1.  The Federal Customs Service of Russia has established green lanes to ensure fast clearance of food, relief and essential supplies. Extra priority is provided to processing of any goods relating to the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. For imported relief and essential supplies, green lanes are provided to minimize the clearance time.

1.2. To Customs authorities there was sent a special instruction based on risk management not to apply additional forms of customs control where customs inspections are not obligatory or necessary.

1.3. The Federal Customs Service of Russia has introduced significant facilitative measures concerning requirements of compliance to technical regulations and sanitary standards during COVID 19 pandemic.

1.4. Facilitation measures and aimed at the security and supporting continuity of the relief consignments on the basis of a list of essential items (sanitary products, medical devices/equipment and food). The Federal Customs Service of Russia has prioritized the clearance of relief consignments at the border crossing points:
- pre-arrival processing of the Goods declaration and release of the goods upon arrival has been provided;
- priority documents and information submission by the customs authority has been guaranteed.

Ultimately, customs clearance has been completely prioritized for relief goods in terms of COVID-19 pandemic countermeasures.

2. Measures aiming at Supporting the Economy and Sustaining Supply Chain Continuity

2.1. The Customs authorities adopted a decision concerning the import duties and VAT exemption on imported goods targeted to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic (protective equipment, testing kits or medical devices such as ventilators). The Federal Customs Service of Russia has introduced temporary tax relief measures such as lowering of import customs duties on medical supplies, sanitary products, testing kits, protective and medical equipment etc.

2.2. Moreover, there has been introduced temporary tax relief measures such as lowering of value-added tax on food (vegetables, rye, rice, buckwheat, child nutrition etc.).

2.3. To guarantee the supply chain continuity The Federal Customs Service of Russia has introduced several measures. There have been introduced certain facilitation measures to speed up the customs clearance and subsequent procedures for goods in transit. The local customs authorities have designated priority entry for vehicles in customs control zone and priority lanes for freight transport.

To tackle the virus outbreak and to suggest a rapid response in case of the interruption of the supply chain there has been held a daily monitoring and analysis of the clearance of:
- relief consignments on the basis of a list of essential items
- anti-epidemic supplies
- food and goods such as water

Likewise, there has been held a daily monitoring of the freight transport quantity and occurrence of queues at border crossings across the country.

3. Measures aiming at Protecting Customs administrations’ Staff

3.1. Customs authorities were instructed to have their staff working in shifts in order to prevent spreading of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Customs Administration took strict measures for protection, based on social distancing principles. All non-first line officers work from home. Field customs officers have reduced staff numbers to minimize interaction.

3.2. Personal protective equipment is distributed among staff (masks, gloves, antiseptic agents, etc.)

4. Measures aiming at Protecting Society

4.1. There have been introduced certain facilitation measures to ease the movement of medical personnel across borders. The customs authorities responsible for receiving, registration and release of goods declarations, have organized internal distribution of goods declarations among staff for imported essential goods in order of priority.

5. Other Measures

5.1. According to Government decision more than 90% of all on-site customs inspections were cancelled (as of 06/05/2020). FCS Russia conducts on-site customs inspections that are based only on information about significant violation of legislation.


Further information: http://www.wcoomd.org/-/media/wco/public/gl...




Note
iconfalse
titleRemarks from the International Road Transport Union

30.05.2023

Poland-Belarus: Update on border regulations and processes

Poland - Belarus - Russia

The Ministry of the Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland has announced that Poland will suspend freight movements through its border crossings points with Belarus for freight vehicles registered in Belarus or Russia.

The new regulation is applicable to all types of freight vehicles registered in Belarus or Russia, including trucks, lorries, trailers, semitrailers, etc.

This regulation enters into force as of 1 June 2023 and will remain in effect until further notice.

Source: Ministry of the Interior and Administration of the Republic of Poland

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________


31.12.2022

Russia: ban on foreign transport entry and transit (extension of the ban and changes to the list of exemption

With reference to IRU’s Flash Info dated 4 October 2022, kindly be informed that the Russian Government has issued a Regulation No.2466 dated 28 December 2022.
This document notably extends the ban on foreign transport entry and transit until 30 June 2023.

Also, it specifies that the Regulation shall not be applicable in the following cases of cross-border transportation:
1. postal items
2. diplomatic pouch and consular valise
3. humanitarian aid
4. goods entering through the Belarusian-Russian border
5. goods in trailers and semitrailers registered in foreign states towed by trucks registered in Russia or Belarus
In addition, the list of exempted goods in Annex 1 of the Regulation has been changed and shortened; for goods taken off the exemptions list, a trailer swap/trans-shipment procedure is now required.

Regulation No.2466, dated 28 December 2022, will enter into force on 1 January 2023, however application of the updated list of exempted goods in Annex 1 of the Regulation will start as of 10 January 2023.

The original text of Regulation No.2466, dated 28 December 2022, is published here.

Source: Government of the Russian Federation


___________________________________________

04.10.2022


Russia: ban on foreign transport entry and transit

04.10.2022 | Goods

The Russian Government has issued Regulation No. 1728 dated 30 September 2022 imposing a ban on certain foreign freight vehicles owned by foreign transport operators and registered in foreign states to undertake road transport operations on Russian territory. The ban covers all types of road transport operations: bilateral, transit and to/from third countries.

The impacted foreign states are EU member states, the UK, Norway, and Ukraine.

The following exemptions apply:

1. Foreign freight vehicles owned by foreign transport operators and registered in foreign states, which were on Russian territory on the date this Regulation entered into force, providing they exit Russia within 7 (seven) days from the date of the Regulation entering into force,

2. Transit road transport freight operations with the purpose of returning to the country of registration, provided freight vehicles owned by foreign transport operators and registered in foreign states enter and exit Russia within 7 (seven) days from the date of the Regulation entering into force,

3. International road transport operations of postal items,

4. International road transport operations of goods included in the list of derogations in the Annex in attachment (available for download when opening the Flash Info),

5. International road transport operations performed from the territory of foreign states into the territory of the Kaliningrad region, and vice versa,

6. Transhipment of goods to Russian or Belarusian vehicles, provided these transport operators have permits for the preceding and/or subsequent leg, if relevant, and vice versa,7. Trailer/semitrailer swap to Russian or Belarusian vehicles, provided these transport operators have permits for the preceding and/or subsequent leg, if relevant, and vice versa.

For scenarios described in points 4-7 above, the amount of fuel in the tanks of foreign freight vehicles exiting Russia must not exceed 200 litres.

For scenarios described in points 6 and 7 above, swap and transhipment are allowed only in designated customs controlled areas located in:
• Kaliningrad region (all municipal districts),
• Leningrad region (Vyborg municipal district, Kingisepp municipal district),
• Murmansk region (the city of Murmansk, Pechengky municipal district, Kolsky district, Kandalaksha district),
• Pskov region (the city of Pskov, Sebezh district, Pechora district, Pytalovsky district),
• Republic of Karelia (Kostomuksha urban district, Lakhdenpokhsky district, Loukhsky district, Sortavalsky district),
• St. Petersburg.

The ban will enter into force on 10 October 2022 and remain in effect till 31 December 2022.

The original text of the Regulation No. 1728 dated of 30 September 2022 is published here.

Source: Government of Russian Federation

__________________________________________________

04.07.2022

EU- Belarus / Russia

Road transport operators continuing operations from the EU into Belarus, Russia and beyond into the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) are currently facing long waiting times at borders, with waiting times reaching one week or more. One reason for delays is insufficient customs guarantees from national providers who, in some cases, are unable to release their activated guarantees until the goods being transported have left EU territory.

IRU reminds transport operators that the TIR system does not face this issue and is able to provide a seamless internationally recognised customs guarantee for transporting goods across these borders. TIR has high safety and security standards, and also therefore aids compliance with relevant trade sanctions on types of goods.

Source: IRU, Latvijas and other IRU members


__________________________________________________________________________

18.01.2022

COVID-19 Update: two border-crossing points resuming operations

China - Russia - Mongolia

Two Chinese border-crossing points have resumed their activities in January 2022:

- Manzhouli BCP - between China and Russia is open since 14 January. Around 50 trucks are entering and leaving China per day at this stage,

- Erenhot BCP - between China and Mongolia is partially open since 11 January. Only export cargos from China to Mongolia are currently accepted. Around 30 trucks are leaving China per day at this stage.

Sources: Manzhouli government, Manzhouli Customs, Erenhot government, Erenhot Customs

__________________________________________________________________________________

03.12.2021

Temporary closure of the Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk border crossing point

China - Russian Federation

Chinese government authorities informed that due to further spread of Covid infection, exports of goods to Russia will be suspended through the Manzhouli-Zabaikalsk checkpoint starting from 3 December 2021. These measures are temporary and will be adjusted depending on the situation.

Sources: Manzhouli Foreign Affairs Office of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, ASMAP

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

14.10.2021

Temporary closure of the Yarag-Kazmalyar border crossing point for empty freight transport

Russian Federation - Azerbaijan 


Russia’s Dagestan customs office informed that, due to the reconstruction of the Yarag-Kazmalyar border crossing point (Russia-Azerbaijan border), customs and other controls of empty freight transport crossing the Russian border is currently carried out through the Novo-Filya border crossing point. This procedure will apply until completion of the reconstruction of Yarag-Kazmalyar checkpoint.

Restriction on movements of up to 50 empty freight transports per day applies only on transports from the Russian territory. The opening hours of the Novo-Filya border crossing point have not changed: from 08:30 to 17:00.

Source: North Caucasus Customs Department of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation

02.07.2021

Entry to the Moscow city and the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) – Restrictions for vehicles over 3.5 tons in force from 1 July


The restrictions, requiring to obtain a special pass for entry and movement on the territory of the Moscow city within the boundaries of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), as well as on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), including its internal and external sides, applicable to freight vehicles with a maximum permitted weight over 3.5 tons, have entered into force on 1 July. Currently, a special pass is required only during day-time from 07.00 to 23.00.

For freight vehicles with a maximum permitted weight over 12 tons a special pass, allowing entry and movement on the territory of the Moscow city and the MKAD is required in the daytime and at night.

For details, please refer to the Order of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of the Moscow City dated of 3 June 2021 No. 61-02-249/21.

Transit freight transport is recommended to use the Central Ring Road and the concrete rings A-107 and A-108.

More information on the transport portal of the Moscow City.

Source: Moscow City Government

___________________________________________________

23.06.2021


Entry to the Moscow city and the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) – Additional specifications

Russian Federation (23 June 2021)


The restrictions, requiring to obtain a special pass during day or night time, for entry and movement on the territory of the Moscow city within the boundaries of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), as well as on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), including its internal and external sides, applicable to freight vehicles with a maximum permitted weight over 3,5 tons, that were supposed to be introduced from 15 June 2021, have been moved again to 1 July 2021. Compulsory registration of transport companies and vehicles in the Moscow Regional Navigations and Information System (RNIS) has been extended till the end of December 2021.

Accordingly were extended the restrictions for freight vehicles with a maximum permitted weight over 12 tons, allowing entry and movement on the territory of the Moscow city within the boundaries of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), as well as on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), either in the daytime or at night, only with a special permit, following the Order of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of the Moscow City dated of 3 June 2021 No. 61-02-249/21. The document notably sets as follows the restrictions for freight vehicles:

· over 12 tons from 22.00 to 06.00 in the period from 22.00 15 June 2021 to 06.00 1 July 2021;

· over 12 tons from 23.00 to 07.00 in the period from 23.00 1 July 2021 to 07.00 31 December 2021;

· over 3,5 tons from 23.00 to 07.00 in the period from 23.00 31 December 2021 to 07.00 31 December 2022.

The issue of a special permit is free of charge. Therefore, the Moscow City Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development calls on transport operators not to use intermediaries which charge fees for their services. However, transport operators – non-residents of Russia still have no possibility to apply for a special permit themselves due to the lack e-signature which must endorse the submission of documents.

Source: Moscow City Government

07.06.2021

New control measures for international road transport operators in Russia

Russian Federation (7 June 2021)


Please be informed of the amendments to the Russian Federal Law dated of 24 July 1998 No. 127-FZ "On state control over the implementation of international road transport and on liability for violation of its implementation", introduced by the Russian Federal Law dated of 8 December 2020 No. 398-FZ, which entered into force on 7 June 2021.

Notably, Art.11 of the Federal Law has been supplemented with the provisions outlining the procedure for entry and exit the territory of the Russian Federation of vehicles owned by foreign carriers, in case of administrative offenses made by such vehicles while operating on the territory of the Russian Federation. The law requires that these vehicles can be retained and not allowed to exit the territory of the Russian Federation until the violation is settled and an administrative fine is paid (paragraph 42, Article 11).

If at the border crossing point it is discovered that a vehicle owned by a foreign carrier has performed earlier a traffic offense on the territory of the Russian Federation it will be allowed to exit the Russian Federation only after paying an administrative fine (paragraph 43, Article 11).

In a special section on the State Traffic Police website гибдд.рф traffic fines can be checked by entering vehicle’s registration plate, including foreign ones.

Source: State Traffic Police of the Russian Federation


                                                                                                        


30.04.2021

Entry to Moscow city and the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD) from 5 May 2021


The restrictions, requiring to obtain a special pass during day or night time, for entry and movement on the territory of the Moscow city within the boundaries of the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), as well as on the Moscow Ring Road (MKAD), including its internal and external sides, applicable to freight vehicles with a maximum permitted weight over 3,5 tons, that were supposed to be introduced from 22.00 5 May 2021, following the Moscow City Government Decree dated of 6 April 2021 No. 399-ПП  and the Order of the Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure Development of the Moscow City dated of 19 March 2021 No. 61-02-122/21, have been postponed till 15 June 2021.

Source: Moscow City Department of Transport and Road Infrastructure

                                                                                                        

01.04.2021

Updated situation at borders in Russia

From March 2021 the reconstruction of the border crossing point Burachki (Terekhovo on Latvian border) has started and will run till approximately December 2022.

Notably, reconstruction works have started on the “exit from Russian Federation” lanes. Therefore entry and exit from Russian Federation are carried out through the entry lanes.

More traffic and continuing reconstruction works may lead to significantly increased waiting times, congestions, possible interruptions or ban for transporting across the border live animals and goods that are subject to veterinary and/or quarantine phytosanitary control.

Transport operators are kindly advised to take this information into consideration and use nearby border crossing points, particularly Grebnevo (LVA) – Ubylinka (RUS), Luhamaa (EST) – Shumilkino (RUS), Koidula (EST) – Kunichina Gora (RUS).

Queues are minimal and TIR carnets can be used to enter Russian Federation at these crossing points.

Source: Federal Customs Service of Russian Federation

                                                                                                        

19.02.2021

Restrictions for transit in Moscow and the Moscow region

Moscow and the Moscow region authorities have decided to redirect transit traffic of trucks over 12 tons from Moscow region roads and Moscow Ring Road to the Central Ring Road (TsKAD).

This measure will reduce transit trips and help the decongestion of the Moscow Ring Road and other important highways of Moscow and the Moscow region.

The restrictions will apply from 09.00 am on 20 February 2021 till 09.00 am 22 February. During this period, trucks over 12 tons will not be able to transit through the Moscow Ring Road or along regional highways within the boundaries of the concrete road A-107.

The restrictions will not apply to trucks with valid special passes. The validity of the pass can be checked here or by calling 32-10.

Transport companies and truck drivers are requested to take above information into consideration when planning trips to Moscow and the Moscow region as well as use the Central Ring Road and concrete rings A-107 and A-108.

Source: ASMAP

                                                                                                        

17.06.2020

As of 17 June, controls on access to some regions within Russia remain in place. Transport operators going to the city of Chita (Zabaikalye territory) have to obtain a digital pass by applying on this portal (English version here). Transport operators planning to cross the border with China in the Primorye region must submit an application, to obtain a slot in a queue, no later than two days before the date of arrival at the border crossing points of Kraskino (RUS) – Hunchun (CHN), Pogranichny (RUS) – Suifenhe (CHN), Poltavka (RUS) – Dongning (CHN). The application form should be filled in, printed out, signed and sent by email to the following addresses, depending on which border crossing point the operator is planning to use: pogr@primorsky.rupogr@primorsky.ru(for Pogranichny border crossing point), krask@primorsky.ru (for Kraskino border crossing point) and polt@primorsky.ru (for Poltavka border crossing point). The permitted arrival date will be determined based on actual current capacity of the border crossing point and number of already submitted applications.

Source: ASMAP

                                                                                                        

21.05.2020

Following our last update on Russia, members are advised that the Blagoveshchensk-Heihe border crossing point will only open after consultations between relevant authorities in Russia and China are concluded, and after restrictions caused by Covid-19 pandemic are removed.

Source: ASMAP

                                                                                                        

20.05.2020

On 20 May, the Russian Ministry of Transport announced that starting from 25 May a new land border crossing point will open in Kani-Kurgan, in the Amur region on the border with China. The border crossing point will be operating on a temporary basis, only allowing cross-border movement of goods at first. The projected capacity is 190 vehicles per day and its opening will reduce the workload at other border crossing points with China. Controls will start as soon as the bridge connecting Blagoveshchensk (RUS) and Heihe (CHN) is opened to traffic.

Source: Russian Ministry of Transport

                                                                                                      

06.05.2020

On 29 April, the Russian Government amended the Governmental Decree of 16 March 2020 No.635. The amendment, presented in the Governmental Decree of 29 April 2020 No.1170, extends the closure of the Russian borders for an indefinite period, including the border with Belarus. Therefore, borders will remain closed until the epidemiological situation returns to normal.

Truck drivers remain exempt from this provision.

Source: IRU Moscow office

                                                                                                      

30.04.2020

On 28 April 2020, the Russian President announced the extension of measures to ensure the sanitary and epidemiological safety of the population in connection with the spread of the coronavirus infection, and extended the 'non-working' period until 11 May.

The movement of any person or transport in the city of Moscow or the surrounding region must obtain a special digital permit. Exemption is granted to international freight transport in the Moscow surrounding region at any time of day, and in the city of Moscow during the night (22:00-06:00). Entry into the city of Moscow during daytime hours (06:00-22:00) will only be permitted for those in the possession of a special HGV permit (regulated by Moscow Government Order of 22 August 2011 No.379-ПП).

Source: ASMAP

                                                                                                       

30.03.2020

In its continued effort to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) across the territory of the Russian Federation, the Russian Government has issued the Decree of 27 March 2020 No. 763 which temporarily restricts any movements through road, rail, pedestrian, rivers and combined border-crossing points, including the overland section at the Russia-Belarus border. This decision is effective from 30 March 2020.

The above restrictions do not apply to truck drivers engaged in international road transport of goods (paragraph 2). This provision is valid for citizens of the Russian Federation and for foreign truck drivers (paragraph 2 clause 2 of the Government Decree of March 16, 2020 No. 635 followed by amendments introduced by Government Decree of March 25, 2020 No. 730).

Source: ASMAP

                                                                                                            

25.03.2020

At a meeting of the State Commission on the sustainability and development of the Russian economy, it was decided to temporarily allow the use of on-board units making payments to the Platon Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) for paying toll charges over the next 90 calendar days from the date of expiration of their service (verification) with the possibility to extend this period.

On 25 March, the Russian President addressed the nation and officially declared next week (28 March - 5 April) non-business week for all across Russia. Passenger transport and international road transport are exempted from the provision.

Source of information: ASMAP and Russian government

                                                                                                            

24.03.2020

Transit

According to the Directive of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation No.7 of 18 March 2020, all persons arriving from abroad at the territory of the Russian Federation must be quarantined for 14 days.

On 23 March 2020, further clarification from the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation followed, which provided a clear exception for drivers engaged in international goods transport.

It is, however, obligatory for drivers to use/wear individual protective equipment and follow personal hygiene rules.

Import

From 20 March onwards, for a period of one month, the Russian Government has cancelled all restrictions (including customs) on the supply of basic consumer goods and a “green corridor” has been established for importers and large retail chains. A zero rate of customs duties has been levied on the import of a number of goods, including medicines and medical products.

http://government.ru/news/39221/

Weight control

The Federal Transportation Inspection Service of the Russian Federation (Rostransnadzor) has announced that from 21 March to 25 April 2020, the weight control of vehicles transporting basic food and non-food consumer goods (foodstuffs, baby goods, medicines), in platform-type trailers and semi-trailers with tented sides, has been suspended.

This measure follows the Russian Government Plan of priority measures (actions) to ensure sustainable economic development in relation to the deteriorating situation caused by the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19) infection.

Restrictions on crew members

Currently there's no specific restriction imposed on crews engaged in international transport operations in Russia.

Source: ASMAP and Russian competent authorities

                                                                                                            

19.03.2020

Restrictions

The Russian federation is temporarily restricting the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons, from 18 March 00:00 to 1 May 00:00 (Governmental Decree No. 635-р of 16 March 2020).

The entry restrictions will not apply to the following:

- vehicle drivers on international roads;

- crew members of aircrafts, ships/boats and international railway trains;

- members of official delegations;

- persons with diplomatic, service or ordinary private visas that were issued in connection with the death of a close relative;

- persons either permanently living in the Russian Federation or travelling through air border crossing points.

The current decree establishes a unified approach towards the border crossing of Russia and substitutes other legal acts adopted earlier in this regard.

Relieves

The Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Mikhail Mishustin, has announced that with effect from 20 March, 2020, all restrictions (including customs restrictions) on the supply of essential goods will be lifted for one month.

Mr Mishustin said, “We are introducing a "green corridor" for importers and large retail chains. A zero customs duty rate is set for the import of a number of goods, including medicines and medical devices”.

Source: Russian Government (http://government.ru/en/news/39172/and http://government.ru/news/39221/)

                                                                                                            

18.03.2020

The Russian federation is temporarily restricting the entry of foreign citizens and stateless persons, from 18 March 00:00 to 1 May 00:00 (Governmental Decree No. 635-р of 16 March 2020).

The entry restrictions will not apply to the following:

- vehicle drivers on international roads;

crew members of aircrafts, ships/boats and international railway trains;

- members of official delegations;

- persons with diplomatic, service or ordinary private visas that were issued in connection with the death of a close relative;

- persons either permanently living in the Russian Federation or travelling through air border crossing points.

The current decree establishes a unified approach towards the border crossing of Russia and substitutes other legal acts adopted earlier in this regard.

Source: Russian Government (http://government.ru/en/news/39172/)