Poland is popular among tourists from the CIS, but many come to the country not only to see its beauty and sights, but also to buy profitably. Legal transportation of goods across the Polish border has restrictions, which both business representatives and guests of the country need to know about. This is the very case when ignorance does not exempt from a fine, or even from deportation.
Polish customs regulations
Polish rules for the carriage of goods for the CIS countries are stricter than for the EU countries. Personal belongings of tourists receive the status of "temporarily imported" and are not subject to customs duties if their total value:
- not more than € 150 - for children under 15;
- not more than € 300 - for everyone who is older;
- not more than € 430 - if you are flying by plane or by water.
According to EU rules, you cannot carry:
- Meat, sausage, bacon - more than what you need on the road.
- Milk, cheese, cottage cheese - also just for one meal.
- Canned food and fish caviar. Only baby food or medical canned food weighing up to 2 kg is allowed.
Other “problem” items include weapons, drugs, certain medications, wild animals, potted plants, and cultural objects. They require permission.
You can bring up to 5 kg of vegetables or fruits across the border, as well as fish in the amount of 20 kg if it is gutted. You can transport your phone, tablet, camera and laptop - printed out. If the purchased goods are exported from the EU, then many stores return the money for VAT within 10 months - for this, you need to come to the same store with a check stamped by customs officers. The service is called TAX FREE.
Also, serious restrictions are imposed on the number of cigarettes and alcohol, and for those traveling by land they are stricter.
How to import goods from Poland to Ukraine
Ukraine has few restrictions on the import of products and goods from the EU countries. Drugs, explosive or poisonous substances, propaganda of war, violence, racism (books, brochures, etc.) and products without a certificate are prohibited.
It is allowed not to pay a duty on the import of goods in the amount of up to € 500, at airports - up to € 1000. But from January 1, 2021, restrictions began to apply:
- you need to be absent from Ukraine within a day (24 hours);
- in three days (72 hours) you can only enter Ukraine once from Poland.
If one of these conditions is not met, then without taxation you can transport goods no heavier than 50 kg and for an amount of up to 50 euros. However, these rules can not be followed, but simply pay value added tax (VAT). It is also worth keeping receipts from the store in order to clarify the cost of the transported goods for the Customs Service of Ukraine.
Personal belongings may include 2 laptops, 2 phones, 3 flash drives, a camera - but unpacked.
Products are additionally taken into account: "green corridor" at checkpoints is given food for personal use, but in an amount not exceeding € 200. The norm is 1 package with a total weight of up to 2 kg, and indivisible products, such as smoked chicken, sausages, cans rolled up with lids - only in the amount of 1 piece. In other cases, products are also subject to declaration.
Rules for the import of goods from Poland to Russia
When entering Russia, taxes are not imposed on:
- personal items (clothing, electronics, accessories, gifts, even household appliances);
- if the total weight of the luggage is not more than 50 kg, and the cost is up to € 1500. For air travel, the cost rises to € 10,000.
After exceeding the limits, you will have to pay 30% of the value of the goods as VAT. If 3 or more units of goods are imported, the Russian Customs Service will consider that they are for sale, and the tax will need to be paid.
Preferential categories of passengers: refugees, forced and voluntary migrants, citizens of the Russian Federation who have not been in their homeland for a long time - from six months.
Only adults can transport cigarettes and alcohol to the territory of Russia, and even then a little, for personal use - up to 3 liters of alcohol and 200 cigarettes.
In addition to drugs, explosives, military weapons, which are banned in many countries, you cannot import into the country:
- potato;
- seeds and seedlings;
- meat products without packaging or with broken packaging, especially lard and pork;
- products from countries with epidemics;
- pornographic or incitement to ethnic conflicts materials.
There may be claims or questions about melee weapons, jewelry, packed electronics or equipment - it is better to declare them. You can choose the “green corridor” only if your luggage meets the standards.
Norms of import of goods from Poland to Belarus
Since 2021, the rules on the import of goods across the Belarusian border have changed. Now, as in Russia, personal belongings can be transported no more than 50 kg worth up to € 1,500 - but only if you travel once a quarter. If during this time trips are still carried out, then the norms are reduced to 30 kg and € 300. As elsewhere, if you bring in the same thing that you took out (an expensive laptop or hairdryer), you do not need to pay the duty.
Indivisible bulky goods (stove, washing machine) should weigh no more than 35 kg. Excess weight will incur a duty.
Alcoholic beverages can be transported no more than 3 liters when crossing the border no more than once every 7 days. Automotive goods - only if you have documents for the car.
The rules for the import of goods from Poland to Belarus include the following points:
- you cannot bring any pork products - due to last year's outbreak of the swine flu epidemic in Poland;
- animal feed is also prohibited, except for plant foods;
- products, especially meat, must be in packaging with a mandatory indication of the composition;
- seedlings and seeds must pass phytosanitary control;
- household and kitchen appliances can be imported once every 3 years for 1 unit of goods.
The rules differ little from customs rules in other countries, but you should know them in order not to pay a fine and not spend money on something that is subject to confiscation.
Delivery of goods from Poland to the CIS countries
If the cargo is too large for personal transportation or is intended for commercial purposes, shipping companies offer their services. Prices for the services of freight carriers are calculated in different ways: some firms indicate a fixed rate per 1 kg or per 1 m3, and some consider transport costs + a group of goods.
Transportation by sea, by rail - for large consignments, or by plane is also practiced. Keep track of cargo insurance and the availability of all documents.
On average, delivery to the CIS countries costs 300-600 euros - the numbers depend on customs costs, distance, amount of cargo and its characteristics. On the websites of logistics companies, you can usually calculate the cost of freight online.
From Warsaw to Moscow or Brest, the parcel is delivered within 2 weeks, if you have not used the plane, which is much faster. To remote CIS countries, road transportation takes up to 20 days - taking into account the crossing of several borders.
Delivery of private cargo from Poland to the CIS countries is carried out by many carriers:
- VITALSPECSERVICE;
- Simplextrans;
- ALAVES;
- Expeditor Co;
- Vitta Trans;
- GoodLogistics;
- DELLA,
- EuroEx.
There are also special sites where you can find carriers according to the parameters you need: Lardi-Trans information server, YouDo site and others. It is easy to transport groupage cargo with the help of sites.
Penalties for violation of import rules
Exceeding the norms in weight or amount is punishable by a fine, and unauthorized items are confiscated. Moreover, if you can get off with a fine for a piece of meat ordered by relatives, then narcotic or explosive substances entail criminal liability and / or deportation with a ban on visiting the country; if the ban is received from Poland, it can apply to the entire European Union.
Illegal transportation has serious consequences, so do not forget about the customs rules of the countries you visit.Additional information will be provided by the website of the customs service of any of them.
Conclusion
Transportation of goods from Poland to the CIS countries is a relatively inexpensive way of both shopping and trade. At the same time, Poland, as a country of the European Union, has certain rules to violate which are very unprofitable.
The CIS countries, especially Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, are also striving to restrict illegal commercial activities and protect their citizens from various kinds of epidemics - most of the customs restrictions are caused by these factors.
