Diplomatic relations between the republics of Belarus and Poland allow the citizens of these countries to freely travel to the neighboring state. The purpose of the visit can be either business or tourism, or shopping. Low food prices make Poland an attractive destination for commercial and personal shopping. There are certain rules for the import of goods to Belarus from Poland, which must be adhered to while crossing the border.
Goods that cannot be imported into Belarus
An individual without special permission has restrictions on the import of certain groups of goods. The list of prohibited items includes radioactive, narcotic and explosive substances, firearms and other military equipment, medical equipment, solarium chambers, diamonds, food for animals and fish.
Customs pays great attention to the labeling affixed to the product.
This is especially true for food products - unidentified and poorly packaged goods may not be allowed to enter Belarus. Also, pork meat and rooted plants cannot be imported into the country.
Duty-free norms: permissible weight of goods, their marginal value
The norms for the carriage of goods are established depending on the type of goods that are imported. These include restrictions on the number of trade items, as well as their total allowable cost. The list of imported goods consists of the most common personal items.
Personal belongings
The cost of personal luggage that can be carried across the border is visually assessed by the border control officer. It is allowed to carry no more than 50 kg of luggage per person with a total value of up to 1.5 thousand euros by road or 10 thousand euros by air.
If the allowance is exceeded, the baggage is subject to a penalty of 30% of the excess weight. In this case, the penalty should not be less than the amount, which is calculated as follows: each kilogram of overweight is estimated at 4 euros.
Jewelry and money
Foreign currency is allowed to be imported in unlimited quantities. The only condition is that you will have to enter in the declaration any amount exceeding the threshold of 10 thousand dollars.
The restrictions apply to cash and money in the form of travel checks. If the funds are in a bank account linked to a Visa or MasterCard, you will not need to declare.
Jewelry is allowed to be taken in the amount of five pieces, it is necessary to transport them by yourself.
The cost of jewelry is estimated by customs. If a border guard officer suspects that the products are being exported for sale and not for personal use, detailed inspections and assessment of the products begin. The cost of jewelry is included in the total luggage allowance.
Food
Starting in July 2021, the import procedure limits the amount of vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, nuts and berries to 5 kilograms per person. Those who cross the border more than once a quarter can carry up to 10 kg of any food, including cheese and fish. Travelers traveling across the border on a weekly basis are allowed to carry up to 5 kg of food, including coffee.
Alcohol and tobacco products
The maximum allowance for imported alcohol is at around 5 liters, while only 3 liters of them are exempt from duty.
From tobacco products, it is permissible to take 200 cigarettes, 250 g of leaf tobacco or 50 cigars, regardless of the type.
Medicines and bioactive additives
Medicines, which include strong psychotropic substances, as well as sleeping pills and analgesics, must be imported together with a medical prescription, which contains the contact number and address of the clinic, and a medical book with indications for their use.
Narcotic drugs can be carried in an amount of no more than three daily doses, and strong drugs can be carried with a 90-day margin.
Plants and Animals
Cut plants are allowed to be transported in bunches of 15 units in an amount of no more than three bunches. Rooted flowerpots and crops are subject to strict phyto-control as well as plant seeds. They must be transported with phytosanitary certificates and purchase receipts.
The official website of the Belarusian customs provides detailed information on import issues.
Fuel
The permit is given to enter by car with a full tank and to carry an additional 10 liters in a can. The rest of the fuel is required to be confiscated and disposed of by border control workers.
Indivisible goods: norms for the import of large-sized goods
Goods weighing more than 35 kg and with an estimated service life of more than one year are considered indivisible. This category includes baby carriages, large household appliances, furniture, electrical appliances, plumbing.
The first product in its category (eg electronics) imported within a three-year period is not subject to declaration. The import of a second similar product is subject to a duty at the rate of 30% of the value of the cargo, but not less than 4 euros for each kilogram of the weight of the product.
Goods subject to declaration
It is necessary to declare in writing goods that exceed the permissible norms of weight and value, precious stones and metals, ozone-depleting substances.
The list of goods subject to declaration includes objects of cultural value, indivisible cargo, vehicles.
Electronic encryption and communication systems, personal items of people entering the country with refugee status are also subject to declaration.
The size of the state duty for exceeding the norms of duty-free import
To calculate the penalty for exceeding the weight of the divisible goods, it is necessary to subtract 50 kg (norm) from the total weight of the baggage and multiply the result by 4 euros. An individual declaration is formed for indivisible units, the amount of which is calculated as follows: 20% of value added tax is added to the 15% duty on a single declaration.
The cost of the declaration form is 5 euros.
As for alcohol, then for 2 liters of excess of the norm (in the range from 3 to 5 total liters) you will have to pay 10 euros for each liter.
The cost of declaring jewelry is calculated as follows: 10 euros are paid for each silver piece of jewelry in excess of the permissible five units, 50 - for an item made of platinum or gold, 200 euros for an jewelry inlaid with precious stones.
How to choose a corridor at customs
The green corridor is a passage for those who do not have goods in their luggage that need to be declared.
The red corridor is intended for those who import goods subject to registration into the country.
The screening of travelers walking along the green corridor is carried out selectively at the choice of the customs officer. If, during the inspection, things that are subject to declaration are found, then in addition to the customs duty, the offender is obliged to pay a fine in the amount of 5-30 basic units.
Finally
The import of goods from Poland to the Republic of Belarus is regulated by the customs policy of these states. There are rules that determine the quantity and nature of goods admitted to import duty-free, and goods subject to registration. Adhere to the established rules for the entry of goods and personal belongings in order to cross the border without administrative difficulties.
