I flew to Odessa last year and the customs lady barely looked at me. I'm flying into Kiev on the 23rd of Oct via British Air. Last time I took only a small point and shoot digital camera and no laptop. This time I want to take my Canon 30D, lens, flash, laptop and small HD cam (all carry-on items but worth about 4000 USD).
Has anyone had an incident with customs taking anything of value at the Borispol Airport?
If so, can you provide a specific example?
Further details... I'm flying alone. I'm not on a tour, not am I joining one when I get there. I speak a bit of Russian. I'm going there as a tourist.
i was fine in borispol a few months ago. i had 2 laptops, dslr camera and camcorder in my carry on. the only thing i was asked about was the carrier bag i was carrying that had some perfume in i had bought en route! i told the guy it was worth about 10usd and let me go! /pete
I've never even had my bags CHECKED at Borispol. Never been opened never even went through x-ray when I went in (they are run through x-ray on entrance to Chininau Moldova).
In Moldova I always found that it was best to be toward the end of the group (though not last) when coming into the country. Seems that the first people are always checked, their bags area searched through and there are a lot of questions. After around the time that the middle group of people enter all of the checking tables are already filled with other peoples luggage and they generally let you pass, with maybe a question or two (usually "How much money do you have?"). Its been my experience that the bags are always run through the xray machine but occasionally nobody is even monitoring the screen.
None of this works in Borispol though as you have to fill in a customs sheet that is not always given to you on the plane - then it takes forever to go through PassPort Control - by the time you are done some people likely have their luggage - some don't and you may ait a god-awful time for that. Its harder in Borispol to position yourself in any sort of a line to reduce scrutiny.
In Moldova there are signs telling you to report any problems you may have with staff there so I doubt anyone would have a problem thesedays. I've never had a problem myself. Moldova wants to be part of the EU so the government is making sure customs staff act properly. Yes you can get asked how much money you have but unless you have over 10K Euro its not a problem.
Never will forget I think my second time to Moldova. It was late and quiet and I think I was among the last (maybe the last person) to go through. There were men in uniform searching some people's bags. When mine went through it was pt up on the table where two or three women, not in uniform, began to go through EVERYTHING. Since I was going to see a lady I had a few gifts for her - nothing valuable but nontheless pretty. A woman found a pair of earings and held them up, obviously admired them - she actually carressed them and smiled at me as if she expected I might give them to her. A uniformed guy joined her and I insisted that they were not valuable but I was not giving them away. They then put them back in my bag and I was on my way. I DON'T think that the women were officials of any type. Not the way they acted. I am fairly certain that they were just the girfriends of the men in uniform.
Yes Jetmba..I know back in 2004 also a girl i knew came back with presents for her family. They assumed she was 'working' overseas and went through all her bags looking for cash. Never found any but took some purfume and sweets for themselves. When she complained they just said keep quite and you won't have a problem.
Never had my bags checked when I showed the Irish passport get waved through. I assume this is because of Ukraines interest in joining the Eu and keeping on good relations with Eu members. ALthough one night after a late flight myself and some friends got a minibus from Budapest to Ukraine and were delayed about 2 hrs by drunk border guards ( we could actually see them drinking vodka in the hut)
one of the head guards staggered out of the hut and said why did we come to Ukraine to eat the butter?
They just glanced inside the trunk and asked how much cash we had and that was it.
I had one occassion of my bags being searched in Kiev. It was mainly clothes they just asked if I had gifts. Rest of the time Ive walked thru. I always have my laptop, camera and video and usually some cosmetics or perfume as presents.
Yeah - as far as customs is concerend you NEVER admit to having a gift. Everything is yours and its meant to be kept by you.
I took my Moldovan lady a small gold heart shaped pendant with diamonds around it back when things were a little riskier to take through customs in that country - about 2005.
I asked for advice in this forum - how was I ever going to claim that the dainty little diamond heart was mine and not a gift I might be subject to tax on. Old buddy Thunderdome suggested I WEAR it. So I did. All 20 or so hours it took to fly there I was wearing this dainty delicate diamond heart shaped pendant. I figured that if it ever came to it I would say it belonged to my dear sweet departed mother and that I wear it to remember her by. (I'm willing to tell a ridiculous story to avoid a tax any day).
Of course the elborate story was never need as nobody ever noticed it.
Jetmba, quick question...
You say NEVER admint to having a gift. Does that include small things, like coffee and chocolate? Or just larger items?
Oh, and an open question to anyone. If I buy alcohol at the duty free shop, am I going to get hassled after I get into customs? I've never purchased anything in Duty Free. I'm not even sure how it works.
Coffee and chocolate are generally so insignificant in price that its unlikely you would ever have to pay a tax on them anyway (except one of those "made up on the spot" taxes that the FSU has been famous for). But I still wouldn't claim that they were gifts.
Regarding duty free items - generally they will give them to you in a sealed bag - just keep them in that sealed bag along with any receipt that you get and customs shouldn't hassle you. Its the only way, of course, that you won't get hassled (actually have it convifiscated) if you have a bottle of wine or some other alcoholic beverage in your carry-on - is to have it in a sealed duty free bag, with the proper paperwork,
You can bring in up to $200 in gifts without paying tax. I usually stop at lady standing near customs area and tell her I have this and this and this..probably under $100, she says okay, go on......
Ben....first time flying into Chisinau, landed at same time as a plane from istanbul. Several hundred people at at immigration and after picking up luggage, they closed the green line and all had to pass through x-ray machine and every luggage was checked, as lady started to go through my luggage, I told her I was on flight from frankfurt, so she just looked at top part and let me go.....all my gifts were in my backpack. Seems any flight from istanbul is scrutinized. This was in april.
If you want take things into foreign country just check with their embassy about rules but anything over 20kg that isnt paid for...well....if you want continue with it you have pay for extra....although I got away with it coming in going out your generally caught or pulled up but just pay extra...I think it was only 28 Grivnas for extra 5kg(laptop) I took
it shouldnt be hassle...Borispol is tough airport but if you do right it is friendly as anywhere else....is almost like a regional airport like Denver in US...just fill in all forms properly make sure youve got pen.....and youre fine!
wazza14
Sydney
easy 10k euro in pocket get yourself 2 euro cards 12k euro in each - thats how i went
I must admit lol 1 time i stuffed 3k usd in each shoe plus i had 15k usd scattered through pockets bags etc had it all hidden away like a drug dealer -yes and nobody even glanced at me
almost felt i was robbed of a bit of fun - you know ohh come on guys!!! try find my loot ! lol lol..idiots lol .
- nobody bothered me .
i doubt they'd be bothered really - or can they count ????
TOOK ME 3 HOURS TO UNPACK MY BAGS loot everywhere ! lol lol.
I had AUD / USD . EURO/ POUNDS /THAI BAHT / SINGAPORE DOLLARS / id just come from thailand to russia !!! had -everything except fuggin rubles lol , i could not find 500 rubles for cab driver - i gave him $20 usd ----and said keep it i cant be bothered ay !
Airports / customs / rules and bullshit / just tell get out the way iam tired ! i must say ive never had a worry ---never even been looked at -i honestly reackon you could stroll through airport 200k in briefcase. and i dont think you would be challenged .
but the absolute most ive taken into those countries in cash was $23,000 .