A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

Сhapter 4: Russia
Russia
zokhrankultura. To do that, you should follow the steps described in the answer to the
question, “What needs to be done…” earlier in this section.
A cultural good can only be taken out of Russia if it is indicated in writing in the traveller’s
customs declaration and an export certificate issued by Rossvyazokhrankultura is
produced.
If you have bought a souvenir or a culture-related item, you are neither required to request
an authorisation from Rossvyazokhrankultura to export it, nor to declare it in writing at the
customs. Nevertheless, if customs are undecided about clearing it immediately, they may
ask you to show them a reference document or spravka from Rossvyazokhrankultura that
your object is of no cultural value.
Remember also to get a registration certificate or pasport with an official stamp, or at least
a spravka stating that the stringed bow instrument (a violin, viola, cello or double bass) you
have bought is neither unique nor rare.
Is there a fee or charge to be paid for exporting cultural goods from Russia?
Yes, it is set out in the Cultural Objects Export and Import Law, and the Tax Code imposes
the following limits on the export charge:
Charge for exporting:
• Cultural goods created over 50 years ago
• Cultural goods created under 50 years ago
• Items for a palaeontology collection
• Items for a mineralogy collection
10 percent of their value
5 percent of their value
10 percent of their value
5 percent of their value
The stamp duty charged on cultural goods taken out for a limited period of time is 0.01 %
of their sum insured.
The stamp duty is charged on cultural goods exported (permanently or for a limited time)
on the basis of their market value stated by the applicant in his/her request. If Rossvyazokhrankultura
puts a different value on the objects, the higher of the two values is used
for calculating the stamp duty chargeable on them.
The stamp duty is charged on cultural goods taken out of Russia on the basis of the aggregate
value of all the objects taken out by a single person at a time.
Exemptions from stamp duty are given to:
• Individuals who have created their cultural goods; and
• Employees of diplomatic missions or consulates and members of their families who
live with them and are not citizens of the host country.
No stamp duty is charged on cultural goods recovered from their illegal owners and returned
to their legitimate owner.
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