Russia carnet situation
 

Hi,

Quick question.

Flicking through the most recent ABR, it says a carnet is needed to take a bike into Russia. This would seem to be a new thing, or ABR is wrong. I flippin' hope it's the latter or my trip is a bit buggered as I leave next week.

Can anyone please confirm that my British registered bike won't need a carnet to enter russia?

It also says I need an 'International Registration Certificate' if I'm going outside English speaking areas, something I've never heard of until today.

Funny thing is, this isn't one of my usual "Oh b*ll*cks I havent checked what paperwork I need until a week before I leave" moments. I definitely looked into this.

Cheers,

Matt

What is the ABR?

I imagine that if the need for a carnet has suddenly appeared we would have heard about here very quickly. There a number of members in Russia right now.

So no I don't think a carnet is needed or even recognised (apart from the ATA one for goods - but that is a different beast again).

An International Registration Certificate is a translation of your current UK one into a number of languages, bit like an IDP. I didn't use one last year and I don't think they are strictly necessary, but Colebatch said they could handy a while back.

Hi Craig,

Thanks for that reassurance.

Sorry, I should've been clearer. 'ABR' is 'Adventure Bike Rider' magazine. I never take advice in magazines as gospel (otherwise I'd be crying on the phone to the RAC right now), preffering sources like this site, but when you see something in black and white it's hard not to get a little worried. ;)

As long as the International Registration Document isn't compulsory and not needed to get into the country then I'm sure I can manage without it. Sounds like it might be a useful wee doc though. Might consider getting one for future trips.

Cheers,

Matt :)

Hi Matt,

When we went to Russia in 2010 all you needed was your visa and an international drivers licence. Depending on what parts of Russia you are going to your green card insurance may still work as well!

We entered through one of the Finish borders. They checked our passports with our visas inside, international drivers licence and bike insurance. At the next booth you fill in 2 copies of the same form to temporarily import your bike... we had a 30 day visa but they decided that our bikes could stay for 4 months!

I think I have an english version of this form... when do you leave? If I find it later today I could pop one in the post for you so that you know what your filling in... instead of guessing which is what we did! We then got the english version when we went into Kaliningrad region and discovered quite a few mistakes on our first ones! ops! Or if you leave sooner PM me your email address and I'll take photo's of it... sorry... no scanner! (will get it scanned one day though... just need to find one!)

How long are you away for? What's your route?

Beej

Hi Beej,

That would be great, thanks! I'll pm you my address and email and you can send whichever way is easiest for you. I am off next Saturday.

If you do decide to post, I'll try to scan at work and post it up on the HUBB.

Heading through Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and back through Finland and Sweden. A circum-baltic if you like!

Cheers,

Matt

Russia doesnt need carnets. (nor do they process them)

Nowhere in the former USSR needs carnets.

Russia does accept green card insurance (if you can find a way to get it for a UK bike and if its marked as valid in Russia). Else you need to buy 3rd party insurance at the border.

IDPs and ICMVs not required, but can come in handy.

You need your drivers licence (plastic with photo the only bit they are interested in) and V5 (registration docs).

Hi Matt,

About to send you an email once photo's have uploaded... will also try to scan the form in tomorrow and send you that. Will post it on the HUBB once I've got it scanned!

Re insurance - we tried to buy insurance for Russia in Finland before crossing the border... but we were told that they no longer sold it and that our green card would cover us. At the Russian border the guards accepted our UK motorbike insurance without question and we never saw anywhere in Russia to buy insurance near the border... nor did we hunt extensively though!

The border guards also wanted to see our international driving licence which we got from the Post Office as well.

Beej

I tried to look for english versions from internet but it seems all forms which has english instructions how to fill it out are old type forms. Form was renewed 2011 if i am correct.

Here is new form, english version
http://eng.customs.ru/images/stories/site_content/files/english.pdf
and russian version
http://www.rus-tourist.ru/d_files/customs_declaration.pdf

Print out form you wish to use to A4-standart paper (two sided copy).
When you enter you must have two (2) identically filled out copies of custom declaration form. 1 copy stays with custom and they give you 1 copy with stamp and sticker on it.

When you leave Russia you need only one leaving custom declaration form and ofcourse that declaration form what was given to you with stamp and sticker on it.

If you are travelling alone with bike or car, print out just two first pages meaning 1 page, 2 sided copy. Next two pages are for passangers (I think, i havent never filled those out)

You also need to fill out immigration card (that is not possible to print out) but if you request they give you those in custom. Normally they slip new, blank one at least in Finnish border so you dont need to fill that out when you come next time (going again to Carelia for enduro riding 4 days next wednesday).

Beej: There is not insurance sellers in Finland-Russia border/entry points reason being that Finnish vehicles traffic insurance is valid in Russia as it is belongs to green card system. There is very small amount of non-finish or non-russian vehicles passing those border checkpoints so it wouldnt be profitable to sell insurances there.

However if you come to Russia lets say some other parts and/or more southern or eastern entry points (like example Semaypalatinsk) between Kaz-Russia there are insurance sellers who try to sell you insurance.

There has been discussion and also someone gave quite lenghty explanation that not all british/UK insurance companies accept that their insurance is valid in Russia (or something like that) I dont remember anymore as its not very interesting for me as i am not british :) I am sure your insurance company can give you better answer.

Ah, that is interesting, I ran into the owner of ABR in Utah last month. He seemed to be a little more up to date on things than that. IIRC I may have even said to him in the course of our discussion that this wasn't needed.

Thanks Tirpse... good to get the update.

Yes I remember being given blank copies of the immigration card when we entered (also from Finland), although at the time we didn't realise why!

Had a look at the new form, it is mainly the same thing with the odd word changed. The main differences are that you no longer have to tick yes or no to whether you are bringing in weapons, drugs. toxic substances etc etc...

The other difference is that instead of asking for your engine number they are asking for a customs value. Seams a bit odd!?!

I think import/export of guns/weapons, drugs, toxic substances is so rare they have left it out as a tickbox and you are filling that into section 4 as i belive those fall under categories 3.4 Goods, forbidden of limited and 3.5. So if you have guns/drungs, toxic or radioctive goods you tick 3.4 yes and then fill out information to section 4.

Not many people know engine number or where it is (i think in older form that wasnt normally filled) and your allready giving out chassis/manufacturing number. Custom value is needed to evaluete vehicle value.

if you can't get insurance at the border you must get it at the next town if you aren't already covered by your own countries insurance.

If you don't have it and you get pulled, or even worse get in accident you are seriously in the poo.

If you need help with translating the Russian forms let me know, my wife's a translator.

This fantastic stuff, thanks folks! :)

I'll print off these forms and fill them out. This site never ceases to amaze me - how knowledgable and helpful folk are!

Cheers,

Matt :)

ABR is the motorcyclists equivalent to the 'SUN' newspaper, or the old Thin Lizzy song.....'Don't believe a word' :cool4: