Russian customs
 

Bartman,

I still travel to Russia every month, and am writing this from Moscow now. I have never had any trouble entering russia whether its flying or by motorbike, with respect to customs.

My understanding is that unless you are bringing in specific items worth over USD 10,000, or cash worth over $10,000 then customs wont be interested. I bring in expensive laptops, and blackberrys everytime I come and go and there is not even the hint of needing any paperwork for them ... so the idea of needing paperwork for your tents and other assorted items is as far fetched as I could possible imagine.

I am with everyone else mate who says your agent is having a bit of a go.

Here is probably the best and mpost up-to-date resource on where carnets are required (note the difference between 'required' and 'accepted').

Carnet de Passage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

More info in the 'Trip Paperwork' forum

Dan

re the link to the list above

certainly the africa bit of that, from my experience, looks about right, the only off the wall bit being Gambia needing carnets for RHD only!

Best advice here is to bin your shipping agent. if you have difficulty understanding his muffled tone, ask him to stand up, 'cos that is clearly where he is talking from!!

for normal travel and personal equipment in and out of russia and former soviet states you need neither carnet. If your shipper doesn't understand this most fundamental part of your planning what else doesn't he know. I wouldn't have much confidence in a so called expert who knows so little.

Thanks moggy.

We've ditched the Russian agent. I'm going via Korea now and taking the ferry. It's a lot more expensive, but I think it's a safer/better option.

Time to some more homework, then!

Anyone had any problems flying into Korea with a one way ticket, and catching the ferry?

The cost of freighting the bikes by bonded truck from Busan to Sokcho is US$350. Does this sound about right?

Does the Dong Chun still go Sokcho to Zarubino, or are they going to Vladivostok direct? Having a bit of trouble reading the Korean! :funmeteryes:

Cheers guys.

ride!
 

You might even consider riding the bikes to Sokcho! :scooter:
Your bikes would appreciate it more than being cooped up in a truck.

Cheers Chris. Riding bikes in Korea opens up a whole host of other problems though - insurance, import duty, registration, customs officials, cops, etc. I know the bikes would love a good thrashing out there, but I'm not sure it's worth the hassle for a couple of hours on the bike. :funmeterno:

Cheers.

Zero progress. None, nada, zip.

This is a f* waste of time. Now the Koreans want an ATA carnet so that I can get into Russia! at least that's what I'm getting from their broken English.

I'm getting absolutely nowhere, except I've just added about $3000 to the cost of the trip by choosing to go to Korea. And they still want an ATA carnet.

No point loosing sleep over it though. I guess I better just shell out the $15,000 for the ATA carnet...

Direct quote from Korean customs agent:

"ATA carnet needed when they declear customs at Vladivostok with their
motor bikes which is not commercial cargo in Russia
But that is for travel through Korea & Russia."

Thanks.

I'M in the same boat
 

Bart,
Man I have given up on Korea as well.
To complex.
I am flying myself and the machine into Vladivostok from Seattle about June 3.
If we can meet up we can fight the Russian customs together.
Let's find an English speaker in Vlad to help us out.
No job too tough if the money's enough.
Bill

If you are going to get a carnet, why don't you get a CDP and go via Japan?
If you have a carnet (CDP, not ATA), Japan is almost a 100% sure bet.
Most people get through customs in Vlad in a couple days if going on the weekly Japan-Russia ferry. http://bisintour.com/
While carnet is needed in Japan, (unless the situation changed since last year)carnet is not needed in Vladivostok if taking this ferry.)
Japan info here: http://www2.gol.com/users/chrisl/japan/index2.html

I have found a very simple solution to all my carnet worries.

Don't get a carnet, pay the import duty deposit instead.

On a credit card!

Most credit cards (in NZ at least) offer 55 days interest free on credit cards. So provided you leave the country you're traveling in and pay the readies back to your credit card provider within the 55 days it won't cost a dime.

Super simple. Just involves shuffling numbers... Maybe I should become a stock broker? :eek3:

Cheers guys. The nice people up at Visa have made all my worries vaporise. Priceless and all that.

Cheers.

Just don't forget to ask to get the temporary import paper I showed on a previous post.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...3-2#post127368
Otherwise, you will have problems at the 5 or 6 police checkpoints you will encounter every day.
A pemanant import will mean you need a Russian registration and plates: A very difficult proposition.

I expect that in the end you will find that you don't need a carnet or to pay import duties. From personal experience (ferry Japan to Russia) and other friends' (including Korea to Russia), you will probably simply be issued a temporary import permit and be required to re-export the bike before it expires.
Brett Dean from Australia mentioned in the post below that he had the temporary import procedured done by the ferry company in just a couple hours.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...362#post119066