Basic Customs Regulations

Customs control involves your oral or written declaration of goods and items that you are carrying in hand baggage or accompanied baggage. For the convenience of passengers, the international airports have introduced two lanes: Green Channel and Red Channel. You should choose the channel yourself, depending on what you are carrying with you.

GREEN CHANNEL

Personal belongings:

• ▸ two mobile phones, a video camera, a picture-taking camera, two portable personal computers;
• ▸ sports equipment;
• ▸ personal pieces of jewelry that have been in use;
• ▸ clothing, footwear intended solely for personal use;
• ▸ a 500 ml eau de toilette and/or a 100 ml perfume;
• ▸ other items for personal use;
• ▸ goods (intended for disposition, including donation) with a total value not exceeding EUR 1,000.

Ukrainian currency or foreign currency in cash in the amount not exceeding EUR 10,000 (the equivalent) per a person.

Alcoholic beverages:

• ▸ distilled beverages (vodka, brandy, whiskey, etc.) in the amount not exceeding 1 liter, wine – 2 liters, beer – 5 liters;
• ▸ tobacco products – 200 cigarettes, or 50 cigars, or 250 g of tobacco (or 250 g of these products).

Food products for personal consumption for an amount not exceeding EUR 200:

• ▸ products in the original package (intended for retail) – 1 package or with total weight not exceeding 2 kg for each item;
• ▸ without package – up to 2 kg of each item;
• ▸ non-divisible product ready for immediate consumption – 1 pc. of each item;
• ▸ medicines in quantity not exceeding 5 packages of each item per a person (except for those containing narcotics or psychotropic substances) or in quantity not exceeding that specified in the refill prescription (you should have it on hand), issued in your name and certified by the seal of the doctor and/or healthcare facility.

Citizens undergoing customs control through Green Channel should not complete the customs declaration form. The rules of transfer of goods, cash, tobacco, food products and alcohol through Green Channel apply once in 24 hours.

Please, remember that by choosing the Green Corridor, you confirm that you have no items that should be declared in written form and that are subject to tax, prohibited or restricted for import to Ukraine.

RED CHANNEL

If you import:

Goods and items that require approval documents:

• ▸ ammunition and explosives;
• ▸ antiques and art;
• ▸ any weapon;
• ▸ radioactive materials;
• ▸ toxic and potent substances, drugs;
• ▸ flora and fauna objects;
• ▸ other goods and items provided for by the legislation of Ukraine.

Goods with a total value not exceeding EUR 1,000 that are imported more than once within 24 hours and goods with total value exceeding EUR 1,000.

Ukrainian currency or foreign currency in cash in the amount exceeding EUR 10,000 (the equivalent) per a person.

Precious metals, precious stones and products made of them.

Pets, if the original international veterinary certificates issued by the countries of origin of these animals are available.

If you are going through the Red Channel, you should complete the customs declaration form, and if you have goods that exceed the established norms, you should pay taxes.

However, if you import goods:

• with a total customs value not exceeding EUR 1,000 that are imported more than once within 24 hours and with total customs value ranging between EUR 1,000 and EUR 10,000, these products are subject to import duty in the amount of 10% customs value and value added tax;
• with a total customs value exceeding EUR 10,000, these products are subject to import duty at the full rates under the Customs Tariff of Ukraine and value added tax.
• Taxes are assessed based on the good price. To assess the taxes, you should give the customs officer receipts, labels and other available documents. If you don’t have such documents, the customs officers will determine the customs value of the goods based on the prices for identical or similar goods.
• Please, remember that you should give accurate information about goods that you have with you, their quantity and name in the customs declaration form.

During the customs control in the international airports

A passenger has the right to:

• ▸ receive clarifications as to the rules of transportation of goods across the customs border of Ukraine;
• ▸ choose an oral or written form of declaration, as well as relevant lane for passing customs control;
• ▸ be present during the inspection of goods and items that belong to him/her;
• ▸ recognition of personal dignity, fair and respectful attitude from the customs officers.

A passenger should:

• ▸ upon request of the customs officer, present the goods for control and registration and provide all necessary information and documents;
• ▸ declare the goods, including cases when a customs officer requires the passenger to complete the customs declaration form;
• ▸ pay taxes and fees in cases provided for by the law.

During the customs control, a customs officer has the right to:

• ▸ receive documents from the passenger confirming the right of the latter to transport goods, objects, currency assets across the customs border of Ukraine;
• ▸ examine the objects transported by the passengers;
• ▸ in exceptional cases, conduct individual passenger inspection;
• ▸ require passengers to complete the customs declaration form;
• ▸ deny passing or customs clearance of the goods transported by the passengers;
• ▸ determine the customs value of goods in the absence of documents confirming the goods’ value.

During the customs control, a customs officer should:

• ▸ act politely, professionally and reservedly, never violate official discipline, always treat the passengers in a respectful and tactful manner;
• ▸ within competence, give the passenger clarification on the procedure for the goods movement across the customs border of Ukraine;
• ▸ monitor the proper tax assessment and completion of the declaration forms;
• ▸ issue the passenger a written notice of the reasons for denial of passing or customs clearance of the goods belonging to the passenger.

The following actions are considered as a violation of customs regulations and are penalized under the legislation of Ukraine with fines and/or confiscation:

• ▸ you have chosen the Green Channel and you have goods, the movement of which is prohibited or restricted, or goods in quantities exceeding the non-taxable norm of movement;
• ▸ crossing the customs border, you haven’t provided the accurate information about the goods you have with you, their quantity and name in the customs declaration form;
• ▸ you have hidden the goods among your personal belongings, in your luggage or in a specially prepared hiding place, or you have provided a customs officer with false, forged or illegally obtained documents;
• ▸ you are transporting or attempting to transport goods without customs control by illegal conspiracy with a customs officer.

You are not allowed to import into Ukraine:

• 1. Goods and personal belongings that require approval documents (licenses, certificates, statements, confirmations, etc.), if you don’t have such documents with you;
• 2. For free circulation in any volume whatsoever, live animals, products of animal and plant origin, ready-made food products, alcoholic and alcohol-free drinks, vinegar, tobacco and its substitutes, fats, oils, etc.

You may contact the rapid response unit – the Monitoring Center of the State Customs Service – in the following cases:

▸ If you have problems or delays during customs control,

▸ A customs officer was disrespectful towards you,

▸ You have suggestions or comments on the arrangement of the work of customs authorities,

▸ You need advice on customs issues.

Monitoring Center of the State Customs Service of Ukraine

tel.: +38 (044) 247 27 19
fax: +38 (044) 247 26 52

email: [email protected]

State Customs Service of Ukraine

11 Degtyarivska Str., Kyiv, 04119

Tel.: +38 (044) 247 27 06
Fax: +38 (044) 247 28 51, 489 02 12

Email: [email protected]

For more information on customs and border control, please, follow these links:

▸ State Fiscal Service of Ukraine – http://sfs.gov.ua

▸ State Border Guard Service of Ukraine - https://dpsu.gov.ua

▸ Border crossing - https://dpsu.gov.ua/ua/activity/peretyn-kordonu/

▸ Legislation of Ukraine on State Duty - http://zakon5.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/7-93

▸ Customs clearance for foreign trade entities – http://sfs.gov.ua/baneryi/mitne-oformlennya/subektam-zed

▸ Customs clearance for persons entering Ukraine – sfs.gov.ua/baneryi/mitne-oformlennya/vijdjayuchim-v-ukrainu

▸ Customs clearance for persons leaving Ukraine – sfs.gov.ua/baneryi/mitne-oformlennya/viijdjayuchi-z-ukraini