Sanctions: which Russian goods cannot be brought in
The list is in Annex XXI to Article 3i of EU Regulation No 833/2014. The ban covers goods of Russian origin and goods brought in from Russia. What matters most for a traveller:
Will not be let in from Russia
- spirits — vodka, cognac, gin, liqueurs — in any quantity;
- cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos;
- caviar and caviar substitutes, crayfish;
- cosmetics and toiletries, household chemicals, washing and cleaning products;
- household appliances, phones, smartwatches, cameras and optics, discs and other media, LED lamps;
- gold and gold articles;
- timber and furniture, fertilisers, cement, iron and steel articles, glass containers — bottles and jars, new tyres;
- motor fuel of Russian origin or brought in from Russia — since 5 February 2023;
- any goods from Crimea, Sevastopol and the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Personal belongings on a trip are not covered by the ban — customs decides this case by case. But if things are carried "as personal" in order to bring a sanctioned item out of Russia, the exemption does not apply. Breaching sanctions carries a fine or up to five years in prison.
Unsure about a particular item — ask EMTA before the trip: tolliinfo@emta.ee.
Duty-free limit: €300 per person
When entering from Russia by land or on foot, you can bring non-commercial goods worth up to €300 per person without duty. Air and sea passengers have a higher limit — €430 — but it does not apply at this border.
Alcohol, tobacco and fuel are not counted in this limit — they have their own allowances below. Anything above the limit is declared in the red channel and duty is paid.
Alcohol: allowances when entering from Russia
Spirits from Russia — not allowed at all
Vodka, cognac, whisky, gin and liqueurs cannot be brought in from Russia in any quantity — not even one bottle. Liqueurs are banned even if they are below 22%.
Beer and wine are let through within the allowances. They apply from age 18 and only on the first entry in a calendar month:
| Drink | Excise-free, per person |
|---|---|
| Beer | up to 16 l |
| Wine, except sparkling and fortified | up to 4 l |
| Drinks up to 22%, including sparkling and fortified wine | up to 2 l |
On the second and later entries in the same month, the excise exemption is granted only if you prove the import is occasional.
Tobacco and nicotine
Cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos from Russia — not allowed
They may only be brought in if they were not made in Russia and are not being brought from Russia. At the Russian border that means: not a single pack.
For other tobacco, EMTA's allowances for entry by land apply: from age 18, on the first entry in a calendar month, one of the following:
- 50 g of smoking tobacco, including up to 20 g of heated tobacco;
- 120 g of tobacco substitutes, including nicotine pouches;
- 20 ml of e-cigarette liquid;
- 20 g of other alternative tobacco products.
On the second and later entries in the same month, the allowance is granted only if you prove the import is occasional.
Food: what gets through and what is taken away
Banned in any quantity
- meat and dairy products;
- anything containing meat or milk: sausage, tinned meat, pelmeni, ice cream, condensed milk, cheese;
- caviar and crayfish — under sanctions.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, berries, cut flowers, seeds, seedlings and house plants from outside the EU can only be brought in with a phytosanitary certificate. Without one you can bring bananas, coconuts, pineapples, dates and durian.
- Fish and fish products — up to 20 kg per person, fresh fish gutted. Caviar does not fall under this limit: it is banned.
- Baby food and special medical food — up to 2 kg per person, in sealed factory packaging.
- Food without meat or milk — for yourself, in a reasonable quantity.
Medicines
Russian medicines for personal use may be brought in. Carry them in the original packaging showing the name and the active substance.
- Over the counter: up to 10 different medicines, no more than 5 retail packs of each; tablets and capsules — up to 200 per pack. Other forms have their own limits on the Ravimiamet website.
- Prescription: the quantity the doctor prescribed — with an electronic or paper prescription or a doctor's certificate.
- Narcotic and psychotropic: within the Schengen area — no more than a 30-day supply and a Schengen certificate or a permit from Ravimiamet.
- Anything above these limits — only with a permit from the State Agency of Medicines (Ravimiamet), obtained in advance.
Cash
- When entering the EU, cash from €10,000 in any currency must be declared.
- Foreign cash worth more than the equivalent of $10,000 at the Central Bank of Russia rate on the day of departure cannot be taken out of Russia — this ban has applied since 2 March 2022. Roubles may be taken to non-EAEU countries, but an amount above the equivalent of $10,000 must be declared.
Red or green channel
- Green — if you have nothing to declare and have not exceeded the allowances.
- Red — if your goods are worth more than €300, exceed the allowances, need a permit, or you are not sure you have nothing to declare.
- No channels — show the goods and documents to the customs or border officer yourself, without waiting to be asked.
Do not hide things or "forget" them
Declared goods above the allowance cost you duty. The same goods found during a check cost you confiscation and a fine, and with sanctioned goods — a sanctions-breach case.
FAQ
Can I bring vodka or cognac from Russia?
No. Spirits — vodka, cognac, gin, liqueurs — cannot be brought in from Russia in any quantity, not even one bottle. Beer and wine are allowed within the allowances.
How much beer and wine can I bring into Estonia from Russia?
On the first entry in a calendar month, from age 18: up to 16 litres of beer, up to 4 litres of wine and up to 2 litres of drinks up to 22%. On later entries in the same month, the allowance is granted only if the import is occasional.
Can I bring Russian cigarettes into Estonia?
No. Cigarettes, cigars and cigarillos from Russia cannot be brought in at all. For smoking tobacco, nicotine pouches and liquids, the usual EU allowances apply.
Can I bring sausage, cheese or caviar from Russia?
No. Meat, dairy and anything containing them cannot be brought into the EU, and caviar and crayfish from Russia are banned by sanctions.
Can I bring Russian medicines into Estonia?
Yes, for yourself: in the original packaging, over the counter up to 10 different medicines, 5 packs of each. Prescription ones — with a prescription or a doctor's certificate; narcotic and psychotropic ones — with a Schengen certificate.
Sources
- EMTA: from a third country to Estonia — allowances and sanctions (Russian version)
- EMTA: declaring cash
- Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014, Annex XXI
- Ravimiamet — Estonian State Agency of Medicines
This is a guide, not legal advice. Sanctions lists and allowances change — check the EMTA website before every trip, and ask customs in writing about any item you are unsure of.