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Russia — Estonia border · Pechory

Kunichina Gora — Koidula checkpoint: what you need to know

Kunichina Gora is the Russian checkpoint near Pechory in the Pskov region, opposite Estonia's Koidula. People cross it by car and coach and on foot, and on the other side the road leads to Tartu and Tallinn. Below — when the crossing is open, what control awaits you, the customs post's contacts and what is useful to know for those meeting someone.

Hours and contacts checked on

7:00–19:00
the crossing is open in the daytime; it cannot be crossed at night
Koidula
the Estonian side of the crossing, with the road to Tartu and Tallinn
On foot and by car
pedestrians, cars, lorries and coaches
No pass
people meeting arrivals need no border-service permit

Where it is and when it is open

The checkpoint is in the Pskov region, next to the town of Pechory; Pskov is about 55 km away. On the Estonian side it corresponds to the Koidula checkpoint. It is a multilateral crossing: citizens of any country and vehicles of any registration may use it, and pedestrians are let through on a par with cars.

The crossing does not work around the clock

The Russian side formally works without a break, but Estonia's Koidula has been open only from 7:00 to 19:00 Estonian time since 24 February 2026, and since the end of August this schedule has been indefinite. You cannot cross here at night. In winter, from the last Sunday of October, that is 8:00–20:00 Moscow time.

Who crosses and what control there is

  • Pedestrians — the crossing can be made on foot, without a car.
  • Cars — including those with Estonian and other foreign plates.
  • Freight transport.
  • Passenger coaches — for example, the daily Baltic Shuttle service Tallinn — Pskov. Coach passengers go through control with priority.

Border and customs control of people, luggage and goods is carried out at the crossing. Since 1 September 2025, customs officers here also carry out veterinary, phytosanitary and sanitary-quarantine control — previously this was the job of Rosselkhoznadzor.

Customs post: contacts and visiting hours

Name
Kunichina Gora road checkpoint customs post
Post code
10209040
Parent customs office
Pskov Customs (North-Western Customs Administration)
Head of post
Roman Gennadyevich Sushinsky
Public visiting hours
Mon, Wed, Fri — 14:00–16:00
Address
181500, Pskov region, Pechorsky municipal district, Pechory, Kunichina Gora checkpoint territory, building 1

The post's official page is in the Pskov Customs section of sztu.customs.gov.ru. Call before a personal visit: visiting hours may change.

Practical points

Useful to know in advance

  • The queue is first come, first served. Electronic booking was tried on the Russian side but cancelled long ago. Before the trip, look at recent travellers' reports — the situation changes. If you leave Estonia in your own car, the time on the Estonian side is booked in GoSwift at eestipiir.ee.
  • Veterinary control. There is no permanent Rosselkhoznadzor post at the crossing; since September 2025, veterinary and phytosanitary control has been done by customs. Travelling with an animal — check the requirements and whether documents can be issued on the spot in advance.
  • People meeting arrivals need no pass. You can drive up to the checkpoint without a border-service permit — unlike Ivangorod, where the whole town is in the border zone.
  • Taxi rank. Next to the checkpoint there is a rank where you can wait for a passenger or find a car.

Transfers to and from the crossing

Our car does not cross the border: we drive you to the crossing, you go through control yourself, and a second car meets you on the other side. On the Estonian side — Koidula — Tallinn for €160 and Koidula — Narva for €200. On the Russian side — Kunichina Gora — Pskov for ₽3,000, to Petersburg for ₽17,000 and from Ivangorod, bypassing Narva, for ₽25,000. The price is for the whole car.

FAQ

Is Kunichina Gora open 24 hours?

No. The Russian side is formally open around the clock, but Estonia's Koidula is open from 7:00 to 19:00 Estonian time, so the border can only be crossed in the daytime. The schedule has been indefinite since the end of August 2026.

Can I cross Kunichina Gora on foot?

Yes. It is a multilateral checkpoint: pedestrians are let through on a par with cars and coaches.

Do people meeting arrivals at Kunichina Gora need a pass?

No. To drive up to the checkpoint and meet a passenger you need no border-service permit — unlike Ivangorod. There is a taxi rank next to the crossing.

Is there an electronic queue at Kunichina Gora?

Not on the Russian side: booking was tried once but cancelled, the queue is first come, first served. Leaving Estonia by car is booked in the GoSwift system at eestipiir.ee.

Can I take an animal through Kunichina Gora?

There is no Rosselkhoznadzor post at the crossing; since 1 September 2025, veterinary control here has been carried out by customs. It is best to check the requirements and whether documents can be issued with the customs post in advance by phone: +7 (81148) 216-24.

Sources

Crossing hours and control rules change. Before the trip, check the hours on the website of the Estonian Police and Border Guard, and ask the customs post by phone about bringing animals and food.

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