Latvia, customs regulations. Importing alcohol and cigarettes into Latvia: how much can you bring? What can’t be brought into Latvia?

Latvia, customs regulations

Customs regulations of Latvia similar to the rules of other EU (European Union) states. The import of goods from non-EU countries is more limited.

About the import of food products from outside the EU, please visit http://www.pvd.gov.lv

Since permanent customs control is not carried out at the internal borders of the EU, in contrast to the order that was in force before Latvia joined the European Union, from May 1, 2004, the permissible quantity of goods established by regulations can be imported into Latvia through any border crossing point established by the state.

From countries that are not members of the European Union:
Personal luggage of persons who enter Latvia from non-EU countries is exempt from import customs tax, provided that the import of such goods is non-profit.
Non-commercial intent is evidenced by the incidental nature of the importation of goods, as well as the fact that the goods are intended only for the traveler's personal use, family use, or gifts, and their type and quantity do not indicate commercial intent.

A private person over 17 years of age may import without paying customs tax:

Tobacco products:
200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (cigars that weigh no more than 3 grams each), or 50 cigars, or 250 grams of smoking tobacco.

Alcohol and alcoholic drinks:
1 liter of a drink in which the alcohol concentration by volume exceeds 22% or undenatured ethyl alcohol with an alcohol concentration by volume of 80% or more, or
2 liters of a drink in which the alcohol concentration by volume does not exceed 22% (wine or alcohol-based aperitifs, sake, taffia or similar drinks), or 2 liters of sparkling, still, and dessert wines.

You can bring into the territory of Latvia 50 grams of perfume and 0.25 liters of eau de toilette, medical supplies necessary for the personal needs of the traveler, which are intended for a course of treatment lasting up to three months, if this is proven by relevant documents, for example, a copy of the prescription.

Fuel that is contained in the standard fuel tank of a personal motor vehicle or motorcycle, as well as in a portable fuel canister, the capacity of which does not exceed 10 liters. Other goods whose cost does not exceed 175 euros.
Goods that exceed the established benefits for the transportation of goods or customs tax are allowed to be imported by paying customs duties.
Without border veterinary control, powdered milk, infant food containing meat and milk and special products that are necessary for medical reasons can be imported into Latvia from non-EU countries for personal use. The necessary condition is undamaged packaging and the presence of an officially registered trademark on it.

For personal use, a person can transport goods necessary for everyday life across the border, subject to exceptions that are determined by the current regulations of the Republic of Latvia.
Excise goods that an individual imports for his own consumption are exempt from tax if the individual purchased these goods in free circulation in another EU member state, and all taxes in the relevant participating country have been paid for the goods mentioned.

Tobacco products:
800 cigarettes
400 cigarillos (cigars that weigh no more than 3 grams each)
200 cigars
1 kilogram of smoking tobacco

Alcoholic drinks:
110 liters of beer
90 liters of wine (including no more than 60 liters of sparkling wines) or other fermented drinks
20 liters of intermediate products
10 liters of other alcoholic drinks

Coffee - 10 kilograms
Soft drinks - 110 liters
Fuel that is contained in the standard fuel tank of a vehicle and motorcycle entering the Republic of Latvia, as well as in a portable fuel canister, the capacity of which does not exceed 10 liters.

Baggage is detained if a violation of customs regulations has been committed or there are suspicions of such a violation. A person is required to fill out a customs declaration - Single Administrative Document (SAD) about:
1) goods, the transportation of which across the border exceeds the benefits established by legal acts for the transportation of goods and taxes;
2) goods that are intended for alienation for a fee, regardless of their quantity and value;
3) industrial raw materials and other goods imported by persons engaged in self-employment, regardless of the quantity and cost of these goods;
4) goods that are intended to be sent as separate baggage;
5) firearms, cold steel, explosives, narcotic and psychotropic substances, precursors, radioactive substances and other items, the movement of which is limited or prohibited, if these goods have received special permits established by the competent institutions (indicating in the declaration the permit number, bearer and expiration date)

How much alcohol and other goods can be imported into Russia from Latvia?

They will give you anything to take out of Europe, but not everything can be brought into Russia.

You can import 3 liters of alcohol into Russia from Latvia (or any other EU country) duty-free (alcohol without Russian excise stamps; there are no restrictions on Russian alcohol traveling back). You can import 5 liters of alcohol, but for 2 liters you will have to pay a duty (10 euros per liter for low-alcohol drinks, and 22 euros for strong drinks; it’s cheaper to buy alcohol in the Russian Federation). The person carrying alcohol must be over 18 years of age.

You cannot bring in more than 5 liters.

Even 6 liters of cheap beer cannot be imported, only 3 liters without duties and 2 liters with a duty of 20 euros. It’s better to pour out the extra liters or drink them right away :) 110 liters of European beer can only be transported within the EU, alas.

Items from overseas must be in unopened original packaging. In total, goods in the Russian Federation can be transported weighing up to 50 kg. And the maximum cost depends on which way you are transporting the goods - by car or by plane, the cost limit is 1.5-10 thousand euros. You can carry goods worth a large amount on an airplane, but airlines have their own limits on the weight of luggage.

Limits for the import of goods into Belarus

Limits for duty-free import of goods are determined depending on the method of transportation and frequency of import.

Postal items from abroad cannot weigh more than 10 kg and cost more than 22 euros at the rate of the National Bank of Belarus. This is a monthly limit per recipient (does not depend on citizenship);
For those who cross the border more often than once every three months, the norm for importing goods is 20 kg and 300 euros;
Those entering Belarus once every three months or less are allowed to import duty-free items up to 50 kg worth 1,500 euros;
For those traveling by plane, there are no limits on the frequency of travel. The total weight of duty-free items imported should not exceed 50 kg, the cost - 10,000 euros, but do not forget about the limits on the transportation of items on the plane set by airline companies.

The regulations for transporting tobacco and alcohol products to Latvia from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus will not please tourists. The rules for importing these products in 2018 are the same as for other EU countries. Let us consider in detail the details of crossing the border with Latvia.

general information

The 2018 customs rules for smoking tourists may not make them happy. Now, for passengers arriving by land transport to this Baltic state from third countries, baggage allowances have become stricter. You can bring no more than 40 cigarettes into Latvia by car or bus. Violation of customs rules may result in criminal penalties. Due to the large difference in prices between alcohol in the CIS countries and the European Union, there is smuggling and illegal delivery of goods.

Interesting! For example, in Ukraine a pack of cigarettes costs 1 dollar, in Latvia – 4 dollars. In the UK, for example, prices start from 10-12 dollars.

If import standards are exceeded, excise tax and VAT must be paid. When detaining and checking baggage, a person is required to fill out a customs declaration. It is called the SAD - Single Administrative Document, which affects goods whose transport across the borders of EU countries exceeds the established standards. Interestingly, passengers arriving by plane can take two cartons of cigarettes with them. Let's look at the current standards for transporting alcohol and tobacco products across the Latvian border.

Norms and benefits for transporting alcohol and tobacco to Latvia

Cigarettes can be transported to Latvia from border countries that are not members of the European Union only for non-commercial purposes. Individuals at least 18 years of age may transport the following quantities of tobacco products across the border:

Cigarettes – 200 pieces or 2 packs.
Cigarillos – 100 pieces.
Cigars – 50 pieces.
Smoking or snuff tobacco – 250 grams.

For passengers arriving by air, the standards have been increased. If customs officers notice a larger quantity, you will be forced to pay customs tax or the goods will be confiscated. If the transport of tobacco becomes regular, the person may be suspected of smuggling and banned from entering all EU countries. A completely different number of cigarettes is provided for when goods are imported into Latvia from other EU countries. After paying all taxes in the EU zone, the following quantity of tobacco products is allowed to be imported into Latvia:

cigarettes – 800 pieces;
smoking tobacco – 1 kilogram;
cigarillos (light cigars) – 400 pieces;
cigars – 200 pieces.

Since October 23, 2018, the permitted quantity for the transportation of other excisable goods has also decreased significantly. The rules for importing alcohol into Latvia in 2018 for persons over 17 years of age are as follows:

vodka, other drinks with a strength above 22% alcohol - 1 liter;
low-alcohol drinks with a volumetric alcohol concentration not exceeding 22% - 2 liters;
sparkling wines, dessert wines, liqueurs - no more than two liters.

If you want to bring in more alcoholic beverages, you will have to pay tax on the spot. Excise goods purchased in another EU country are exempt from taxes. In this case, you can transport a significantly larger amount of goods across the Latvian border:

beer – more than 100 liters;
wine – 90 liters;
strong alcoholic drinks – 10 liters.

If the above quantities of alcohol and tobacco are not enough for you when visiting the EU countries, you will have to buy them on the spot at European prices.

Fines for illegally transporting goods across the border

Just a couple of years ago, Latvia was one of the first places in the world for cigarette smuggling. In 2016–2017, every fourth cigarette was brought into the country illegally. Counterfeit cigarettes then enter the markets of Germany, Great Britain and other European countries from Russia and Belarus. Cigarettes are transported illegally by planes, trains, cars and even by drones (flying drones). Now the share of smuggling is decreasing, but the problem is still noticeable. The governments of Latvia and the European Union are fighting against smuggling. Fines for illegal transportation of excisable products are imposed on individuals in the amount of 50–250 lats, legal entities in the amount of 500–5000 lats.

The Latvian government is gradually reducing the size of fines, but is going to increase the term of criminal punishment. There are already precedents when people are imprisoned for illegally transporting cigarettes.

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the baggage rules before traveling to this Baltic country. You can read more about them at the link https://www.vid.gov.lv/ru/tamozhnya. Ignorance of the laws does not exempt you from punishment!

There are no restrictions on the import and export of currency; cash over 10,000 euros must be declared.

You can import into Latvia duty-free up to 200 cigarettes, up to 100 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, alcoholic beverages with a strength of over 22% at the rate of 1 liter per person, up to 2 liters of unfortified wine or beer, of course, if you are already 17 years old.

From EU countries to Latvia you can bring up to 200 cigarettes or 100 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco, up to one liter of strong alcoholic drinks over 22%, up to two liters of low-strength wine or up to two liters of beer without paying duty.

It is prohibited to import any type of food into the European Union, with the exception of baby food and dietary products that were prescribed by the attending physician, but not more than two kilograms per person and in packaging. The import of explosives, firearms and ammunition, bladed weapons, and drugs is prohibited. Please note that the export of amber from Latvia is limited, amber can only be exported in the form of finished products, while the number of products is not limited, export in the form of raw materials is completely prohibited, works of art older than 50 years require a special export permit.

It is forbidden to enter Latvia with gasoline in a canister; you can only carry gasoline in your own gas tank, and for some reason you can only drive this way once per knock.

Formalities and rules for entry into Latvia

Latvia has signed the Schengen legislation; citizens of Russia, Ukraine and the CIS countries must go through the procedure of obtaining a Schengen visa to travel.

It is not recommended to obtain visas to Latvia through unaccredited travel agencies; this is fraught with refusal and further problems with a damaged passport. If you apply again through a non-accredited company, the consulate threatens to impose a ban on Schengen visas for 1 or 2 years.

It is better to cross the border of Latvia with one selected passport, for example, with a canceled passport, but with a valid visa they will not be allowed into Latvia and will be sent back.

Is it worth writing about the availability of a health insurance policy? There have been cases when at customs control they asked about the authenticity of return tickets and hotel reservations; in case of a trip to visit friends or relatives, they also ask for the original invitation.

When crossing the border by car, be sure to ask for the green card for the car, registration certificate and license; it is not recommended to take a spare can of gasoline with you. And with a full tank, you can enter Latvia only once a day.

Some smart low-cost airlines may not include a fee of several euros in the ticket price; you will have to pay at the check-in counter for the flight. It is recommended to check with your airline whether all payments are included in the ticket.

Latvia will certainly be an excellent choice for traveling to a modern European country. The richest culture and history, vibrant local color, traditions, a huge number of architectural and historical monuments, magnificent landscapes, healing springs and warm Baltic waters will make any vacation unforgettable. It is worth noting that Latvia is a country of high culture. Having visited Latvia once, you want to return there again and again, each time discovering something new, because only here is this possible.

To visit Latvia, you will need to obtain a visa in advance and familiarize yourself with local customs regulations so that no unpleasant moments overshadow your crossing of borders and your stay in this amazing country.

What can you import to Latvia?

There are no restrictions on the import and export of national and foreign currency in Latvia. As for the import of goods, in this case, customs rules are somewhat different for tourists arriving from EU countries and tourists who are not citizens of the European Union.

Thus, tourists from the EU who have reached the age of 18 are allowed to bring duty-free up to 800 cigarettes or 200 cigars (or up to 1 kg of tobacco), up to 10 liters of strong alcoholic drinks (the strength of which exceeds 22%), up to 90 liters of wine and up to 110 liters of beer.

Tourists over 18 years of age arriving in Latvia from countries not participating in the European Union can bring to Latvia a smaller quantity of the specified goods, namely up to 200 cigarettes (100 cigars or up to 250 g of tobacco), up to 1 liter of strong alcoholic drinks, up to 2 liters of wine or beer.

Also, goods whose total value does not exceed 150 lats per person are allowed to be imported duty-free (but the quantity of each specific imported item or product should not exceed 3 copies, if the total value of this product group does not exceed 15 lats.

Up to 1 kg of coffee can also be imported duty free.

What is prohibited to import into Latvia

As in any European country, the import of drugs, weapons and explosives is prohibited in Latvia. Products such as fresh meat and products made from it, as well as some medications are also taboo.

Parrots, fruits and fresh flowers are prohibited for import.

What is prohibited to export from Latvia

Latvian customs regulations limit the export of amber, as well as artistic and historical values and works of art “older” than 50 years.

Tourists arriving in Latvia by car should take into account the fact that you cannot transport fuel in cans - it is better to completely fill the tank and cross the border that way.

Latvia has golden beaches and historic castles to offer, exciting festivals and plenty of business opportunities. It is not surprising that hundreds of thousands of Russians cross the country’s border every year. However, being a full member of the EU and Schengen, Latvia has established fairly strict entry rules. Therefore, when preparing for your trip, it is worth finding out how the Latvian border is arranged and what the basic rules for crossing it are in force in 2019.

Latvia is a participating country, therefore it is necessary to cross its border in accordance with the requirements: for citizens of the Russian Federation with a visa.

As of 2019, there are four vehicle checkpoints on the Russian-Latvian border. It is convenient to assess their location using a map:

As can be seen from the map above, the closest of them when traveling from Moscow is Burachki-Terekhovo, indicated by the number 1. It is located on the European route E22. On the Russian side, it is connected to the M9 Baltic highway, passing through Moscow, Volokolamsk, Rzhev, Velikiye Luki and Novosokolniki. After the checkpoint, the road turns into the Latvian highway A12, on which Jekabpils, Rezekne and Ludza are located. Usually this point is the busiest of all located on the border of the Russian Federation with the Baltic country.
The Ubylinka-Grebnevo border crossing, designated number 2, is located between the Russian road 58K-306 (Ostrov-Vyshgorodsk-Ubylinka) and the Latvian highway A13, which is part of the European route E262 and follows from the border through Rezekne, Daugavpils and Medumi, located on the border with Lithuania. Please note that the road leading to this checkpoint from the Russian side is a toll road, the cost of travel along it is 300 rubles (paid at the Russian international automobile checkpoint (MACP). It is through the checkpoint that cars traveling from Pskov usually pass.
The Ludonka–Vientuli international checkpoint is marked on the map with the number 3. From the Russian side, access to it is only possible along the road 58K-530, which is a small branch of the route 58K-326. The nearest Russian settlements are Pytalovo and Nosovo. The workload of this point is usually lower than that of Terekhovo, but higher than that of the others. On the Latvian side, a local road departs from this international checkpoint and turns into the regional highway P45. Along it you can get to Vilyaka and Balvi, and also gradually get onto the A2 highway leading to Riga and Jurmala.
Finally, the last of the existing crossings, Brunishevo-Pededze, is marked with the number 4 and is located between the Russian road 58K-339 and the local Latvian road, through which you can get to the A2 highway. This international checkpoint is located closest to St. Petersburg. Please note that both from the Russian Federation and from the Baltic countries, dirt roads approach it.

Residents of the southern and central regions of Russia can also travel to Latvia through Belarus. The easiest way to do this is through the Grigorovshchina checkpoint, the location of which is indicated on the map:

Through this crossing, located near Bigosovo, you can get to the Latvian A6 highway leading to Kraslava, Daugavpils and Riga.

Just keep in mind that sometimes Belarusian customs can be stricter than Russian ones, so it’s worth first studying the rules for crossing the Belarusian border and the procedure for declaring valuables.

For residents of the North-West region, it is also possible to travel through Estonia. If you want to enter Latvia through Belarus and Lithuania, then it is best to use the Privalka point:

Both options for traveling through Belarus allow you to save time if you are traveling with a child under three years of age: according to Belarusian customs regulations, cars with such children pass through checkpoints without a queue.

A lot of useful information about transit travel can be gleaned from the article ““.

Car queue at the border

There is intensive freight traffic between the Russian Federation and the Baltic states, so at many international checkpoints there are often queues, consisting mainly of fuel tankers (carrying fuel to the Baltic countries) and trucks (carrying goods from the EU to the Russian Federation).

Often in queues you can see large numbers of cars of local shuttle residents who make money by reselling Russian goods to the EU and vice versa. Because of this, the average travel time through the crossings ranges between 1 and 12 hours, especially if you move on a first-come, first-served basis.

On New Year's Eve and other holidays at the Burachki and Brunishevo points, the average queue time is more than 5 hours.

The only amenities you can find near the checkpoint are dry toilets, but accommodation and food can be a problem. Therefore, when choosing a point and time of travel, it is worth first studying the current situation at the state border using the official website of the Latvian customs - vid.gov.lv.

When preparing to leave the Baltic country, you can also order a queue summary by sending the word BORDER to number 157. This service costs 21 euro cents, which will be debited from your mobile account.

An online camera will help monitor the state of checkpoints on the Belarusian side.

Unfortunately, unlike the Lithuanian and Estonian state borders, an electronic queue on the Russian-Latvian border has not been created as of 2019 - and this despite the fact that back in 2012 the Latvian Seimas instructed the Ministry of Transport to begin work on its creation, to solve the problem of miles-long lines of trucks.

Fortunately, for ordinary cars with Russian license plates, at all international checkpoints on the Russian side, you can negotiate with the drivers of fuel tankers and drive past them, taking a place in a separate “passenger” line. But the move from the EU will, in any case, have to take place on a general basis. Moreover, trying to buy someone else's seat can result in a fine of 200 euros.

Since 2012, truck drivers have been able to reserve a queue at the Latvian-Russian border at the Terekhovo and Grebnevo international checkpoints. It was organized through the joint efforts of police and customs officers. Unfortunately, it is still organized offline: customs officers are responsible for issuing license plates.

Please take the sociological survey!

In what cases is skip-the-line travel possible?

Truck drivers, in cases provided for by the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of Latvia “On goods transported out of turn” dated 13.03.2012 No. 170, can cross the border without queuing. These include:

live farm animals (cows, horses, birds, etc.);
fresh, chilled, frozen, smoked meat;
fish (frozen whole or cut);
shellfish and other seafood;
bird eggs;
milk and dairy products;
flowers and other plants, live and cut;
vegetables, fresh and frozen;
fresh and frozen fruits and berries;
ice cream;
frozen prepared food;
human and animal organs for transplantation and other medical purposes;
human and animal blood for transfusions;
medications containing insulin;
drug-coated dressings (for example, adhesive tape);
periodical press (magazines and newspapers), published at least 4 times a week;
tar;
concrete;
weapons and ammunition (subject to transportation with armed guards).

Circuses also skip the line during tours.

In order to take advantage of this opportunity, you need to contact a border service officer and present documents for the cargo you are transporting. As a result, you should receive a ticket for an extraordinary border crossing, which will indicate the current date, time of issue of the document, the license plate of your car and the customs document number.

You will present this coupon to the customs officer along with documents for transport, cargo and other documents necessary for travel.

Basic requirements for transport

The established rules for driving a car into Latvia in 2019 impose the following basic requirements for a car:

good technical condition of transport;
the presence of functioning seat belts on all seats;
lack of anti-radar system;
the windshield tinting level does not exceed 25% (for other windows - no more than 30%);
The car must have a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, a tow rope, a warning triangle and a vest with reflective elements.

If you are traveling with a child, you must have a child car seat in the car.

During the winter, many Russian motorists wonder whether it is possible to drive into Latvia on studded tires. So, unlike most other EU countries, the use of spikes in the Baltic countries is not prohibited. However, the period of their use is limited to the period from November 1 to April 9.

If snow cover persists, the period of permitted use of studs is extended by a separate decision of the Ministry of Transport. Attempts to drive with studded tires while they are prohibited are fraught with:

request to change tires;
a proposal to cut the spikes off the tires;
entry ban.

Contrary to popular belief, entering Latvia with the 82nd region (Crimea) on car license plates in most cases does not cause any difficulties. Entry into the territory of the European Union with such a number is not formally prohibited, and most customs officers do not have any questions about it. Although this position has already been repeatedly expressed by diplomats from the Latvian mission, as well as from many other countries.

After crossing the border, it is worth remembering that low beams must be turned on when traveling between cities. Speed limits are 50 km/h in urban areas and 90 km/h beyond, and you can safely exceed them by no more than 10 km/h.

Documents required for travel

Having prepared the car for the trip, it is worth finding out what documents are needed to travel to Latvia. The list of personal documents includes:

national or ;
with a validity period expiring no earlier than 3 months after the end of the trip;
with coverage of at least 30 thousand euros;
confirmation of residence;
confirmation of financial support for the entire duration of the planned trip at the rate of 30 € per day of travel.

EORI code – who needs it and why and how to get it

If you are the owner of a company planning to carry out export-import operations with Latvia, you need to obtain an EORI - a single European customs identifier. To do this, you need to register your company in one of the EU countries and send a corresponding application to its customs authorities.

In this document you will need to indicate:

invoice or contract for the supply of goods;
information about the composition and cost of the cargo;
planned delivery method and date;
information about carriers.

Within 3 working days you will receive an EORI code, which will be used in document flow with customs authorities.

Rules and limits for the import and export of goods

Without paying customs duties, every guest of the country has the right to bring with him:

personal items (clothes, gadgets, books, etc.) in quantities that do not raise doubts among customs officers about their purpose;
medications for personal use with prescriptions;
up to 40 cigarettes (or 20 cigarillos, 10 cigars or 50 g of tobacco);
up to one liter of strong (more than 22%) alcohol;
up to 2 liters of wine (any wine, but not stronger than 22 degrees);
up to 16 liters of beer;
up to 10 kg of coffee or tea;
no more than 50 g of perfume or 250 g of cologne/eau de toilette;
up to 10 liters of gasoline or other petroleum products in cans (the volume of the gas tank is not included in the limit);
up to 20 kg of fish or crustaceans;
up to 2 kg of honey and bee products, as well as shellfish, baby food and pet food;
no more than 10 kg of confectionery or pasta, as well as other food products not prohibited for import;
gifts, souvenirs and other goods totaling no more than 300 euros for adults and 200 euros for minors.

There are no special restrictions on the export of any goods from Latvia.

Fans of “Riga Balsam” are often interested in how much alcohol can be exported from Latvia. Here the issue comes down to Russian customs rules, which state that up to 3 liters of alcohol can be imported without paying duty.

In total, you can import no more than 5 liters of alcohol, while for 2 liters in excess of the duty-free limit you will have to pay about 44 €.

The rules for importing goods into Belarus are not so strict: there are only general restrictions on the weight of cargo (up to 50 kg) and its value (up to 1,500 €).

Just in case, immediately before your trip, you should check the current restrictions online on the official customs website.

Prohibited goods

When preparing for your trip, it is worth finding out in advance what you cannot bring into Latvia. The list of goods prohibited for import without special permission includes:

meat and dairy products;
salo;
canned food, pet food, baby food and ready meals containing meat or milk;
parrots;
fruits;
Natural flowers;
weapons and ammunition;
dangerous substances (poisons, radioactive substances, explosives, aggressive chemicals);
narcotic drugs;
cultural, artistic or historical values.

The same list applies when leaving the country.

Procedure for declaring money

Amounts of cash exceeding the equivalent of 10,000 euros are subject to mandatory declaration.

Cash includes banknotes and coins in any currency, as well as traveler's checks, payment orders and bills of exchange (including those signed but not fully completed).

In order to fill out the declaration, just select the red corridor at the checkpoint and fill out the resulting form. You can even download it in advance from the official customs website.

If you plan to continue your trip to Europe, you will not have to fill out a declaration at the borders of other EU countries.

Sanctions for violation of customs regulations

Violation of visa laws in all cases results in an entry ban. At the same time, even if you are not immediately blacklisted, be prepared for more diligent checks than usual when applying for a new permit.

The import of undeclared valuables is fraught with their complete confiscation, as well as the imposition of a fine, which for individuals ranges from 70 to 700 €, depending on the volume of goods. Legal entities will have to pay from 700 to 7,100 €.

For attempting to import undeclared amounts of cash exceeding the maximum allowable, a fine of 5% of the imported amount is imposed.

An attempt to illegally import goods on a particularly large scale may even result in the confiscation of the vehicle. Blatant attempts to smuggle cigarettes and other goods (where large quantities are transported in secret compartments of a car or inside other items) can face much larger fines (up to €20,000) or criminal prosecution. Sometimes this even results in a prison sentence of up to 5 years.

Please note that failure to comply with the legal requirements of border guards and customs officers may also be punishable by a fine or even administrative arrest.

Finally, it should be remembered that the maximum permissible level of alcohol in the blood of a driver, according to EU standards, is 0.5 ppm, and exceeding it is fraught with a fine of 430 to 1,300 € and deprivation of a driving license for up to 2 years.

To prevent your trip from ending on a sad note, do not forget that Russian customs rules differ from EU norms. In particular, it is worth studying the list of sanctioned products prohibited for import and not trying to import them from Latvia.

Common travel routes

Considering the relatively large number of checkpoints and their wide geography, many drivers have a question about where it is better to cross the border with Latvia by car.

When traveling from Moscow, it is best to go towards Volokolamsk. Then you will pass Rzhev and find yourself in Velikiye Luki, from which it is quite easy to get to the M9 highway. The road to the checkpoint in this case will take about 8 hours.

With its beaches, Rundāle Palace near Bauska or the Livonian Order Castle in Ventispils. Such an educational route leaving St. Petersburg will look like this:

If you exclude Bauska from the trip and travel the country in a straight line from east to west through Riga, Jurmala and Ventispils, then the entire trip can take no more than two days. And if you include Daugavpils in your route, you can visit several interesting museums, including the Moonshine Museum.

Architecture lovers will appreciate the Ludza–Madone–Riga trip, because in Ludza you will be greeted by a historical church, and in Madone by the estate of the Marcien barons.

When planning a trip on your own, please note that entering Jurmala by car during the tourist season costs 2 euros.

How much does the trip cost on average?

The main factors influencing the cost of the trip will be:

(35 €);
current expenses in the country (from 40 €/day);
cost of fuel (1 liter in the country costs 1.10 euros).

With an average fuel consumption of 5 l/100 km (which is typical for modern cars), gasoline alone for a trip from Moscow to Riga (920 km) and back will cost 100 euros. If you want to travel from Moscow to Ventispils (1100 km) and back, be prepared to pay more than 120 € for fuel.

If you fill up a full tank in Moscow at prices of about 0.7 €/liter, your trips will cost you significantly less: 65 euros (Moscow–Riga) and 77 euros (Moscow–Ventspils).

Conclusion

The rules for entry into Latvia differ little from the standard ones for most other EU countries. When preparing for a trip, it is worth finding out the situation at the crossing points in advance, checking the availability of all the necessary documents and the compliance of your car with the requirements of Latvian legislation.

Attempts to import undeclared goods are fraught with their complete confiscation and a fine of up to 20,000 €. When returning home, do not forget about Russian customs regulations.

Latvia, customs regulations. Importing alcohol and cigarettes into Latvia: how much can you bring? What can’t be brought into Latvia?