Road trip to riga. What documents are needed to travel to Latvia by car. What and in what quantity can be imported into the territory of Latvia

Basic instructions for passing the Latvian-Russian border by car. So that your trip is not overshadowed by frustrations due to late documents and scandals due to a lost liter of expensive alcohol.

The text that is posted below is by no means an official instruction or an exhaustive list of documents and regulations related to border and customs clearance.

Passage of the Russian border

Needed international passport with a Schengen visa and registration certificate per car ( power of attorney, if you are not the owner of the car). Minor children may additionally be asked Birth certificate and notarial permission to cross the border if the child is not accompanied by the mother and father.

The order of passage:

On the Russian border, you can safely drive past trucks and a small barrier in the right lane on the highway. If there is a passenger queue in front of the first booth, get up in the tail, and go to the booth only when there are no more than two cars ahead. If there is no one or only two cars in the queue, the driver goes to the border booth with a registration certificate and all passports and tells the border guard behind the glass how many people are in the car. He leafs through the passports and says to pass or wait. Since the summer of 2018, they began to issue a laminated "runner". Which must be given at the last booth when leaving the border zone. Entering the border zone, follow the "cars" sign to the post where the "green corridor" sign hangs (recently this is the second post on the left). In the absence of goods for written declaration you do not need to be at the back of the line of cars with foreign license plates.

The inspection procedure changes periodically. As of the fall of 2019, the border guard and the customs officer were inspected together in the customs control zone. All doors, hood, trunk, glove compartments open. You will have to remove everything from the trunk that prevents you from showing the hidden cavity with a spare wheel.
First comes customs clearance. In the customs booth you only need a driver with a passport and registration certificate. In the next booth there are border guards. All passengers get off there, and each one with his passport goes to check-in. The first is the driver with a passport and a certificate for the car.
After registration, you need to wait until the cone in front of the car is removed or the barrier is raised. In the last Russian booth at the exit (after Duty Free) you need to hand over the laminated "slider".

Export bans from Russia

Please note that the data on our website are for reference only, and customs legislation tends to change. Do not use this page as an argument in a dispute with a customs officer.

The list of prohibited items and products is wide and its current version can be found.Normal people do not try to carry explosives and poisonous gas in cylinders across the border, so below is the main thing that is important to know:

In case of a one-time export of cash and (or) traveller's checks for a total amount equal to or not exceeding the equivalent of USD 10,000, the indicated funds and (or) traveller's checks are not subject to customs declaration in writing. The amount above the specified one must be declared, and before they want to recount your cash. Important: when calculating the total amount of transferred cash, both foreign currency and the currency of the Russian Federation are taken into account. That is, an extra 100 rubles plus a pack of $ 10,000 can pretty much spoil your mood.

The export of cultural property through the customs border of the Russian Federation is carried out on the basis of a certificate issued by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation based on the results of the examination. And not everyone knows that grandfather's binoculars with the engraving "Rechflot 1933" are a cultural value, simply because of their age.

Passage of the Latvian border

You need to prepare the following documents: international passport with a Schengen visa, registration certificate, driver's license(rights, ordinary Russian), green card(international OSAGO), medical insurance(they may not ask, but we highly recommend to arrange), diagnostic card(for cars over 3 years old). And you need to know where your VIN is located.

Please note: DIAGNOSTIC CARD for cars with Russian license plates over three years old - this is a mandatory document for passing the Latvian border! In his absence, you will simply be returned to Russia.

Order of passage

At the first Latvian booth you need to stop at the stop line. A driver comes up to the booth with passports and a car registration certificate and says the number of people in the car. The driver is given a "slider" (on which they then put marks about the passage of customs and the border), as well as customs declarations (only for adults). In the declaration, do not forget to tick the boxes "to be filled in at entry / exit" and "I confirm that I entered / did not enter the Republic of Latvia in the last 7 days."
The driver enters into the declaration the amount of gasoline (besides the fact that only 10 liters more can be held in the tank in the canister). Everyone paints alcohol and tobacco products (strictly according to the norm for each), carefully reading where to write what. Only the volume in liters or in pieces (cigarettes) is entered in the corresponding column. No need to write "Port 777", only 0.7 in the appropriate line. Please note that "non-sparkling" wines and "sparkling"(in other words, champagne) are on different lines of the declaration.

The check queue for passenger cars usually consists of two lines. Formally, the lane for Russians is the right one, but they also enter the left one (they have never seen anyone drive Russian cars from there).

Entering the inspection area only at the signal of the border guard, even if the booth is completely empty. Passengers, if not specifically asked, sit in their seats (but most likely, only those who passed their fingerprints when applying for a visa will be called to the booth). The border guard meets him, the driver gives him all the passports, licenses, registration certificate, green card (international insurance), diagnostic and slider. Medical insurance on request. It would be nice to know the answer to the question "where and why we are going", and, as already mentioned, the VIN number of the car. The border guard gives the entire bundle of documents to the first window, where his colleague scans the documents and documents them.

Since the summer of 2019, customs officers have begun to inspect vehicles selectively. So they may not come up separately, but they can inspect the car only in the process of processing documents in the customs window. It is necessary to give documents to it after registration in the border window (the driver at the booth must be vigilant when it is his pack of documents that is placed at the window). Passports of adults with enclosed declarations, a slider and a certificate of registration are handed over to the neighboring customs window (MUITA). There is also a lottery, according to which a scan (X-ray scanner) may fall out during customs clearance. It is pointless to argue - nothing personal, so it fell out. Scanning will take from 40 minutes to two hours, depending on the queue of trucks and the health of the scanner.

At the exit from the customs zone - a booth, near it you need to stop and give the "slider" to the window.

Import norms into Latvia

Please note that the data on our website are for reference only, and customs legislation tends to change. You should not use this page as an argument in a dispute with a customs officer about the rate of carriage. Official information in Russian is available on the website of the Latvian Embassy in Russia, but it may not be the latest news either.

Cigarettes 40 pieces (2 packs). Or 10 cigars (cigarillos), or 50 grams of smoking tobacco. Pay attention, smokers! The norms for the carriage of 200 cigarettes - 100 cigarillos - 250 grams of tobacco are valid for air transport only.

- Alcohol:

1 liter per person strong (over 22 degrees) or 2 liters of liqueurs, champagne and distillates up to 22 degrees. These two points can be combined, but taking a liter of strong or 2 liters of average as 100%. That is, formally, if you are carrying 0.7 liters of vodka, then you can already import only 0.6 liters of champagne, less than a standard bottle.
In addition, you can bring 4 liters of non-sparkling (still) wine and 16 liters of beer (although it is difficult to imagine why you might need to bring beer from Russia to Latvia).

Do not throw alcohol and cigarettes on children, they have a "zero" rate. The allowance for undeclared cash is EUR 10,000.

1) meat and meat products (including chicken, bacon, sausages, pies with meat, meat soups and stew)

2) milk and dairy products (including yogurt, sour cream, cottage cheese, kefir, cheese, butter, condensed milk, ice cream, etc.)

3) animal feed, which contains meat or milk (including dog chewing toys, mixtures of wholemeal flour).

4) Plant protection products, soil, potatoes, planting material without a phytosanitary certificate.

Baby food will be allowed to take only if the child is with you. Otherwise, even if you present all the evidence that your baby is waiting for you hungry in Latvia, dairy products will have to be thrown out at the border. As well as all uneaten sandwiches and half-drunk yoghurts found.

From other food to Latvia you can bring:

Caviar 125 grams. Moreover, the photo at the border shows sturgeon caviar, but the customs officers attribute the restriction to red caviar.

Up to 2 kilograms of honey, eggs.

Up to 20 kilograms of fish products. Fresh fish (necessarily gutted, even if it is transported uncut), dried fish, thermally processed fish, salted or smoked, canned fish;

Up to 10 kilograms (in total) of other products: bread and bakery products, cookies, cakes, chocolate products, confectionery, pasta (not navy),

For personal needs, no more than two kilograms of fresh vegetables and fruits can be transported to the territory of the EU, and specifically to Latvia. ATTENTION FOR RETURNS FROM LATVIA TO RUSSIA!

From January 1, 2019, goods worth 500 euros and weighing no more than 25 kg can be imported to Russia by train or car, without paying duties.

It doesn't matter if you are an experienced traveler or if you are in Europe for the first time, you are quite capable of organizing your trip to Riga on your own. Without dwelling on the merits of the city, which we have written about many times, here are five stages of planning a trip on our own.

Time planning for a trip to Riga

Riga is a very popular city among tourists, it is visited by over a million guests a year, and the city hall plans to bring this figure to 1.5 million tourists a year. And this is with a population of 700 thousand inhabitants, that is, there are 1.5 tourists per one resident of Riga.

But all the same, we hasten to reassure you, even during the peak periods, tourists are absorbed in Riga and Jurmala in such a way that for Muscovites the city may seem deserted.

The best period to visit Riga is from May to August, as well as during the Christmas and New Year holidays. If you are planning a trip at this time - take care of hotel reservations and transport tickets 2-3 months in advance.

If you prefer a calm atmosphere, then we advise you to come in the second half of April, or from September to mid-October.

The tourist flow decreases, but the weather often gives warm sunny days. Plus, hotels at this time reduce their prices for accommodation, so you can save up to 30-50% of the summer room rate. Below we will share the secret of how to book a hotel in Riga most profitably.

Registration of an entry visa to Latvia

Latvia is included in the countries of the Schengen zone, which means that if you have a Schengen visa in your passport, you can skip this item - the road to Riga is open to you.

If you don't have a visa, you will have to apply for it.

We have described this process in sufficient detail on our website in the section ““, here you can read about the necessary documents, the procedure for filling out the questionnaire, etc.

We book a hotel in Riga

Yes, we start with the hotel.

There are several reasons for this - you can get to Riga by various types of transport, the number of only flights per day reaches five (Aeroflot, Transaero, Utair and Airbaltic). But there is still a train, a bus, a private car, finally. There are also a lot of hotels in Riga (about 200), however, in the high season, the occupancy reaches 100%. Finally, hotel reservations can be canceled, but plane tickets can be problematic.

With booking, everything is very simple, without further ado, it is enough just to go to one of the on-line services for booking hotels.

The risk at this stage is minimal, because no one forbids it later.

We plan how we will get to Riga

We have already done an overview of the most economical ways to travel, which you can read by following this link ().

In our understanding, the best solution is an airplane. With completely reasonable prices, you do not waste a night on the train (with a mandatory rise at three in the morning for customs control), do not waste your nerves crossing the border by car and do not shake on the bus for fifteen hours.

Getting ready and dreaming about the trip

The worries are over, it's time to plan your trip. To begin with, we search the Internet for travel guides around Riga.

You can't, there are sites, and so to download to your phone? And you don't want to buy books - carry them around the city with you later?

Well, it’s quite a reasonable desire, which we are meeting halfway - on our website you can download (and, free) four parts of the Riga City Guide -

No copyright infringement - the guide has been prepared by the site and we give you all the rights to use and distribute it! (just don't change anything in the text) In the near future, the fourth part will be released - "Riga - the pearl of Art Nouveau". We can promise that it will not be the last.

Finally, we have available advice on where and how to pay for parking .. oh, it's not good to praise yourself, so let's stop here and wish you an unforgettable vacation in the most beautiful city in the Baltic States!

There are several routes by which you can get to Latvia from Russia. However, not all tracks are of good quality. And at the border it would be nice to know what are the fastest checkpoints.

Moscow-Riga. Which route to take?

Many people prefer to travel to Latvia by their own car. And cheaper, and more comfortable, and faster, the main thing is that you will have time to see more (you will be able to plan trips and excursions without being tied to public transport). Practice shows that it is quite convenient to get to Latvia through Belarus, but the busiest and most popular route from Moscow is along the M9 Baltic highway.

Border checkpoints. Which points have fewer queues?

It is home to one of the most popular checkpoints - Burachki - Terekhovo. Quite a lot of transport gathers here. Cars and trucks - stand in different queues.

What documents are needed at the border between Russia and Latvia?

When crossing the state border, you will need to present the following documents:

Foreign passports with visas, medical policies for each traveler (for the period specified in the visa or the period of first entry, if the visa is multiple). Insurance, as a rule, is issued before the visa is issued - the main thing is not to leave them at home;

Driving license issued on an international basis (for Russia, these are international rights);

Vehicle registration documents, maintenance and power of attorney (if you are not driving your car);

When entering Latvia, you also need a Green Card - a green card for a car (for the duration of your entire stay in Latvia).

What and how much can you bring to Latvia?

The list of things that are prohibited from being imported into Latvia is very strict. Especially closely at the border (when entering Latvia) you will be checked / asked.

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When visiting Latvia in their car, Russian citizens need to collect a standard package of documents: application form, certificate from the place of work, bank statement on the availability of funds on the account, hotel reservation, medical insurance. And also a certificate of registration of a vehicle, a driver's license, a green card for a car.

Having collected the above package of documents, you can apply for a Schengen visa for Latvia.

Among the documents for the car - copies of the license, registration certificate and green card. When traveling by a corporate car, a general power of attorney with the right to travel abroad is required. The power of attorney must be certified by a notary.

Also, border guards can request a diagnostic card for a car with a Russian registration over 3 years old, since according to the laws of Latvia (and Lithuania), an entering car must be in good condition according to the country of registration.

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To enter the territory of Latvia with your own car, you need the following documents:

• Passports of all travel participants with valid Schengen visas pasted into them (a child under 14 years old can be entered in the passport of one of the parents; when traveling on his own, he must have his own passport and a notarized consent to leave);
• Birth certificates of children;
• Medical insurance for each participant of the trip with a coverage amount of at least EUR 30,000;
• International driving license;
• Vehicle registration certificate;
• Green card valid in the territory of Latvia. Civil liability insurance can be purchased in Russia no earlier than a month before the trip, the minimum document validity period is 15 days

A driver crossing the Latvian border must have a driving license that meets international standards. This is a plastic card where the full name is indicated in English. A corporate car additionally requires a general power of attorney certified by a notary to drive the car abroad.

You can enter Latvia by car with tinted front side windows (throughput no less than 80%). The rear and side rear windows may have lower drainage capacity. In European countries, you cannot cross the border if there are cracks on the windows of the car, the body is damaged. If the car glass is tinted at the factory, then there are no problems.

Going to Latvia by car, keep in mind that there are restrictions on the import of the following things in the republic: no more than 40 cigarettes, 1 liter of strong alcohol and 156 liters of beer, 10 liters of motor fuel in any appropriate container can be imported into Latvia. In addition, it is prohibited to import meat and meat products, including stewed meat, into the republic.

Latvia is a modern European state with a distinctive culture, ancient castles and a mild climate. European-style high level of service is combined with quite affordable prices for food and accommodation. Every second local resident speaks Russian here. The clean sea, sandy beaches, many museums and sights, as well as the proximity to Russia make Latvia a favorite destination for Russians all year round.

Traveling to Riga by car has a number of obvious advantages:

• the autotourist gets the opportunity to independently manage his own time and not depend on the schedule of railway or air transport;
• a trip by car with 5-6 people is much cheaper than buying plane or train tickets;
• car travel guarantees freedom of movement - the tourist himself builds a route and plans stops in the most interesting places for him.

In order for the trip from Moscow to Riga by car to go well and without unpleasant surprises, it is necessary to draw up a route in advance, carefully study the Latvian traffic rules, and clarify the specifics of crossing the border. So, for example, if a dog or any other pet is traveling with you, then customs officers may request additional veterinary certificates for the pet.

How to get to Riga from Moscow by car

The straight-line distance from Moscow to the Latvian capital is 842 kilometers. If the route runs through Russia, then the length of the highway will be 917 kilometers, and if you go through Belarus, this figure will increase by 90 kilometers.

Despite the fact that the route along the Russian territory is shorter, Muscovites prefer the Belarusian M1 highway. This is due to the fact that drivers are unhappy with the poor quality of domestic highways, and they also do not like the year-round queues that gather at the Latvian-Russian checkpoints.

Currently, tourists can use one of four official border crossings between Russia and Latvia:

• Checkpoint Brunishevo - Pededze- for those who travel from St. Petersburg.
• Point Ludonka - Vientule- you can get to it from the side of Nosova. Due to the relative distance from major highways, there are practically no queues here.
• Checkpoint Terekhovo - Burachki- here, as a rule, impressive queues gather, since the M9 is always overloaded with cars and trucks.
• KPVV Ubylinka - Grebneva- this item is no less loaded. It is most convenient for travelers from Moscow, since the Moscow highway passes several tens of kilometers from it.

It is almost impossible to plan in advance the time of your stay at the border. Crossing the checkpoint can take from 30-40 minutes to several hours or even days. Border guards try to pass cars with small children out of turn, but this rule does not always apply.

Popular routes for traveling in Latvia by car

You can get from Moscow to Riga by car along the Russian M9 highway or the Belarusian M1 highway.

Thanks to the overhaul of the Baltiya highway (M9), in the last year it has become more and more popular with motorists. The distance Moscow - Riga along the M9 is 950 kilometers. If you wish, you can drive them in 12-14 hours. This route to Latvia runs through the old Russian cities - Volokolamsk, Rzhev and Velikiye Luki, rich in historical and cultural attractions. At the border of the Russian Federation, travelers will need to go through the Burachki border point, and at the Latvian border they will be met by the staff of the Terekhovo checkpoint. On the way to Riga, autotourists will be able to visit the cities of Ludza, Vilana and Ogre.

During the repair of the M9 highway, asphalt was not laid only on several sections of the road near Rzhev. The condition of the A6 and A12 motorways between Latvian cities is somewhat worse, especially the road from Ludza to Viljana raises a lot of complaints. The undoubted advantage of this route is the fact that the route is free, there are no traffic jams and congestions that can significantly increase the travel time. Here are just gas stations and roadside cafes where you could have a snack, there are few here.

The Burachki-Terekhovo checkpoint is the busiest of all four checkpoints on the Russian-Latvian border. Inspection and passport control are carried out quickly enough. The checkpoint itself operates around the clock and closes for breaks only twice a day - from 08:45 - 09:00 and 20:45 - 21:00.

The M1 route can include several route options:

• From Moscow we leave on the Minsk highway (M1), after which, before reaching Smolensk, we turn in the direction of Velizh-Nevel, and then we leave on the “Baltia” highway.
• From Moscow we pass Smolensk along the Minsk highway, and after the bypass we turn to Vitebsk. We cross the Russian-Belarusian border and move along the P21 and P20 highways. We get to Latvia through the border crossings Grigorovschina-Paternieki or Urbany-Silene.

On this route, the mileage Moscow-Riga is slightly more - about 1000 kilometers. If you travel without long stops and congestion, then this distance can be covered in 15-16 hours. It is noteworthy that the checkpoints on the Belarusian-Lithuanian border are less busy, and there are practically no serious queues here.

On the M1 highway, there are a large number of gas stations, cafes and hotels, which makes travel more interesting and comfortable.

Expenses during a trip to Latvia by private car

When planning a car trip to the Baltics, you should be prepared to spend on:

• registration of various permits, visas and insurance;
• fuel;
• food and accommodation;
• entertainment;
• emergency cases.

The most expensive item of expenditure is fuel. To calculate the necessary costs, let's take the average cost of gasoline - 44 rubles and the average fuel consumption per 100 kilometers - 10 liters. Thus, it turns out that for 1000 kilometers we will spend 4,500 rubles one way. For a trip from Moscow to Riga and back, we need 9,000 rubles. It should be borne in mind that gasoline in Latvia is more expensive than in Russia: for example, the cost of a liter of 95 gasoline can vary from 1.25 to 1.27 euros, diesel fuel will cost from 1.18 euros per liter.

To enter the territory of a friendly country, you must apply for a Schengen visa and pay a service fee of 5 euros per person. For free movement on Latvian roads, you will need to buy a Green Card for a car (an analogue of our OSAGO), it costs from 2,500 to 3,000 rubles. You can issue it at special points, which are located in large numbers on the M9 and M1 highways.

Snacks at gas stations on the road can be quite budgetary. A glass of coffee with a hamburger or hot dog will cost about 300-450 rubles. In the Latvian capital, food prices are slightly higher. The bill for dinner in small restaurants on the main streets will be about 20 euros per person - this is meat with a side dish and a drink. In many catering establishments, a 10% service charge is automatically included in the bill.

Another item of expenses is accommodation in local hotels and inns. On average, you will have to pay 4500 rubles and more per night. It is best to book your room in advance. All parking lots in Riga are paid, depending on the area, they can cost from 1 to 2 euros - for the first hour, from 1.5 to 3 euros - for the next hours. Those who would like to save money should pay attention to the apartments from the owners and hostels.

Additionally, from May to October, you will have to purchase a pass to enter Jurmala.

Documents for a trip to Latvia by car

The obligatory package of documents required for travel to Latvia includes:

• passports for all family members;
• birth certificates - if minors are traveling with you;
• a power of attorney allowing the export of children traveling without parents from the country, it is certified by a notary at the place of residence;
• Schengen visa for each person crossing the border;
• medical insurance.

In addition, an international driver's license is required for autotourists.

In general, relations between the Russian Federation and the European Union are quite warm, and the Russian-Latvian border does not pose any particular problems. At the checkpoint, work with tourists is carried out according to the established procedure in several key stages:

1. Preparation for inspection. In order not to delay the queue, it is recommended to prepare all the documents even before entering the checkpoint.
2. Passport control. As a rule, if we are talking about law-abiding tourists who have worried about the preparation of all documents in advance, then passport control takes no more than fifteen minutes, after which the traveler is given a mark that the Russia-Latvia border has been successfully passed.
3. Passing the corridor- the choice of the green or red corridor is carried out depending on what goods, things and sums of money the autotourist is carrying with him.
4. customs inspection- this is the final stage, at which customs specialists will inspect the car for unaccounted or prohibited items.

On average, travelers spend no more than 40 minutes to complete all the necessary procedures.

Features of border crossing by car

Crossing the border with Latvia by car is not much different from the standard procedure. The autotourist will need to stop the car, turn off the engine and provide the car for inspection, following the instructions of the customs specialist.

You should not interfere with the inspection of a car or argue with the customs service, such behavior will only create additional problems for the autotourist and increase the time required to complete the procedures.

Customs control rules

Customs control is a mandatory procedure when crossing the border with Latvia. Travelers should familiarize themselves in advance with the existing legal requirements in this area:

• Cars with small children must be equipped with child seats suitable for the child in terms of age and anthropometric data.
• Apply for a Green Card, which is an alternative to the Russian MTPL policy. Without it, you will simply not be allowed at the Latvian checkpoint.
• The transportation of pets presents a lot of problems and difficulties. They must have a vaccination certificate, in addition, they need to be carried and chipped. A veterinary certificate is issued only in municipal clinics, after which Selkhoznadzor will need to obtain a 5A form and write out EU Regulation 576-2013 from a veterinarian.

If you clarify in advance the specifics of customs clearance at the entrance to the European Union, to which Latvia belongs, then you can avoid serious problems at the border.

Technical requirements for foreign vehicles crossing the Latvian border

To travel from Moscow to Riga by car, you should in advance find out about the technical requirements that apply to road transport on the territory of the European Union. The key ones are:

• requirements for toning,- the light transmittance of the film cannot be less than 25-30%;
• seat belts- absolutely all seats in the car must be equipped with them;
• antiradar- in Europe, their installation in a car is a direct violation of the law;
• the car must have a first aid kit, fire extinguisher, emergency sign and a vest with reflective signs.

Separately, it should be said about studded tires. According to local legislation and traffic rules, they can only be used from October 1 to May 1. The permitted speed limit within settlements is 50 km / h, outside the city - 90 km / h.

Traveling with your own vehicle is not only convenient and fast, but also quite troublesome. In particular, the autotourist will additionally have to provide border guards:

• documents confirming ownership or power of attorney for the right to operate the machine;
• technical inspection coupon;
• Green card- for travel on the territory of Latvia, the current OSAGO policy - for entry into Russia.

For cars over three years old, a diagnostic card will be required, which confirms the fact that the car is in good technical condition and meets all the necessary safety requirements.

According to the State Traffic Law, the absence of the above documents may result in a fine, refusal to enter the country and even arrest of a car.

What and in what quantity can be imported into the territory of Latvia

The customs legislation of the Baltic country allows the import and export of a variety of personal items into the territory of the state. If we are talking about gifts and souvenirs, then their total value cannot exceed 300 euros. Personal belongings are hygiene items, clothing, medicines that must be taken on a regular basis, stationery, etc. In 2019, Russian travelers traveling to Riga can take with them:

• up to 40 regular cigarettes, up to 10 cigars and up to 50 grams of smoking tobacco;
• 2 liters of alcoholic beverages with a strength of up to 22%;
• 1 liter of alcoholic beverages with a strength of more than 22%;
• 10 liters of gasoline in cans;
• 10 kilograms of cafes and tea;
• 2 kilograms of honey, propolis, snails, shellfish;
• 20 kilograms of crayfish, canned fish and processed fish;
• 10 kilograms of spices, pasta and other food products.

In general, the most severe restrictions apply only to alcohol, tobacco and fuel.

Objects and Products Prohibited for Import into the Republic of Latvia

After the accession of Lithuania and Latvia to the European Union, there are rather stringent requirements for goods imported into the territory of the country. In particular, the law prohibits autotourists from taking with them:

• meat products;
• dairy products;
• parrots;
• seedlings of flowers, vegetables and fruits, etc.

In addition, the standard list of prohibited items for import includes weapons, drugs, ammunition and explosives.

Cash declaration procedure upon entry to Latvia

According to the current legislation of the country, each guest entering the territory of the state must have a security amount in the calculation of 900 euros per month. At the same time, when traveling with a large family, one should avoid the other extreme - do not exceed the allowable amount of cash and declare it correctly.

For individuals, there is a limit of EUR 10,000 per person. Cash includes bills, coins, checks, and bills of exchange. Forms for declaring funds can be obtained at the border when passing the checkpoint, or you can download an electronic version of the document from the website of the State Revenue Service. The declaration is filled out in Latvian, Russian and English.

Types of punishments for violation of customs control rules

In accordance with the Latvian Code of Administrative Offenses, any violation of customs control rules entails the imposition of an administrative penalty. The sanctions applied to violators can be different:

• violation of the rules for the import of goods is threatened with a fine in the amount of 70 to 700 euros;
• if the requirements imposed by the police are violated, the tourist may be fined or arrested;
• it is not allowed to cross the border in alcoholic intoxication (more than 0.5 ppm), in this case a fine from 430 to 1400 euros is imposed with deprivation of a driver's license for a period of 1 to 2 years;
• when trying to send cash over 10,000 euros across the border, the offender is subject to a fine of 5% of the amount to be declared.

Those who are trying to bring prohibited items to Latvia by car or bypass the restrictions established by local legislation should remember that all checkpoints are equipped with the latest technology, and the customs service employs experienced and qualified specialists who have to regularly identify all kinds of violators. For this reason, it is almost impossible to hide anything.

Car rental in Russia and abroad

You can go on a trip from Moscow to Riga not only by your own, but also by rented transport. To do this, it is enough to contact the appropriate company and draw up a lease agreement.

The tenant is required to pay attention to some of the nuances. So, for example, the clause on limiting the mileage should not be ignored; after exceeding the permissible limit, the client of the company will have to pay extra for each kilometer of the journey.

In some Latvian companies there is a compulsory supplement for "young drivers" - up to 20, 23 and 25 years old. You should also pay attention to the inclusion in the rental price of a permit to drive a vehicle by several people. You can rent a car in specialized companies in Latvia via the Internet. To do this, you will need to make a symbolic prepayment.

Thus, traveling by car to Riga from Moscow is not too difficult. If you prepare the documents correctly and comply with all the requirements for the checkpoint, you will be able to cross the border without any problems.