Russian-Estonian border: booking and travel

Recently, tourism with your own car has become extremely popular. When traveling by car, you don’t have to worry about booking train or plane tickets. Another advantage is that you can visit several cities at once. Tourists from Russia visit many countries by car, and one of them is Estonia. Every year hundreds of Russians come to this country to relax and see the sights. The border with Estonia intersects in several places. This makes it possible for travelers from Russia to build the most convenient route. The main thing is to know the rules for crossing the border.

Contacts and details

t/p Kunichina Gora international checkpoint on the map

Other posts and customs offices of Pechory and Pskov region

• Pechora customs post (10209080)
• Customs post of the Pechory-Pskovskiye railway border crossing point (10209020)
• Pskov excise customs post (10009210)

See also: Pechory, Pskov region, Customs posts, Autoposts

Instructions for crossing the border

In order to travel from Estonia to Russia without any problems, it is recommended to arrive at the selected border point 60 minutes before the booking time. After this, you should carefully look at the entries on the scoreboard. It displays the vehicle number, as well as the exact time when the border crossing procedure can begin.

When the driver’s data appears, he should pay for parking services. Approximate cost: 3 euros. The price depends on the location of the border crossing. Payment for parking is made at the customs post. Here the motorist receives a coupon, which gives him the right to enter Russia.

After receiving the ticket, the tourist is obliged to proceed to the barrier, where he must hand over the ticket issued to him. Next comes the passport control procedure. After the tourist has completed registration, he can travel from Estonia to Russia.

Customs broker services

• Personal customs clearance specialist;
• We prepare and execute the necessary documentation - declarations, applications, various permitting forms, documents, reporting;
• Recommendations on HS codes for goods;
• Preliminary calculation of customs value and amount of advance customs payments;
• Drawing up DT projects and related documents;
• Document flow with customs;
• Submission of information at the request of the Customs post of MAPPA Kunichiny Gory;
• Representation of the Customer's interests in the customs authorities of the Russian Federation;
• Organization, if necessary, of preliminary customs inspection of goods and vehicles before submitting the DT;
• Drawing up a declaration of intent under the seal of the customs representative;
• Consulting in the field of foreign economic activity (FEA);

Russia-Estonia checkpoints: rules and features of border crossing

It is allowed to drive through the checkpoint by car, truck, bicycle, or on foot. Autotourists choose the checkpoint that is closest to them. Each point is open 24 hours a day, which is convenient for travelers. The busiest checkpoint is the Ivangorod – Narva checkpoint. In second place is “Kunichina Gora - Koidula”, and in third place is “Shumilkino - Luhamaa”. The waiting time at the checkpoint varies from 1-2 hours to 5 hours.

Checkpoint Ivangorod – Narva

Location: Narva, Westervalli 3, on the Tallinn – Narva highway. You can get from St. Petersburg to Ivangorod in 2 hours.

The largest checkpoint, daily passes up to 7 thousand people who travel to Estonia from the northwestern regions of the Russian Federation and St. Petersburg. The shortest way to travel to Tallinn. After passing control, motorists or pedestrians find themselves on the Friendship Bridge, which serves as a bridge between the Republic of Estonia and the Russian Federation.

Checkpoint Kunichina Gora – Koidula

Location: Koidula, Värska vald, Karisilla-Pechorskoe highway. The road A212 (from Pskov) leads to the checkpoint; near Izborsk there will be a right turn to take the highway to Pechora. There is a toll section of road leading to the border, the cost is 150 rubles.

Up to 2 thousand people pass through the checkpoint every day. Both cars and pedestrians are allowed through here. The only one of three checkpoints where Russians and Estonians can book time to cross the border from the Russian Federation to Estonia.

Checkpoint Shumilkino - Luhamaa

Location: Võrvu district, Lüta Misso vald, highway Riga - Pskov. The E77 highway leads to Shumilkino from Pskov.

The daily capacity is 4 thousand people. There are four document checkpoints and one duty-free shop. Travelers transiting through Estonian territory, as well as tourists who need to get to Tallinn, South Estonia, the islands of Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, travel through the Shumilkino - Luhamaa checkpoint.

Price

One consignment of goods is understood as a consignment of goods sent at a time to the consignee using one waybill in one vehicle within the framework of one foreign trade contract.

Travel rules

To spend the least amount of nerves and time crossing the border with Estonia, if you are driving your own car, you need to adhere to several rules. After passing through customs, you will be able to enter the territory of a neighboring state, visit various attractions and have a good rest. The report for 2021 clearly shows that the number of tourists from Russia has increased significantly compared to the reporting periods of previous years.

At the same time, it cannot be said that customs control has been simplified and made more accessible for motorists.

First of all, it is recommended to choose the optimal checkpoint. Duty Free operates on their territory, which will allow you to purchase various goods at an attractive price. All checkpoints work not only with vehicles, but also allow travelers on foot or simply those who want to get to a neighboring town on the border between the Russian Federation and Estonia.

You should have with you a package of mandatory documents that includes such items.

1. International passport. Make sure it doesn't expire. By the time you return from Estonia, it must be valid for at least another 6 months.
2. Schengen. The corresponding visa is issued at the Estonian Embassy, ​​which is located in Moscow, as well as at the consulates of St. Petersburg and the city of Pskov. To enter Estonia it is not at all necessary to have an Estonian Schengen visa. Any multiple visa obtained for another EU country is suitable. If you have a visa issued in Germany, then with it you can and will legally be able to cross Estonian customs without having to first go to Germany and only then to Estonia. The main thing is that the visa contains at least one stamp from Germany.
3. When traveling with children, their birth certificate is required. If only one of the parents is traveling, then you will also have to draw up a document for the right to leave with the consent of the second parent, certified by a notary.
4. A Green Card, an international version of the domestic OSAGO policy, is also required. At a minimum, it is issued for 14 days. It is issued by major insurance companies in the country. It’s better not to take out insurance near a checkpoint, since not everyone works legally with a license, plus it’s often more expensive. But there are kiosks of companies that are official and you can buy a Green Card from them without any fear.
5. Standard international medical insurance. It must cover at least 30 thousand euros. Such insurance is mandatory for obtaining Schengen in any EU country. In general, at the checkpoint they rarely ask about health insurance. But it’s still worth registering and taking it with you.
6. Driver license. Moreover, it must be of an established international standard. It would also be a good idea to take your national ID with you.

You should also adhere to certain rules regarding the car itself, its condition and any additional equipment present.

First of all, make sure that your car is in good technical condition, that there is no thick dark smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe, and that there is no serious damage to the windshield that could potentially interfere with the driver’s visibility.

The required set of additional equipment consists of:

• fire extinguisher with all seals and expiration dates;
• first aid kits;
• reflective vest;
• warning triangle;
• tow rope;
• stickers with the inscription RUS, which are attached to the trunk.

Operating procedure

1. Request. You leave a request in any convenient way: by phone, email or through forms on the website.
2. Consultation with a specialist. We call you back and find out your task in the field of foreign economic activity and inform you of the price for customs clearance.
3. Signing the contract. Agreeing on the terms of cooperation and signing the contract.
4. Preparation of documents and certificates. Collection and preparation of the necessary permits for the import or export of your goods.
5. Customs clearance. Submitting a declaration, resolving disputes and attending inspections and inspections.

How to reserve a place in the electronic queue

Online border reservations with Estonia can be made on the GoSwift website – eestipiir.ee. There are versions in Estonian, Russian and English. To reserve a place in the queue, you need:

1. In the menu of the electronic resource, select the “Book” tab.

2. Select a transport category from the list that opens.

3. Indicate the Estonian border crossing point.

4. Indicate your preferred queue type.

5. If this is a pre-booking or priority queue, select the required date and time.

6. If there is a live queue, familiarize yourself with the proposed conditions for crossing the border and confirm your choice.

7. Provide driver details.

8. Provide information about the vehicle.

9. Select your preferred additional class=”aligncenter” width=”1890″ height=”916″[/img]
10. Confirm your reservation.
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What documents are needed

To cross the Estonian border you will need the following:

• A foreign passport valid for at least 6 months. after entering the country;

• Estonian and multi-Schengen visas;
• the child’s birth certificate and permission to transport him across the border without one parent, if there are children on the trip;
• green car insurance card;
• medical insurance from 30 thousand euros;
• international driving license.

Since Estonia is a country of the European Union, you will naturally need a Schengen visa to enter its territory.

Will I be quarantined upon arrival in Estonia?

The country has an order according to which persons arriving from countries with a high incidence rate are restricted in movement for a period of 10 days. This period of time a person can leave his home by order of a doctor or police officer. Such permission is issued in an emergency.

Sources

• https://travelkap.club/eesti1/granica-s-rossiey/index.html
• https://avtobusvtallin.ru/avtorskie-stati/kogda-otkroyut-graniczyi-rossii-s-estoniej/
• https://estoniia.ru/strana/granitsa/granitsa-mezhdu-rossiej-i-estoniej
• https://triptoestonia.com/granica-estonia-rossia/
• https://GorkiApartments.ru/pro-migraciyu/zabronirovat-proezd-cherez-estonskuyu-granicu.html
• https://zagranportal.ru/estoniya/transport-estoniya/ochered-na-granice-s-estoniej.html
• https://airportmsk.ru/poleznoe/kogda-otkroyut-granitsu-s-estoniej-i-rossiej-v-2021-godu

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FAQ

Below you will find relevant questions for travelers with detailed answers.

• Who can reserve a place in the priority queue?

Vehicles that transport:

• members of international delegations, employees of foreign diplomatic services and consulates;
• perishable goods;
• passengers who have an urgent need to cross the border as a matter of priority.

The following circumstances fall into the category of urgent need:

• sudden illness/death of close relatives;
• the need to send a child for treatment;
• expiration of permission to stay in the country;
• the need to hurry to catch a plane, train, bus;
• sending participants of international competitions and conferences across the border.

A priority place in the queue can be reserved for motorcycles belonging to categories A, A1, as well as for vehicles that are entitled to privileged border crossing under the terms of international treaties.

• What to do if you are late to the waiting area?

Registration for border crossing is valid for 1 hour. The driver must arrive at the waiting area before the appointed time. If you are more than 1 hour late without a valid reason, the reservation will be cancelled.

The driver will need to rejoin the queue by registering online, by phone or in person in the waiting area. If the reason for being late is valid (for example, a car breaks down on the way), a decision regarding the current situation is made as soon as possible in the waiting area.

• What to do in case of congestion at the border?

If you have made a telephone or electronic reservation for a queue at the Estonia-Russia border, but there are traffic jams on the road, you should be prepared for the fact that you will not be able to travel at the time you selected during registration.

When the reception of vehicles begins, the first to go across the border is the one whose turn was booked before the rest. The system works in such a way that within 24 hours all registered vehicles must have time to cross the border.

• Is it possible to change the vehicle or driver?

When registering in the information system, you can specify only one vehicle and one driver. They cannot be changed. You will have to make a new reservation.

There must be communication between the car and the driver. This will eliminate the possibility of selling places in line, booking several places for the same person and other fraud.

If a situation arises on the road that requires the replacement of a vehicle or its driver, border checkpoint employees resolve this issue in the waiting area.

• Time frames of the GoSwift information system?

From the information provided by the official website of the Estonian border, it is obvious that the reservation applies to 1 hour. During this time, in the absence of traffic congestion, the vehicle should cross the border. You can monitor the situation in the queue from the waiting area. It is possible to activate the SMS information service.

• Do I need a visa to enter the territory of the Republic of Estonia?

Estonia is part of the Schengen zone. Citizens of states that are not members of Schengen (including Russia) need to obtain a Schengen visa to cross the Estonian border.

• What documents are needed to cross the Estonian border?

To travel to Estonia you will need:

• a foreign passport that will be valid for at least three more months from the date of return to Russia;
• Schengen visa;
• health insurance policy.

The driver must have the following documents with him:

• international driving license;
• technical passport for the car;
• international compulsory insurance policy for civil liability of vehicle owners (the so-called “Green Card”).